kyle asked:
dear tattooist.
a) will it hurt? i'm a complete pussy and don't like pain.
b) what would your mom think - i mean, dirtying up your skin and all. don't you know what leviticus says about it? scandalous.
I'll be focusing on "a)" in this post.
Not to put to fine a point on it, but yes. However, "hurt" is relative. Sometimes after eating at P.F. Chang's and then passing a 5 Couric crap hurts, right? (Google it...)
I posted on this a couple years ago, actually.
And like I said then, "Some people just lay there, while others moan and twitch and cry the whole time… just like sex!"
Most people say that getting a tattoo is just "irritating". Some people actually fall asleep while getting a tattoo. (I've had two people fall asleep while being inked, and it kind of freaked me out both times.) Some people cry like they're having bamboo spikes shoved under their fingernails. The point is: everyone is different. Only you know what your "normal" pain threshold is.
From the technical side, I am aware that there are some tattooists out there who believe in digging hard and deep. Which sucks. And hurts. And is totally unnecessary. (I've been tattooed by an artist before that believed in that methodology. I know better now!) Talk with your tattooist during the procedure and let he or she know how they are doing. ESPECIALLY if it hurts more than you think it should!
If you have questions about tattoos: tattoos in general, about getting a tattoo, about giving a tattoo, or anything else related to tattoos, just add a comment to my November 6, 2009 post, or send me the question via e-mail from my contact page. I will then dedicate an entire post to answering your question.
Until next time...
matthew thompson commented on November 17, 2009 at 6:13 pm:
And then you have some people who enjoy a little pain... hee hee.
Erik Rubright replied to matthew thompson on November 17, 2009 at 9:06 pm:
There are definitely a minority of collectors out there who love the pain aspect it. There are some of us who get ink as a form of stress relief.
kyle replied to matthew thompson on November 18, 2009 at 8:01 am:
ummm. yes please
i never thought it hurt all that bad in the first place
Cb commented on November 17, 2009 at 8:53 pm:
My shoulder tat was "uncomfortable"-- like being scraped with rose thorns. My leg tat tho? Hurt like a motherfuck! The back of my calf about brought me off the table.
kyle replied to Cb on November 18, 2009 at 8:02 am:
i can honestly say - mine really didn't hurt. sure, a spot here or there (inner wrist, shin bone), but no major pain.
Erik Rubright replied to kyle on November 18, 2009 at 7:07 pm:
Sounds like you are wired similar to how I am.
The area around my nipple and the inner 2" block on my wrist was the worst. It's what I imagined a dull, hot scalpel would feel like being run over my wrist. Over and over again. Granted, it was a mag that was being used with multiple shades of color...
Erik Rubright replied to Cb on November 18, 2009 at 8:08 pm:
Most guys don't "sit" well for the calves. Especially guys who are athletic.
kyle replied to Erik Rubright on November 18, 2009 at 9:11 pm:
that must be why my calf didn't bother me at all...
GorillaPHX commented on November 18, 2009 at 12:21 am:
Just got the side of my neck done. It was a long session, nearly 4 hours. I would like to say that I have settled my curiosity about the neck tattoo thing, but I know better of myself. I will heal, and over time will want the rest of it done. I have to admit though, I can't say it was my "most" painful tattoo, but for fucks sake my neck feels like a rottweilers chewtoy.
kyle replied to GorillaPHX on November 18, 2009 at 9:12 pm:
gorilla, post a pic - neck tat's are awesome!
RG commented on November 19, 2009 at 6:21 pm:
The only part of my big color tattoo that really hurt was the edge of the armpit, but mostly, like two of your clients, I was napping in and out of the session.
To me tattooing feels like a irritating sting, and after a while, especially with an extensive session, the endorphins do kick in and it just goes kind of numb - that and the napping. LOL
kyle replied to RG on November 21, 2009 at 9:26 am:
i've lost count on the number of times i've fallen asleep while gettin' inked.
Matt commented on December 20, 2009 at 11:25 am:
Erik
You know what my tattoo did for me....it just opened the door to a whole new level of kink for me......looking forward to the next tattoo....