tattoo pain

So im getting my first tattoo pretty soon. Its gonna be pretty big I imagine ill be there for awhile. Im prepared for it to hurt obviously, I just want to know if its really as bad as its made out to be. Im getting in pretty much in the center of my back. There wont be any color.

Im also wondering if taking any drugs, (valiums or something) or even just smoking weed has any effects on when you get a tattoo. Good or bad.

 

dont take any substances before you get tattooed, save for maybe some ibuprofen or acetominophin (advil or tylenol, no more than 2). definitely do not drink before hand (or even the night before if you can avoid it, just for safetys sake)


the pain isnt all that bad imho, and im a wimp. if it gets bad you can ask him to take a short break. also find out approx how long itll take to do the tattoo so you know how long you have to endure it for (both of mine were 45min, not bad at all)

 

yeah tattoos arent all that bad my brother does them for a living and his alright im only 15 and he gave me a small one

 

Thanks! Any other tips on making it a good experience?

 

The center of your back shouldn't be too bad. I have two color tattoos on my wrists and they hurt a hell of lot worse than the black/grey one across my shoulders. It's okay to take breaks. The more you flinch, the more difficult it will be to get it done properly. IMO just black and grey hurts worse than color because the needle has to go deeper into the skin, especially for outlines. I swear it's not that bad!

Yeah, just go in sober.

Just make sure you are really happy with the design or pic you want. Get to know the artist you plan on using and his/her styles. That'll make your experience more satisfying and you'll probably feel much more confident about your decision. GL!!

And, of course, hello to another NE Ohian Tallmadge here

 

LOL the back is the most sore part, your forearms are nothing compared to it, trust me I know, I've got the grim reaper stepping out the gates of hell on mine, also no color on it, but its the outline that always hurts more than the coloring in!

I got it done in one sitting... Will I get it colored in, erm nope, I've chickened out.. too sore, it's like someone putting a smoke out on your skin!

But dont let that put you off, tattoo's rule!

And as the tattooist said "I can make it hurt if you like!" chuckle, to which I replied "I've heard about your sort, pain and pleasure, right?" to which he said "yeap, he-he-he!"

I got a navy seals special forces one done on my shoulder and the guy used three needles in the gun for the out-line.. pain, what pain????

It's a mildly anoying tickle!

When I got the first one I was 20 years old and it was a dragon by an artist known locally as the butcher. That one nearly made me faint as it was my first time and the sight of blood does funny things to people, so look away!

"oh thank god you've finished" tattooist "what you on about, thats just the outline!"

Also a word of advise, when it's healing, DONT PICK, you'll fuck the thing up, just lots of savlon and let it heal in its own time!

If it's your back, a nice salt water bath works wonders... Dont rub yourself with a towel thats as bad as picking it!

 

Its not that painfull at all, it really depends where you get it. Some areas are way more sensitive then others of course. I have both my tattoos on my shoulders and the only time it was even painful was when the needle got closer to my arm pit. and tattooing close to the bone is supossedly painfull too. Also depends on your tattoo artists touch. Some apply too much pressure then it becomes painful, but if he/she has a lighter touch (just uses right amount of pressure) it should be an almost pain free experience. If you want to make it more enjoyable, bring a long a CD of your favorite music, and ask if they don't mind listening to it while you get tattooed. I like getting tattooed to Tool for some reason lol

 

Yeap same here, across most of my back it was fine, just when he had to do the intricate bits near my spin that I flinched a bit!

I kept taking a smoke break, he said "oi do you want me to finish that or not?" lol

 

i always took tylenol or something of the sort before i went and had my tattoos, just to make sure i dont pass out because i'm a big baby. It feels like a bee sting...really not that bad. If you get sick from pain (like i do), make sure you bring some bread or something, so when you take a break you can have something to drink. Licorice, and ginger are very good for settling and centering, so some of that would help.

Don't smoke weed before you go. I did once, and it just made it hurt worse, and my high go away very quickly.

I'm sure you have your tattoo by now, so i hope you enjoyed...i know it hurt, but they are also addictive, beware!!!

 

So Im getting it on monday, and i am actually getting color in it now, and its gonna be pretty big lol. Im pretty nervous... But excited. I just hope it doesnt take like 5 hours. Does smoking cigarettes make it feel any better?

 

or does smoking like chill you out at all?

 

Wouldnt know, never smoke one before going into the tattoo shop, didnt want to reek of fumes whilst having a heavy fat biker leering over my semi naked body!

They say to avoid booze as that thins your blood, so you bleed a bit more, but I always used to like a few stiff drinks!

Before and After!

 

Yea i think ill have a few afterwards, or maybe ill just smoke a bowl or two after. But does smoking cigarettes calm you down at all? (not being a cigarette smoker myself)

 

i always smoke cigarettes...but don't get hooked on them just for some tattoo.

 

Alright, I was supposed to get it today, but my paycheck was too small. So Im officially getting it next friday. I hate this cuz the longer Im waiting the more nervous I am. I keep like telling myself its not gonna hurt than i think omg its gonna hurt so bad. Lol i hope its not that bad!! You think ill handle it ok?

 

I've been tattooed over a dozen times and many of my tattoos are in places that are typically considered sensitive (top of foot, behind the ears, back of neck, small of back, etc.). I'm a bit of a masochist, so I enjoy the pain.

I agree with PP who said you should take a lot of time selecting both the piece you want and the artist you would like to do your ink. These things will make a marked difference in your experience (including pain) and your resulting work.

I suggest that you spend the next week hanging out with some artists. Find a parlor you like and ask to see their work and maybe hang out to see how other customers fare during and afterwards.

Getting a tattoo in a sensitive area *can* be a lot less painful if you hire a seasoned artist because they are experienced in inking in sensitive places and are typically quicker and know how deep is too deep.

Best of luck to you. I hope you post pictures of your ink once you get it.

 

I definitely will. Thanks for the info guys.

 

The pain was nowhere near as bad as i thought it would be. after about 15 minutes there are so many endorphins released in your body that you barely feel it!

i have a very low threshold for pain and tattoos are a peice of cake for me. i would take a tattoo over a trip to the dentist any day! youll be fine =]

if the pain was that terrible i dont think tattoos would be quite so common

 

how sore is it afterwards? Is it still sore the next day? enough to the point where working with my body and back will suck?

 

the pain is not that bad. i got my panda on my side, and it hurt like hell, and was sore for the next day or so, but it wasnt bad...not enough so i couldnt move. it'll be fine..take an asprin with you just incase. the only part about having a tattoo then wearing clothes is the ointment you put on it will cause your clothes to stick to you. its an icky feeling.