Tattoos are amazing pieces of art that you can enjoy and happily display on your body for the rest of your life. One of the biggest reasons most people feel any hesitation about getting inked is the notion of being in pain. 

It’s natural to want to know whether or not it’s going to hurt and how bad it may be. Let’s keep things transparent - it will hurt. Of course, the level of pain you will experience is dependent on your own tolerance, the area of the body getting inked, and the skill of your artist. The best tattoo artists can bang out amazing work without being too heavy-handed.

You should generally be able to refer to the multitude of pain charts out there. That said, if you want a more detailed reference, let us list down the different areas of the body from least (ant bite) to most (remember to unclench your jaw) painful.

Back 

This is arguably the least painful place to get inked, mostly because of the fat and thick skin in these parts. Plus, there aren’t as many nerve endings that will send pain signals to your brain. 

Outer Shoulders and Biceps

These areas also see a lot of muscle and thicker skin with just a few nerve endings, making for low to moderate pain levels.

Forearm

This area should also see low to moderate pain because the skin isn’t too thin and there aren’t too many nerve endings here.

Outer Thigh

Particularly the upper part will be padded with fat, making it one of the more tolerable areas to get inked in terms of pain.

Inner Arm

Your inner bicep, in particular, will likely be significantly more painful. This is because, despite having the same amount of muscle, the skin in the area is looser and softer. 

Stomach

Don’t be fooled by the amount of fat a stomach may have. This is one of the more painful areas to get inked because of the looseness of the skin. The tighter the skin in this area, the more bearable the pain.

Head and Face

Anywhere on your head, from face to ears to scalp, will cause a world of pain. This is because there is not a lot of fat in this area. It’s just nerve endings and skin close to the bone.

Neck and Spine

The level of sensitivity that your skin will have in these areas, as well as their proximity to your nerves and bone, will make these some of the more painful spots.

Knees and Elbows

Again, these areas are prone to severe pain because of having think skin right on the bones. Plus, the area behind your knees and right above your elbows tends to be stretchy and loose with a mass of nerve endings. 

Groin

Needle to the groin is, as you can imagine, one of the most painful experiences you can have.

Breasts

This area is very sensitive, so you can experience severe pain if getting inked here. It’s especially dicey around the nipple area.

Ankles

Thin layers of skin make this a very painful area to get inked on.

Ribs

This is considered one of the most painful places to get a tattoo. It’s popular because of the aesthetic value, but be prepared for discomfort because of the thinner skin and less fat in this region. 

Armpit

Alas, the most painful area to get inked is your armpit. Many artists don’t even really ink here unless it’s part of a larger sleeve. It’s a whole lot of pain for an area that will also be harder to maintain during the healing process.

Conclusion

Make sure you know your pain chart well so that you can make an informed decision on where you get inked. This can help you map out the design you want and prepare yourself for what’s to come. 

The best tattoo parlor will offer you some numbing cream or spray to help alleviate the pain during your session, though many artists may forego this step because it takes more time and doesn’t make too much of a difference anyway. Just remember to bring water and relax so you can focus on the best parts of getting a tattoo.

Certified Tattoo is the best Denver tattoo parlor you can find. The premier destination has an award-winning roster of over 30 artists experienced in different tattoo styles. Contact us to schedule a consultation!