It’s no
secret, tattoos kind of hurt! And that pain felt varies depending on many
factors. Pain tolerance differs from person to person. What was excruciating
for one may have been easy breezy for another! Where you are putting your
tattoo will change the intensity of the pain or discomfort felt as some areas
are just more sensitive to be tattooed on. Areas that have no fat or where the
skin is stretched across bone tend to be more sensitive, like the ribs and
spine vs. areas like the outer part of your upper arm, which most people seem
to get through with minimal discomfort.
So what can
you do to get yourself through the more difficult sittings? We have a few
suggestions for you!
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| Jared Preslar tattooing his apprentice |
First and
foremost it is important to realize that you are in control of your body
movements, tension, and of course mindset. People tend to forget what a big
difference the whole “mind over matter” thing will make in situations like
this. Although it may be uncomfortable, keeping yourself calm and as relaxed as
possible is so important. Not only for YOUR tattoo experience, but for the
tattoo artist who is trying to give you an awesome tattoo!
The more you allow
yourself to focus on the pain the more uncomfortable you are going to be and
the slower the clock will tick as you are waiting for it to be done. And when
you tense up or wiggle around it makes it extremely difficult for your tattoo
artist to do their job. Keeping yourself in a good state of mind and mentally
getting yourself through it will make a big difference in your experience, we
promise! People with low pain tolerance even meditate in longer, difficult
sittings to help themselves through it.
Bring some
support! Bringing a good friend to your tattoo appointment can ease your
stress, helping keep you distracted so that you aren’t just focusing on what
your artist is doing. But again, it is good to keep your artist in mind during
your appointment. 2 people in the room (client and guest) is company, 3 is a
crowd! Too many people can be very distracting to your artist while they are
focusing on their work.
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| Christina Walker |
Make sure
you are ready to go for your tattoo appointment. This means getting a good
night of sleep so you are well-rested and less anxious. Don’t go on a binger the
night before, you don’t want the alcohol to thin your blood or put more stress
on your body. Eat a good meal, and if it’s a longer appointment bring some
snacks!
Stay hydrated. Drink lots of water, and cut out (or at least cut down)
on the caffeine intake. You don’t want to feel all wired and hyped up if you
are already nervous and don’t have a high pain tolerance. Oh, and shower! You
and your artist will be up close and personal, so good hygiene on your part
will make a happy tattoo artist.
Do you Have
any tips and tricks that have worked for you? Share them in the comments below!
