Tat-Take The Pain Away...

Just like the tattoos we use to tell our individual stories, each person that gets tattooed is unique in how they feel, interpret and manage the pain of being tattooed. Usually, the universal answer to “does it hurt?” tends to be a yes, but much like the ink underneath our skin, it goes a little deeper than that… If your artist isn’t keen on numbing creams, what other options do you have?

Why do we get tattooed?

Tattooing has been a tradition for thousands of years, stemming from tribal acts of marking oneself to tell a story. The actual art may have evolved over the years, but the root of the why remains the same: acts of self-expression.

You might find yourself wanting to memorialise a loved one or pay homage to a closed chapter of your own life story. Whatever the reason for your tattoo, we all have one common hurdle to address: the pain. Whether you’re seeking to involve the pain as part of the process, or just feel as little as possible, we’ve got some helpful non-numbing related pain-management tips just for you. 

What does it actually feel like?

We usually suggest the sensation feels like hot cat scratches over and over again. It’s relatively easy to bear through a small tattoo, but the longer you’re sitting and the more detailed the design you’re getting, the more you may need to consider what pain-management might look like to you.

 So… what are our tips?

Distract yourself!
Bring along your favourite book, your headphones, your Nintendo… whatever helps keep you occupied! Some clients even bring an actual stress ball. If you’re looking right at your artist as they’re doing your tattoo, you’ll (quite literally) be painfully aware of every single line… Especially if you’re getting a slightly bigger tattoo, watching the process can be almost detrimental to your pain management. It’s a little like watching your own blood get drawn! You really want to, but is it going to make you feel better about the process? Probably not…

Eat & Hydrate
A hearty, full meal 2 hours before your appointment high in protein is a great way to ready your body for what is essentially a medical procedure, and we encourage you to prepare for your tattoo much the same way. Protein is number one when it comes to bodily recovery, but we also encourage sugars prior to and throughout the process to keep your blood sugar stabilised. This won’t have an outwardly noticeable effect on your pain, but it will significantly improve your body’s ability to self-regulate. Having something to chew on like tough lollies or a chewing gum is another great way to distract yourself.

Meditation / Breath Work
While it may be unconventional, it is not uncommon for tattooing to be used as a part of a self-healing or therapeutic journey. It’s hard to say exactly what draws people in, since everybody is walking their own path. For some, it’s an act of reclaiming their bodily autonomy. For others, it’s an opportunity to work through welcomed pain over which the client has control. Much like exerting yourself on a long uphill walk to enjoy a beautiful view – if you can try and find the beauty in the process itself, the journey is just as great as the reward.

We don’t know a whole lot about why being tattooed can be such a cathartic release, and truthfully it all depends on your own circumstances, but everyday more and more people find comfort in the meditative experience of feeling their tattoo, knowing they are in full control of the process and the outcome.

Know Your Body
Finally, the most important thing is just to understand your tolerance. No tattoo is worth pushing yourself to the point of being unwell, dizzy, or distress. If you need a break, your artist will be willing to take one as often as you need. If you need to stop sooner than you thought you would, your artist will never push you to finish a session. Ultimately, knowing your pain threshold and working within alongside any limitations will give you the best experience start to finish, and likely a better result.

What we don’t recommend…

There’s a whole lot of stuff you can do to prepare for your tattoo, but what about the things you should avoid?

Foods that increase bloating like overly greasy fast-foods can sit heavily in the stomach and make you uncomfortable throughout your tattoo – this is where knowing your body well comes in handy… it might be tempting to go the McMuffin route the morning of, but make sure you think about how that particular food item makes you feel first.  Removing any unneeded discomforts can be just as effective when managing pain.

Avoid over-caffeinating yourself, especially with energy drinks! Coffee is one thing, but energy drinks contain a significantly higher amount of caffeine. Many of us grab a Red Bull or V can thinking its relatively harmless, but the higher amounts of caffeine in these drinks can trigger anxieties within the body, weather you’re immediately aware of them or not. They are known to notably increase your heart rate, and doing so right before heading into a tattoo session where your body is technically in distress can add a whole other element of discomfort to the tattoo that many wouldn’t consider beforehand.

Alcoholic beverages! Getting a tattoo can be exciting, and if you’ve taken a day off of work as well, you might find yourself feeling a little celebratory the night before. We recommend being mindful of your substance consumption the evening prior and the day of – getting a tattoo can be tough enough without a hangover in the mix. As well as that, alcohol is technically a ‘blood thinner’ and you will bleed more with it in your system, creating additional unnecessary discomfort.