Where is the least painful place to put a tattoo?

“My new tattoo hurts!”

Where is the most painful spot to put a tattoo?

If pain is a consideration, you must remember that any tattoo is painful during the application and healing process. Based on the number of ‘nerve endings’ under your skin, the actual amount of pain you feel will vary. Places like the hands, feet, arm pit, back of the knees, face/neck, and genital regions have a huge nerve supply and will therefore hurt more than the shoulder or calf.  The areas of the skin that physiologically need more sensation will be the same areas that will hurt more when you get a tattoo there.

Another issue is the blood supply.  Some areas of the body have a more robust blood supply than others, and if the skin is thinner there, you will see a lot more blood during the procedure.  Obviously if sterilization is not maintained, the more blood, the greater the chance of transmitting disease.  Tattoo parlor professionals are very knowledgeable about the regions of the body, infection control, and protecting you (and them) from disease.

Stay away from amateur tattooists and their equipment!

Everyone’s tolerance for pain is different, and everyone reacts differently. Start small, and go slow. Below is a quick overview of sensitive regions of the body, and a color key that shows the different variations of pain sensation in the body.

Here’s another pain scale from Poundedink.com. You get the point.

Then there are people who like the idea of pain or the perception of pain. Not sure why,  but it is what it is. . .

Remember, the pain will go away, but the tattoo is forever.