What Are The Best and Worst Places To Get A Tattoo – The Body Pain Map by Inkora Studio

Written by Bailey Jones

A question I’m asked frequently is ‘Did it hurt?’ No – not when I fell from Heaven, but when I got my tattoos. Tattoos have this reputation of being quite painful, so of course it’s common for people to want to try and understand just how painful the experience was. For me, neither of my four tattoos were painful. Uncomfortable sure, but considering it’s a needle constantly puncturing your skin, this is expected. My tattoos are all blackwork, some only fine line, and are on my outer arms and back of my legs, which are some of the more commonly less painful designs and areas on the body to be inked. But are there some places where it is excruciatingly painful? Are there some places which should be avoided for a first tattoo? What are the least painful spots for a first tattoo? What is the body pain map, and is it helpful? I aim to answer these questions in this blog. 

The Pain Map For Tattooing The Body 

A quick search online and you can find these colourful maps of the body, which describe which areas on the body are least painful to most painful for getting a tattoo. Bright red hues tell you to avoid the head, some areas of the chest and back, feet and the groin, whereas areas like the outer arms and legs are considered the least painful. However, looking across these many maps, you’ll likely notice some differences, some consider the spine less painful, some argue that the hands are amongst the worst places. So with conflicting information, what is the truth? Are there places that first-timers should avoid? 

What Are The Best and Worst Places To Get A Tattoo – The Body Pain Map by Inkora Studio

Why Do Tattoos Hurt? The Factors Affecting Pain

There are actually quite a few factors that impact how uncomfortable a tattoo might be. One of the greatest considerations is the amount of nerve endings in a particular area of the body. Some parts of our body are naturally more sensitive than others; our hands have some of the greatest concentrations of nerve endings to allow us to use them so effectively. Oppositely, our back has in comparison very few nerve endings because it doesn’t need to for its function. The repeated needle action - breaking the skin, the impact of the needle, and the vibrations it produces – will be more irritating the more nerve endings there are. 

Equally, the soft tissue in our body, like muscle and fat, helps minimise the impact of the needle. This is why the outer arms and legs are so common as first place locations, because they are well protected. Equally, this is why places like the collarbone and ribcage are considered some of the most painful places, because there is minimal padding between the skin and bone. 

But it’s not just our bodies that can impact the discomfort of a tattoo. Certain design styles lend themselves to being more painful. This largely comes down to how irritated the skin is from the design. A smaller fine-line tattoo affects a minimal part of the body, causing a minimal amount of irritation. A larger, coloured piece will likely require going back over damaged skin for shading, so because the skin is already irritated, it can feel more uncomfortable. 

Also important is the experience of the tattoo artist. Artist spend years practicing their craft, and their familiarity with a design’s style and tattooing in general means that they’ll know how to minimise discomfort during a tattoo, from body positioning to a light touch to reduce impact on the skin. 

Equally there are some other factors that can play into a person’s experience getting a tattoo, some factors can make the tattoo less painful:

• Being well hydrated 

• Getting enough sleep 

• Avoiding alcohol in the days before the tattoo 

While some factors can increase the discomfort: 

• Being ill 

• Being stressed 

• Tattooing scar tissue 

• Covering up previous tattoos 

Truth or Myth – Is the Pain Map Accurate?

So can the pain map be trusted, and are there places people shouldn’t get tattoos? The truth is that at best it is a guide to what is more likely to be more uncomfortable, which may result it in being painful. People have different pain tolerances ultimately, so to some people, the ‘red zones’ on our pain maps may be middle of the spectrum to others. Equally, some people may just be more sensitive to being tattooed, and find the experience generally quite uncomfortable or painful. However, most people find that the anticipation of the tattoo, and the concept of how much it might hurt to be worse than the actual experience. 

I have a friend whose first tattoo was on her ear, and she said that the most painful part of the whole experience was the weird angle she had her head at, as opposed to the tattoo itself. This was despite the head being a ‘red zone’, despite the fact that ear has little padding, and having a decent number of nerve endings. Ultimately, the factors above can only act as a guide, there is no definitively right or wrong answer to where you should get a first tattoo, if you’re concerned about pain. 

Numbing Cream

It's also worth stating that some studios, like us at Inkora, stock numbing creams and gels that can be purchased to minimise the discomfort during a tattoo. So even if you think you might be prone to a more painful experience, we do everything we can to make it a comfortable and enjoyable experience. 

The Right Answer?

If you are considering getting a tattoo for the first time, hopefully this has helped answer some of the questions about how much it may hurt. For all the people I’ve spoken to or been present during their tattoo for, every single person expected it to be worse than it was. And if you are still unsure or nervous about it, I encourage you to speak to your local artist. Most offer consultations, and part of this process is making sure you feel comfortable for the tattoo, we certainly do here at Inkora, Oxford. 

So where is the best place to get a tattoo? On your body, considerations about visibility, healing and current or future designs are far more important than how uncomfortable is it. However, the outer arms and legs are commonly considered the least painful and uncomfortable places to get a tattoo, followed by the upper chest and back. Places that are commonly more irritating to receive a tattoo include the face and neck, hands and inner elbow and knee, as well as the groin and butt. Ultimately, if you’re unsure, speak to your tattoo artist about it. 

But where is the best place to go and get a tattoo?  Obviously, it is at Inkora Studios in Jericho, Oxford, where you’re able to book an appointment or free consultation for your first tattoo right now through this link to our website: https://www.inkora.studio/bookings

See you soon!