Getting a tattoo inevitably entails some pain. Different people have different levels of pain tolerance. It’s never the same for everyone. The pain levels vary depending on several factors such as placement, style and size, the artist’s expertise, and your fitness level and preparation. However, there are a few things you can do to help you minimize the pain during your tattoo session.
REMAIN SOBER
Avoid drinking alcohol a day before your session. Alcohol seems to be a good idea to relieve the pain, but actually, it’s not at all. In fact, the tattooing will be a lot more painful. Alcohol increases pain sensitivity and makes your blood thinner, which means bleeding becomes likely to occur. If you go, even just slightly, out of control, the tattoo process may take more time, and the artist may find it more struggling to deliver the best for you. Caffeine and painkillers also do not help as they also lead to blood-thinning, so they must be avoided as well.
DRINK A LOT OF WATER
Drinking a lot of plain water is highly recommended to stay hydrated. Do this from the evening before your session next day. The hydration enables the skin to be more ready to welcome the ink, so the tattooing can go more smoothly without blood-thinning.
FILL UP YOURSELF
Eat a large meal just before your session because you need a lot of stamina while the artist is working on you. The pain sensitivity rises if the blood sugar level is low. Hence, take in more glucose so you have more than enough calories to burn during your session.
GOOD NIGHT SLEEP
A lot of energy is required to sit through your painful session. With enough sleep the night before, your body can put up with the pain better. You should be very fit while attending your session, or you are likely to suffer a lot of pain. Instead of relying on morphine or painkillers to ease the pain, it’s much better to get a good sleep and eat a lot so that the pain relief can go on naturally.
TAKE SOME BREAKS
Tattooing on certain parts that are sensitive can be really exhausting. Take a break or two to regain your fitness. Eat some light meals like snacks or chocolate bars. But don’t take too many breaks or one for too long. Too many breaks will interrupt your tattooing, making it longer to finish.
DISTRACT YOURSELF
One good idea to ignore the pain is to distract yourself. Get into something that can make yourself forget for a while that you are under the needle of tattooing. Set your headphones and listen to music. If your artist doesn’t mind having a chat, talk to them, or ask if you can bring along a friend so you have someone to talk with. Some yoga training might be helpful if you are to sit on a long tattoo session. If the pain has been too much, just let your artist know, and s/he will let you take a break.
USE A PAINKILLER
This is the last thing you want to do. Use the one that is officially approved by the country’s health authority and specifically designed to relieve the pain of getting tattooed. Consult with your tattoo artist before using this substance to hear their opinions or perhaps they can offer you other suggestions.
Bali Tattoo Art Gallery features a team of exceptional and creative artists in the field of tattoo artistry. We are looking forward to helping you to get the tattoos of your dream. Our tattoo artists are internationally renowned, with an extensive experience of tattooing of all styles and tastes. Just drop us a line or visit our studio, and we are happy to serve you with the best tattoos.
