I'm getting my first tattoo today. My friends were telling me that it will be tender for about 4 or 5 days. They said it would feel kinda like a rug burn or a grass burn. Does that sound right to you?Also, I'm a bit nervous about needles. Can you guys tell me how it feels to be tattooed?Thanks!
Huh, yeah, a rug burn is not a bad analogy. That's really more after a few days, though, as that's when the skin starts to shed and slough off. Until then the sunburn analogy is a little more apt. How long it hurts depends on a lot of factors. The arm tends to be less sensitive, at least the outer arm. Inner arm, on the other hand, can be very sensitive. They do indeed use needles, but those needles don't go in far - like 1/16th of an inch or so. It's more like getting scratched a bit too hard with an Xacto knife or similar. On the outer arm this is annoying until the endorphins kick in, when it becomes trivial. When my spine was done, ouch, even after I'd adjusted.
You will be sore for a few days. The rug burn analogy is pretty accurate. I can compare getting the tattoo to scratching a bad sunburn, or worse. It depends on the needle size, the location and the artist. Take some advil before you go. It might help a little. The needles are way different than the ones your doctor uses for injections. I hate getting shots but I can sit as long as 6 hours getting a tattoo. Try to relax. That will also help alot. And be sure to follow the artist's insructions for the healing process. The pain is temporary. Your beautiful artwork will last a lifetime.
None of my tats were tender for that long. Keep it really moist with AD ointment and you should be fine. The worst part about getting a tattoo is the wiping (when they wipe off the excess ink every couple of minutes). I have my lower back, my lower stomach, my foot and behind my ear. The worst was definitely my foot. I was nervous about my first tat because I heard it was a tender area. They started doing it and it didn't really hurt at all. The needle is huge, but very small when it is in the gun. No worries!!!
The best way that I have heard it described, and I agree is that it feels like having a really bad sunburn and someone scratches it. I mean it definitly is uncomfortable. But, the good thing is, as soon as they stop the machine, the pain pretty much stops. I was not really sore at all afterwords. In terms of the needles, you don't even see them. It all happens so fast you don't really think of the needle part. The outline hurts the worst, color and shading isn't that bad. The inside of your arm will be the most painful spot. Don't stress, the anticipation is the worst part.
