Tattooing is a painful process. Getting poked by a tattoo needle a few hundred to thousands of times will definitely provide you discomfort no matter how strong you are when dealing with pain. But you don’t have to necessarily bear through the pain when getting your precious tattoo. There are plenty of tattoo-numbing sprays out there that you can use to numb yourself safely before getting a tattoo.
I have made a list of the top 11 tattoo-numbing sprays for you, feel free to check them out below:
| Image | Product Name | Price On Amazon |
|---|---|---|
 | Best Over All Uber Numb Numbing Spray | #### |
 | Best for Fast Acting & Long-Lasting Ebanel NUMB520 | #### |
 | Best for Antibacterial Bactine MAX Pain Relieving | #### |
 | Best for Quick Relief Ink Scribd Tattoo Numbing | #### |
 | Best For Kids Bravado Labs Lidocaine Spray | #### |
 | Best for Soothing Menthol Base Labs Lidocaine Numbing | #### |
 | Best for Desensitizes Skin Gigi Anesthetic Numbing Spray | #### |
 | Best for Hypoallergenic Formula Numbskin 4% Lidocaine Topical | #### |
 | Best for Vegan & Cruelty-Free DCH Labs 5% Lidocaine Numbing | #### |
 | Best for Cool Down Pretty Privates Lidocaine Spray | #### |
 | Best for Sensitive Skin Waxup 5% Lidocaine Spray | #### |
1. Best Over All – Uber Numb Numbing Spray 4 oz.
Specifications
- Brand: UberScientific
- Item Form: Spray
- Product Benefits: Pain Relief
- Age Range: Adult
- Active Ingredient: Lidocaine
Description
The Uber Numb Numbing Spray 4 oz. is one of the best tattoo numbing sprays that also soothe the skin and is great to provide relief from pain.
Benefits
Cruelty-Free & Vigan: It is a cruelty-free and 100% vegan product so you can purchase it with ease of mind.
Strong Numbing Spray: It has a 5% lidocaine which makes it a strong numbing spray and it can give you relief from pain.
How to Use
Follow the steps below to use the Uber Numb Numbing Spray 4 oz. properly before tattooing.
- Wash: Wash the area with mild soap and clean water.
- Pat Dry: Use a paper towel to pat dry the area.
- Spray: Now spray a decent amount of Uber Numb Numbing Spray 4 oz. on the area where you want to get a tattoo. Avoid spraying near the mouth or eye area.
- Massage: Gently massage the area so your skin can absorb the product better. You may apply the spray again after 15 minutes to amplify the effect of numbness.
Expert Verdict
The Uber Numb Numbing Spray 4 oz. is one of the finest numbing sprays for tattoos out there. It has 5% lidocaine which is the largest usable amount approved by the FDA. It works fast and well to numb the area. You can use it to get instant relief from pain too. The product is cruelty-free and 100% vegan. So if you are a vegan or someone who loves animals and would like to support cruelty-free products then the Uber Numb Numbing Spray 4 oz. might be for you. And I really like the product is not oily at all because it is water-based. All these benefits with no drawbacks make this my personal best overall product on the list!
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Water based product | |
| Cruelty-free and 100 vegan | |
| Strong numbing spray | |
| Works fast and stays effective for a long time |
2. Best for Fast-Acting & Long – Lasting – Ebanel NUMB520 SPRAY
Specifications
- Brand: Ebanel
- Item Form: Spray
- Product Benefits: Pain relief, reduce inflammation
- Age Range: Adult
- Active Ingredient: Lidocaine 5%, Phenylephrine HCl 0.25%
Description
The Ebanel NUMB520 SPRAY is a fast-acting & long-lasting tattoo-numbing spray.
Benefits
Enhanced Numbing: It contains 0.25% Phenylephrine HCl with 5% Lidocaine which enhances the numbing effect and you can use it for pain relief, reduce inflammation, reduce swelling, soreness, etc.
How to Use
Follow the steps below to use the Ebanel NUMB520 SPRAY properly before tattooing.
- Wash: Wash the area with mild soap and clean water.
- Pat Dry: Use a paper towel to pat dry the area.
- Spray: Now spray a decent amount of Ebanel NUMB520 SPRAY on the area where you want to get a tattoo. It should take effect within 2-3 minutes. Wait 10 minutes for peak numbness.
- Reapply: You may reapply halfway through the tattooing to enhance the numbing even more.
Expert Verdict
The Ebanel NUMB520 SPRAY is a fast-acting & long-lasting numbing spray that has multiple uses. You can use it before tattooing or use it to reduce inflammation, soreness, swelling, pain, etc. It starts working just after 2-3 minutes after applying and can keep the numbing at peak point for 1 hour. It is oil, greasy, and odor free which makes it more likable. But some of my clients complained that it made their skin irritated. Irritation in the tattooed area can be annoying.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Enhanced numbing spray | May cause skin irritation |
| FSA HSA Approved | |
| Fast acting & long-lasting |
3. Best for Antibacterial – Bactine MAX Pain Relieving Antiseptic Spray
Specifications
- Brand: Bactine
- Item Form: Spray
- Product Benefits: Prevents skin infection and bacterial contamination, Relief of pain
- Age Range: All
- Active Ingredient: Lidocaine
Description
The Bactine MAX Pain Relieving Antiseptic Spray is a quality numbing spray that also has antibacterial properties.
Benefits
Kills 99% Of Germs: It kills 99% of germs associated with the skin.
Does Not Sting: The spray does not sting at all, instead, you will get a soothing feeling.
How to Use
Follow the steps below to use the Bactine MAX Pain Relieving Antiseptic Spray properly before tattooing.
- Wash: Wash the area with mild soap and clean water.
- Pat Dry: Use a paper towel to pat dry the area.
- pray: Now spray a decent amount of Bactine MAX Pain Relieving Antiseptic Spray on the area where you want to get a tattoo. Avoid spraying near the mouth or eye area.
- Massage: Gently massage the area so your skin can absorb the product better. You may apply the spray again after 15 minutes to amplify the effect of numbness.
Expert Verdict
The Bactine MAX Pain Relieving Antiseptic Spray is a great antibacterial numbing spray. If you get a cut or wound on your skin, you can use this numbing spray to numb the area and prevent any bacterial infection. And you can also use it for sunburn, burns, insect bites, etc. Even though it is antibacterial it does not sting when you apply on your skin. Once one of my clients complained of having a rash after using this spray. So be aware of the ingredients and be sure if you have allergies to any of them or not before using the product.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Antibacterial | May have an allergic reaction |
| Does not sting | |
| Multi-use |
4. Best for Quick Relief – Ink Scribd Tattoo Numbing Spray
Specifications
- Brand: Ink Scribd
- Item Form: Aerosol
- Product Benefits: Quick pain relief, burning
- Age Range: All
- Active Ingredient: Lidocaine 5%, Benzyl Alcohol
Description
The Ink Scribd Tattoo Numbing Spray is one of the fastest-acting numbing sprays on the market.
Benefits
Fast Numbing: It contains 5% lidocaine which makes it quite strong it numbs your skin within just 5 minutes.
Multi-use: You can use this spray on insect bites, minor burns, eczema, itching, etc.
How to Use
Follow the steps below to use the Ink Scribd Tattoo Numbing Spray properly before tattooing:
- Wash: Wash the area with mild soap and clean water.
- Pat Dry: Use a paper towel to pat dry the area.
- Spray: Now spray a decent amount of Ink Scribd Tattoo Numbing Spray on the area where you want to get a tattoo. Avoid spraying near the mouth or eye area.
- Massage: Gently massage the area so your skin can absorb the product better. After massaging use a paper towel to whip the residue before tattooing.
Expert Verdict
The Ink Scribd Tattoo Numbing Spray is one of the fastest-acting numbing sprays out there. It can provide you peak numbing in just 5 minutes after applying. You can use it to numb your skin before tattooing or use it for itching, eczema, insect bites, itching, etc. I have used it many times to reduce certain itchiness in my skin, and it worked just fine.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Fast numbing | |
| Multi-use | |
| Soothing |
5. Best For Kids – Bravado Labs Lidocaine Spray
Specifications
- Brand: Bravado Labs
- Item Form: Spray
- Product Benefits: Numbing, insect bites, eczema, hemorrhoid
- Age Range: Kid
- Active Ingredient: Lidocaine 5%
Description
The Bravado Labs Lidocaine Spray on a numbing spray specially formulated for kids.
Benefits
Fast Numbing: It can numb your skin within 5-15 minutes.
For Kids: The numbing spray is specially formulated for kids, you can choose this product for your kid with confidence.
How to Use
Follow the steps below to use the Bravado Labs Lidocaine Spray properly before tattooing.
- Wash: Wash the area with mild soap and clean water.
- Pat Dry: Use a paper towel to pat dry the area.
- Spray: Now spray a decent amount of Bravado Labs Lidocaine Spray on the area where you want to get a tattoo. Avoid spraying near the mouth or eye area.
- Massage: Gently massage the area so your skin can absorb the product better.
Expert Verdict
The Bravado Labs Lidocaine Spray is a multi-use plumbing spray. It is specially formulated for kids so you can use it on your kids without fearing of causing them harm. The spray mechanic makes it easy to apply on kids and it can numb the skin within 5-20 minutes. One thing I didn’t like is, even though it claims to be a strong numbing agent, for me it was not that strong. And the effect didn’t stay long which was a bummer but made it safe for kids.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| For kids | Minimal numbing |
| Fast working | |
| Can be used for eczema, hemorrhoids |
6. Best for Soothing Menthol – Base Labs Lidocaine Numbing Spray for Tattoos
Specifications
- Brand: BASE LABORATORIES
- Item Form: Spray
- Product Benefits: For waxing, micro-needling
- Age Range: Anybody over 12 years of age
- Active Ingredient: Lidocaine, Menthol
Description
The Base Labs Lidocaine Numbing Spray for Tattoos has menthol in it which makes it nice and cold when applied to the skin.
Benefits
Cold: The numbing spray has menthol in it, so it soothes your skin and gives a nice cold feeling.
Perfect for Tattooing & Piercing: It completely numbs the skin so you can get tattoos or piercings without any pain.
How to Use
Follow the steps below to use the Base Labs Lidocaine Numbing Spray for Tattoos properly before tattooing:
- Wash: Wash the area with mild soap and clean water.
- Pat Dry: Use a paper towel to pat dry the area.
- Spray: Now spray a decent amount of Base Labs Lidocaine Numbing Spray for Tattoos on the area where you want to get a tattoo. Avoid spraying near the mouth or eye area.
- Massage: Gently massage the area so your skin can absorb the product better.
Expert Verdict
The Base Labs Lidocaine Numbing Spray for Tattoos is a great numbing spray for tattoos. I have used it for tattoos and piercing and never had any issues. Many of my friends use it for waxing and micro-needling too. I really love the nice refreshing scent it gives and the cold or soothing feeling I get whenever I apply it to my skin. One of my friends uses it daily for piercing purposes on her clients and never had negative feedback.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Refreshing and soothing | May need to apply a lot for it to work |
| Perfect for tattooing & piercing | |
| Great value |
7. Best for Desensitizes Skin – Gigi Anesthetic Numbing Spray
Specifications
- Brand: GiGi
- Item Form: Spray
- Product Benefits: For sensitive skin
- Age Range: Adult
- Active Ingredient: Lidocaine
Description
The Gigi Anesthetic Numbing Spray is one of the finest numbing sprays for sensitive skin on the market.
Benefits
4% Lidocaine: The product contains 4% lidocaine which is good for a numbing spray.
For Sensitive Skin: It works great for sensitive skin and does not cause any irritation.
How to Use
Follow the steps below to use the Gigi Anesthetic Numbing Spray properly before tattooing:
- Wash: Wash the area with mild soap and clean water.
- Pat Dry: Use a paper towel to pat dry the area.
- Spray: Now spray a decent amount of Gigi Anesthetic Numbing Spray on the area where you want to get a tattoo or wax. Avoid spraying near the mouth or eye area.
Expert Verdict
The Gigi Anesthetic Numbing Spray is great for sensitive skin. I have used this product on many of my clients who have sensitive skin and never faced any issues. It works well to numb the skin and give a pain-free tattooing experience. The only thing I didn’t like is it feels a bit greasy.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| For sensitive skin | A bit greasy |
| Good for tattooing & waxing | |
| Pain relief |
8. Best for Hypoallergenic Formula – Numbskin 4% Lidocaine Topical Anesthetic Foaming Soap
Specifications
- Brand: Numbskin
- Item Form: Foam
- Product Benefits: Foam soap, pain relief
- Age Range: Any
- Active Ingredient: Lidocaine 5%
Description
The Numbskin 4% Lidocaine Topical Anesthetic Foaming Soap is an alcohol-free foam soap that works fast to numb your skin.
Benefits
Two-in-One: You can use it as a numbing agent and a foam soap to clean cuts, bruises, wounds, etc.
Fast Acting: It numbs the skin within 5-10 minutes.
Alcohol-Free: The product is alcohol-free so you won’t feel any skin irritation by applying this numbing foam.
How to Use
Follow the steps below to use the Numbskin 4% Lidocaine Topical Anesthetic Foaming Soap properly before tattooing.
- Wash: Wash the area with mild soap and clean water.
- Pat Dry: Use a paper towel to pat dry the area.
- Spray: Now apply 2-3 pumps of foam soap on the skin and wait about 5-10 minutes.
- Whip: Now whip the area with a paper towel.
Expert Verdict
The Numbskin 4% Lidocaine Topical Anesthetic Foaming Soap is a foam soap that can cleat your wound and numb the area. You can use it on bruises, cuts, wounds, etc. to clean the area and get rid of any pain or discomfort you are feeling. I really like that it works really fast. It reaches the peak numbing effect after 5-10 minutes after applying. The numbing effect felt slightly mild to me.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Soap and numbing effect. | Numbing might be mild |
| Alcohol-free | |
| Fast acting agent |
9. Best for Vegan & Cruelty-Free – DCH Labs 5% Lidocaine Numbing Spray Maximum Strength Relief
Specifications
- Brand: DCH Labs
- Item Form: Aerosol
- Product Benefits: Numbing Relief
- Age Range: Adult
- Active Ingredient: 5% Lidocaine
Description
The DCH Labs 5% Lidocaine Numbing Spray Maximum Strength Relief is a cruelty-free and vegan product.
Benefits
Cruelty-free & Vegan: The product is cruelty-free and vegan product so you can purchase it with ease of mind.
Deep Penetration: It penetrates deep to block your nerve signals and can numb your feet, fingers, back, hands, arms, etc.
Affordable: It has relatively a low price range compared to other numbing sprays out there.
How to Use
Follow the steps below to use the DCH Labs 5% Lidocaine Numbing Spray Maximum Strength Relief properly before tattooing.
- Wash: Wash the area with mild soap and clean water.
- Pat Dry: Use a paper towel to pat dry the area.
- Spray: Now spray a decent amount of DCH Labs 5% Lidocaine Numbing Spray Maximum Strength Relief on the area where you want to get a tattoo. Avoid spraying near the mouth or eye area.
- Massage: Gently massage the area so your skin can absorb the product better.
Expert Verdict
The DCH Labs 5% Lidocaine Numbing Spray Maximum Strength Relief is a quality and affordable numbing spray. You can spray at any angle you want and any body part you want except near the eye and mouth area. It is a vegan product so vegans can choose with confidence. On top of that the product is cruelty-free, which is a big plus for me. But the product felt a bit greasy, I would have liked it more if it was a water-based product.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Cruelty-free, vegan | Slightly greasy |
| Pocket friendly | |
| Can spray from any angle |
10. Best for Cool Down – Pretty Privates Lidocaine Spray
Specifications
- Brand: Pretty Privates
- Item Form: Spray
- Product Benefits: Insect bites
- Age Range: Kid
- Active Ingredient: Aqua (Deionized Water)
Description
The Pretty Privates Lidocaine Spray gives your skin a cooling effect and numbs the skin.
Benefits
Cooling Effect: After you apply it to your skin, you will feel slightly cold in the area which feels really nice.
Quick Relief: It kicks in within 5-20 minutes of applying so you will get a quick relief from pain.
How to Use
Follow the steps below to use the Pretty Privates Lidocaine Spray properly before tattooing:
- Wash: Wash the area with mild soap and clean water.
- Pat Dry: Use a paper towel to pat dry the area.
- Spray: Now spray a decent amount of Pretty Privates Lidocaine Spray on the area where you want to get a tattoo. Avoid spraying near the mouth or eye area.
- Reapply: The numbing effect can stay up to 1 hour, you will have to reapply after 1 hour.
Expert Verdict
The Pretty Privates Lidocaine Spray is best known for cooling down your skin and reducing inflammation. You can apply it on small cuts, slight bruises, etc. Many of my clients said they liked the cooling or soothing effect of the product. Thanks to the fast effectiveness I can apply it to the client during the procedure when they complain about the pain, even though I didn’t apply it before starting the procedure. But it feels like the numbness is mild and does not stay for a long time.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Cooling effect | Mild numbing effect |
| Fast working | |
| Easy to use |
11. Best for Sensitive Skin – Waxup 5% Lidocaine Spray
Specifications
- Brand: Waxup
- Item Form: Spray
- Product Benefits: Anti-itch formula
- Age Range: Any age above 12 years’ old
- Active Ingredient: 5% Lidocaine
Description
The Waxup 5% Lidocaine Spray is specially formulated for kids and it is good for sensitive skin.
Benefits
Strong Numbing: It has 5% lidocaine which makes it a strong numbing agent to use.
Quick Pain Relief: It gives quick pain relief by numbing your skin within 15 minutes of applying.
Anti-itch Formula: It uses an anti-itch soothing formula to soothe your itchy skin.
How to Use
Follow the steps below to use the Waxup 5% Lidocaine Spray properly before tattooing.
- Wash: Wash the area with mild soap and clean water.
- Pat Dry: Use a paper towel to pat dry the area.
- Spray: Now spray a decent amount of Waxup 5% Lidocaine Spray on the area where you want to get a tattoo. Avoid spraying near the mouth or eye area.
- Massage: Gently massage the area so your skin can absorb the product better. You may apply the spray again after 15 minutes to amplify the effect of numbness.
Expert Verdict
The Waxup 5% Lidocaine Spray is a great numbing spray. It has allantoin and aloe vera which gives it a natural soothing quality to reduce the itchiness of your skin. You can use it before waxing, or tattooing or you can use it on small cuts and to relieve injury pain temporarily. If you have heel pain, you can use this product and get instant relief from the pain. The bottle is not well designed in my opinion and it is a bit hard to apply.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Soothing | Difficulty applying |
| For sensitive skin | |
| Quick effect |
Does Numbing Spray Work for Tattoos?
Does not matter if you get a small tattoo or a big tattoo, you will feel some level of pain. Tattooing has evolved over time, nowadays artist uses advanced tattoo machines, specially formulated tattoo ink, etc. Tattoo numbing spray is another great thing we have achieved thanks to modern tattooing. These numbing sprays numb your skin before tattooing and you don’t feel much pain during the tattooing process. Sounds crazy doesn’t it? Yes, you can get a tattoo without going through severe pain by using a numbing spray.
The Way Numbing Spray Works for Tattoos
Numbing spray, cream, and ointment work similarly. These numbing agents have a few components in them that work to numb your skin, which are:
- Lidocaine
- Tetracaine
- Benzocaine
Among these components, you will see Lidocaine being used in most products. It can be used from 2-5% on a numbing agent. FDA approved 5% to be the largest usable amount of Lidocaine on the numbing agent. It basically blocks your nerve ending from sending any pain signal to the brain. Even though you are hurting in the numb area, your brain does not receive any signal from the nerve so you don’t feel any pain. If you are looking for a strong numbing agent, then surely any decent numbing spray or cream with 5% Lidocaine should do the job. Just to clarify these numbing sprays cannot numb the area completely. So you will feel slight pain during the tattooing procedure. But surely these sprays make the pain much more bearable.
How to Apply Numbing Spray for Tattoos So It Works?
You can follow the step-by-step guide below to apply numbing spray for tattoos so that it works. Because applying numbing spray wrongly can have little to no effect.
- Clean The Area: First use gentle soap and water to clean the area you want to numb. Any oil or dirt on the skin may reduce the effectiveness of the numbing spray.
- Whip The Are Dry: You can use a paper towel or air dry the area.
- Apply Numbing Spray: Make sure to apply a decent amount of spray on the area. Remember this is a numbing agent, so applying less won’t have any effect or have less effect. Which will cause more pain during your tattoo session.
- Massage The Area: You may massage the area to make the numbing agent easily absorbed by your skin which will make it more effective.
- 5. Wait: Depending on the brand of spray you are using you may need to wait from 2 minutes to 30 minutes for the numbing effect to kick in.
- Whip Residue: Whip any residue on the skin and start tattooing.
- Enhance Numbing: To enhance the numbing you may reapply the spray within 1 hour.
How Long Does Tattoo Numbing Spray Last?
Tattoo numbing spray works, there is no doubt about that. The numbing effect doesn’t last all day long, so how long does tattoo numbing spray last?
It depends on the ingredient and the amount of ingredients used in the product. But in general, a numbing spray can last from 1-2 hours. It may last even longer but it will definitely lose the effectiveness of the numbness. This means you won’t be numb to the fullest hence you will feel more pain. The numbness of the spray stays in peak from 20 minutes to an hour. So make sure you either finish tattooing within this time frame or reapply the numbing spray after 20 minutes to an hour to enhance the numbing.
FAQs
How does tattoo numbing spray work?
When you apply numbing spray on the skin it blocks your nerve ending from sending pain signals to your brain, as a result, your brain does not receive pain signals and you don’t feel any pain in the numb area.
Does numbing spray affect the tattoo?
The numbing spray does not affect your tattoo. These sprays cannot make your tattoo worse or better.
Why don’t tattoo artists like numbing spray?
Some tattoo artists may not like numbing spray for reasons such as:
Following old tattoo traditions which didn’t include any numbing agent
May prolong the tattoo session
Viewing numbing spray as a tool for the weak
How long does tattoo numbing spray take to work?
Depending on the brand it can take from 2 minutes to 20 minutes to work.
Is tattoo numbing cream or spray better?
You have to decide that for yourself. Tattoo numbing pray works faster but the effect does not last long on the other hand tattoo numbing cream takes longer to work but the effect last longer.
Final Thoughts
Numbing agents are great as they can reduce the tattooing procedure pain by a lot. You can choose any of the above-mentioned numbing sprays, whichever fits your requirement. If you ask for my personal favorite I have to go with the Uber Numb Numbing Spray 4 oz. It contains 5% lidocaine which makes it a strong numbing spray. With the help of this spray, I have done many big tattoos on my clients and never had any issues. Unlike most sprays, it is based on water which makes it runny and not greasy at all. On top of that it is a cruelty-free and vegan product.