Certain parts of the body hurt more than others. This is a given because of the distribution of pain sensors around our body. The extremities of our body are where the pain is most felt because that is used to sense the world around us. One such extremity is your fingers, where the pain of a tattoo can be unimaginable!
So how bad does finger tattoo hurt? While an exact answer is hard to give, the amount of hurt you will be in will be a lot that is for sure! There are various factors that can cause the pain to be so much so let’s explore all things about a finger tattoo. Since people still get finger tattoos, it means that it is possible so let’s also see how to make finger tattoos hurt less so that you actually enjoy getting one!
Key Takeaways
- Explaining how bad a finger tattoo will hurt is difficult because everyone’s perception of pain will be different.
- To some, the pain will feel like a stinging sensation while others would say that the pain is more of a burning sensation.
- Other than the pain, there are at least 7 things that you need to take into consideration before getting a finger tattoo because it is a big decision to make.
- Finger tattoos are painful but you can make sure that the pain is lessened to some degree so that you can complete your finger tattoo in one session.
Explaining How Bad Does Finger Tattoo Hurt
Pain is something that is universal, but the degree of the pain is where it will differ from person to person. That is why someone will say that a finger tattoo will hurt with stinging pain like you are getting pricked continuously. Others will explain it as a burning pain where it feels like someone is poking you with a hot poker. Both are true to some extent but exactly what you will feel might be completely different!
The reason that a finger tattoo will hurt so much is because the layer of the skin is very thin. The tattoo ink is placed into the dermis layer which is already only a few millimeters thick. Now imagine if your skin is already thin around the fingers how difficult it must be to make sure that the ink is placed exactly in the dermis layer! That is what makes finger tattoos hurt so much. The top of the skin is where you will feel the stinging pain.
Along with that is the concentration of nerve endings around the fingers. The fingers are used to feel and touch things which requires a lot of nerve to get a full grasp of the object that you are holding. And coincidentally, the nerve endings are near the bottom of the dermis layer where you will be getting tattooed! That makes finger tattoos hurt even more with a burning sensation!
Combine these two things with your finger bone being right underneath all of this. Tattoo machines vibrate a lot and the needles will constantly make the bones rattle. These constant vibrations will cause you a lot of pain right to the bones where there are more nerve endings. While the bones are not penetrated, the vibration will make your fingers feel numb and cause both a burning and stinging sensation at the same time!
Combining all three factors is what makes finger tattoos hurt so much. Everyone has different pain thresholds so people will perceive the pain very differently. But finger tattoos will hurt a lot nonetheless! If you have low pain tolerance, I will be one of many who will advise against getting a finger tattoo because of how much it will start to hurt!
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Before Getting a Finger Tattoo: 7 Things You Need to Know
Finger tattoos are great and the amount of unique tattoos design that can you can come up with is endless! However, before you get a finger, here are some things that you definitely need to know to make a decision on getting one or not.
1. Fast fade time
I cannot even lie and tell you that it will take time for the tattoo ink to fade. Your finger tattoo will fade and it will fade very quickly! The constant use of your hands will rub the tattoo on your finger more and more which will eventually make it fade. Then there is the act of washing your hands which you need to do many times a day. Add all of that and now you have a tattoo that will fade rather quickly. So be prepared to have a faded tattoo within 6 months to 1 year’s time.
2. Frequent touch-ups and expensive
If you want your tattoo to look good at all times, then be prepared to go through all the trouble of getting that painful finger tattoo all over again! You will need frequent touch ups to keep the appearance of the tattoo looking vibrant and good. The fading will cause the colors to discolor and look distorted and you will end up having a bad tattoo on your finger. While most tattoo artists will do a touch up for free, most of the time it is only the first touch up that is free. So finger tattoo cost adds up over the years!
3. Keeping it clean during aftercare
The fingers are probably the most likely place where you might end up with an infected tattoo due to the amount of germs and dirt that you can attract. That is why you will need to ensure that you are keeping the tattoo on your fingers as clean as possible with antibacterial soap to prevent any infection from ruining your tattoo and your skin along with it!
4. Small spaces and simple designs
You have a very limited area to get a tattoo which means that getting a medium to large tattoo is not possible for a finger tattoo. You will need to think of small spaces where a simple design would look good. For example, getting an umbrella tattoo on your finger is quite possible since you can get an outline of it on your finger. But a large tattoo is a no-go. Detailed designs are possible and I have seen them myself but you have to understand a Fenrir portrait tattoo on your finger would be an excruciating experience!
5. Research and artist experience
The delicate skin along with the very sensitive nerves on your fingers makes tattooing such an area almost impossible! There are very few tattoo artists that can do it without hurting you a lot more than should be feeling because of how thin the skin is. Packing the ink in the skin effectively becomes very difficult make sure you do your research and find an artist who is both willing and able to do finger tattoos.
6. Fallout and blowout possibilities
The reason I mentioned that you need to find a good tattoo artist that is experienced in finger tattoos is precisely that you need to make sure you prevent fallouts and blowouts of your tattoo. If you don’t know what that means, a fallout is when your skin rejects the ink because the packing of the ink was not done properly. A blowout is when the ink was packed too deep in the fat causing the tattoo to become distorted and fuzzy. The skin around your fingers is so thin that both of these are likely to happen so an experienced tattoo artist is what you need to ensure that it doesn’t happen.
7. Difficult to hide and trouble with employers
While finger tattoos might not be as noticeable as a hand tattoo or a full-sleeve tattoo, they are still in an area that is pretty exposed. This means that you will find it very difficult to hide. The public perception of tattoos has been more positive over the years but the same can’t be said with employers. Whether you are a real estate agent or an office worker, you might end up in trouble with your employers for having a tattoo. So you should make the decision to get a finger tattoo after consulting with the HR team at your employer.
6 Ways to Lessen the Pain from Finger Tattoos
Even though finger tattoos are painful, there are some simple effective ways to make sure that it does not hurt as much as it should! Here are some of my tips to lessen the pain from finger tattoos so that you actually enjoy the tattooing experience!
1. Avoiding alcohol
Drinking alcohol about 24 hours before getting a tattoo is a bad idea. Alcohol causes the blood vessels to thin which can lead to more bleeding during the tattooing session. And with more bleeding comes more pain! So make sure to not drink alcohol before your session and please don’t show up to your tattoo appointment. Your tattoo artist will outright reject doing a tattoo on you if you are drunk, especially one that requires careful attention like finger tattoos!
2. Not drinking caffeine
Most if not all people around the world wake up and drink a cup of coffee right as they wake up, but that can spell more pain during your finger tattoo! Just like alcohol, caffeine has a similar effect on your blood vessels which will not let the ink settle in your skin properly. So avoid drinking tea, coffee, and especially caffeinated drinks on the day of your tattoo appointment.
3. Eating before the session
Having a hearty meal before your tattoo session is very important because you will need energy during it. You will be constantly bleeding during the tattoo session so the last thing that you want to happen is fainting. Being well-fed before the tattoo session will also make your finger tattoo hurt just a little less since you will have the energy to withstand the enormous amount of pain. So don’t slouch on the food and heart a good meal a couple of hours before the session so that you are ready for your finger tattoo!
4. Staying hydrated
Ensuring that you have the right amount of water leading up to your tattoo appointment is key to lessening the pain of your finger tattoo. Hydration is important because it will keep the skin nice and supple, making it easier to tattoo on the skin. Not only that, but it will also make the tattooing process much easier since the ink will be easier to pack. So make sure you drink the correct amount of water according to your weight and daily activities so that you have perfect skin to tattoo on! You could also make sure to keep your skin moisturized using lotion as well, but not on the day of the tattoo session.
5. Numbing spray
Finger tattoos can be really painful, but a solution for that can be numbing spray. While most tattoo artists absolutely refuse to use numbing spray, some will actually offer it to help make the tattooing process all the more easier! This is mainly because the effects of the numbing spray last a short while and need to be reapplied which could ruin the tattoo process. On top of that, if the numbness fades during the middle of the tattoo, then you are in for a world of hurt! So make sure to mention that to your tattoo artist during your consultation so you both know what you are in for. The last thing you want to do is show up with numbing spray on your skin because a tattoo artist will be able to tell you used it and refuse to tattoo you!
6. Taking breaks
Tattooing will take on your body and no one will shame you if you want to take a break during the session to relieve some of the pain. I would always advise any of my clients to take a break every 2 hours of tattooing so that they are not constantly being penetrated by the needle. It helps to stop for 5 minutes, walk around and drink some water so you can regain some energy and get back into tattooing with renewed vigor. If it hurts too much, be sure to tell your tattoo artist that you want to take a break.
FAQs
What do finger tattoos feel like?
A finger tattoo will be a combination of a burning and stinging sensation, combined with a constant vibration of the bones.
Do hand or finger tattoos hurt more?
It will depend on where on the hand you are getting tattooed. A palm tattoo will hurt less than a finger tattoo because of the thick layer of muscle and fat available but the back of the hand will hurt just as much if not more than a finger tattoo.
How long does a finger tattoo take?
The great thing about finger tattoos is that they will take as little as under an hour to about 3 hours at most if the design is heavily detailed. It is one of the shortest times taken on average to get tattooed.
How long do finger tattoos last?
The major problem with finger tattoos is that they might not last even a year. On average, a finger tattoo will last about 8 months, after which you will need to retouch it to get back the vibrancy of the tattoo.
How much would a finger tattoo cost?
A simple design for a finger tattoo would cost somewhere around $50 to $100. However, all tattoo artists charge on an hourly basis so the cost can definitely creep up to $150 to about $300 for a detailed tattoo.
Final Thoughts
Finger tattoos are indeed very painful, more painful than you can imagine! The type of pain can be a mix of both a stinging and burning sensation, a combination of the two, or a completely new type of pain. Since people are different, their threshold to pain is also different. Not only it will hurt, but it will hurt a lot! So make sure you know of the considerations that you need to take into account before getting a finger tattoo so you are fully prepared to face the tattoo session. There are ways to lessen the pain so talk to your tattoo artist and come up with the pain management system that works for both of you and get that sick finger tattoo!
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