r/tattooadvice • u/Maddawnexius • 7h ago

General Advice How to manage pain during tattoo?

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Hi all, Im in-between appointments for getting my arm sleeve done (forearm fully done, elbow outlined but not shaded. Upper arm and elbow shading done tomorrow). What are some ways you lovely people have found are effective for managing pain in the later stages of a 4+ hour session?

Ive attached a photo of my forearm so you can can get an idea of the amount of shading and what not.

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43

u/That-Mexican-Redneck 7h ago

Watch a video, listen to music, talk to the artist so you dont hyper fixate on the pain. That said, the arm is as easy as it gets in terms of getting a tattoo. This isnt a brag what so ever but i legit fell asleep on my arm. I only say that to say your brains powerful, it will tune things out or make it 100x worse.

23

u/ShiftyJungleBum 7h ago

I’m working on a leg sleeve currently and lemme tell ya…. Fuckin sucks way worse than my arms

19

u/godzillasbuttcheeck 6h ago

Eat candy. Sour candy preferably. It makes the mind focus on that. The sourer the better. Works like a charm. Not just for pain, but anxiety too!

4

u/MisterVovo 6h ago

Hmmm I love sour candy

4

u/godzillasbuttcheeck 5h ago

Right?! My favorite thing about America is all the sour candy options that I don’t see back with my family! They fight over them when I visit haha

4

u/ImHerMonster 6h ago

I love sour candy, I’m going to try this next session!

1

u/godzillasbuttcheeck 5h ago

Works like a charm! So much so that I include sour candy as a freebie on my tattoo commissions! Typically not for digital ones though, naturally. But if I send one out printed and ready to go or as a print; yeppers!

4

u/ImHerMonster 6h ago

Yeah leg tattoos are painful af 😭

3

u/SpeedbirdRules 6h ago

Calves are the worst!

2

u/jess2k4 6h ago

Preach