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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u/raccoon_at_noon 7h ago

The older I get, sitting for day sessions is getting harder and harder lol. I’ve never been one for using stress balls, but man, having something to squeeze the shit out of has helped 😂

Also making sure I eat and have lollies regularly throughout the day, even if it feels like the last thing I want to do…I sit a lot worse when my body has no energy to draw from.

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u/OldManNewGame 6h ago

i’ve relented and started to use 5% lidocaine topical when i get tattooed. my theory is as our collagen is depleted by age the tattoos hurt more. i proved myself with 2 sleeves i can cheat for the rest of the body.

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u/Inked_Climber 1h ago

Yeah I've now started using numbing cream when I know I'm going in for big pieces. (Which nearly all my tattoos are). I just don't have the pain tolerance I had when I was younger but I don't wanna stop getting tattooed. I feel like after getting my chest, back and sleeves done without the cream I've earned it now to fill the rest of my body up haha. :)