How Painful Is A Hand Tattoo?
Hands, fingers, feet, and toes – The tops and insides of the hands and feet, as well as fingers and toes, are popular places to be tattooed. Being tattooed anywhere on your hands and feet can cause severe pain. The skin here very thin, and it contains numerous nerve endings that can trigger pain when hit by a tattoo needle.
Contents
- 1 Does tattooing your hand hurt?
- 2 Is a hand tattoo the most painful?
- 3 How long do hand tattoos take?
- 4 Why you shouldn’t get a hand tattoo?
- 5 How much do hand tattoos cost?
Does tattooing your hand hurt?
‘ Having a tattoo on your hands and fingers is painful for a number reasons; the skin is thin and therefore sensitive, they are bony and filled with ligaments, and, as the ink doesn’t stick to this area of skin very well, the tattoo artist may need to go over the design a few times,’ says Fredrik.
Is a hand tattoo the most painful?
Why hands hurt more – Because hands are bony and covered in just a thin layer of skin, there’s no cushioning to dampen the pain you’ll feel when getting tattooed there. Hands are also home to a high concentration of sensory nerves, which control our perception of pain.
- Those sensory nerves, combined with thin skin and little underlying fat, make for a more painful tattoo experience;
- “It was definitely the most uncomfortable tattoo I’ve ever had,” says Mariah, speaking about her hand piece;
“And I have pretty much my entire legs, arms, and stomach tattooed. But I also have very thin, bony, sensitive hands which I’m sure contributed to the discomfort”.
How long do hand tattoos take?
A medium sized tattoo the size of your palm or hand could take from around 2-3 hours to more than 5 hours to tattoo. This once again depends on the complexity of the design, colors, and body placement. Tattoos that are about the size of your palm are a little bigger and take more time.
Is tattooing hard on the hands?
Hand and foot tattooing is a fine art—so fine, in fact, that many tattoo artists simply refuse to do hand and foot tattoos. The spots pose obvious challenges, most due to their frequent use during the healing process. Not to mention that hands are uneven surfaces with delicate skin and bone structures, which may make tattooing them much more difficult than other body areas; even for the experienced tattooist.
- Despite the difficulties, hand tattoos remain quite popular;
- Novelty design ideas like a mustache or a Rihanna-inspired “Shhh;
- ” on the index finger may be overdone, but they did pave way for more acceptance of hand tattoos, which makes for exciting ideas;
But still, without proper knowledge of the challenges and aftercare, a tattoo artist’s final results can be poor and permanent.
Why you shouldn’t get a hand tattoo?
Are Hand Tattoos Painful? – 
One of the most common questions asked by people contemplating getting a hand tattoo is: how painful is it to get one? Hand tattoos are listed by many to be among the more painful tattooing experiences. Hands have a very high number of nerve endings and are vital parts of your body’s interaction with the world. Moreover, the ink doesn’t fix in the skin as easily on the hands, so fading is a greater risk. This might mean the artist will apply some extra work to the area or that you will need to get touch ups in the future.
How does a tattoo feel on your hand?
Hands, fingers, feet, and toes – The tops and insides of the hands and feet, as well as fingers and toes, are popular places to be tattooed. Being tattooed anywhere on your hands and feet can cause severe pain. The skin here very thin, and it contains numerous nerve endings that can trigger pain when hit by a tattoo needle.
Does numbing cream work for hand tattoos?
Numbing Skin Before Getting Tattooed – With tattoos, the pain is part of the ritual, and most people are able to tolerate the tingly sensation of getting tattooed for up to a few hours. However, there can be certain scenarios where the pain is intolerable, and you may choose to explore your options with numbing your skin prior to your tattoo appointment.
- For example, some parts of the body are much more painful to be tattooed on than others, such as the ribs, the tops of the feet, and the backs of the knees;
- While numbing cream does not entirely eliminate the pain, it can help reduce it and make your tattoo experience much more pleasant, especially during the beginning portion of a long tattoo session;
One important thing to note is that for more lengthy tattoo sessions (longer than 1 hour under the needle), it is likely that the numbing cream will wear off, especially as the artist wipes away at the tattoo with surgical soap. Aside from the fact that the numbing cream naturally wears off over time, this soap takes some of the numbing cream with it in the process.
What is the least painful place to get a tattoo?
Least painful to tattoo – The least painful places to get a tattoo are areas of your body with fewer nerve endings. Think outer shoulder, calf, buttocks, and outer arm. While people generally focus on the location on the body, Stanley Kovak , a cosmetic physician, theorizes that pain is more about size.
How much do hand tattoos cost?
Hand or Finger Tattoo Cost A finger or hand tattoo can start at $50 for something very simple and go up to $300 for more elaborate designs. Most people don’t spend a lot of money on finger tattoos because they tend to fade quickly.
How can I make my hand tattoo hurt less?
Do hand tattoos age well?
Hand tattoo best practices – Everyone can see your hands, so make sure you’re getting tattooed by someone who has experience tattooing hands. Also, make sure that you’re getting something you’ll love looking at, and that you don’t mind other people seeing readily.
You can only tattoo them once, and you’ll have to look at them every day, because they’re literally your hands, so don’t settle for something that you know you won’t be happy with later down the road. Hand tattoos fade faster than tattoos on other parts of your body.
Because you use and wash your hands so much, there is constant cell turnover in that skin. While that is true, that doesn’t mean hand tattoos are any less permanent. You just have to give them a little more TLC to help them last.
Do hand tattoos heal faster?
‘ Depending on the exact area of the hands, it can heal completely different,’ he explains to Allure. ‘The best bet for hand tattoos are the top of the fingers and top of hands — those two areas will heal well and will not fade quickly.
Are hand tattoos frowned upon?
A s tattoos have become increasingly mainstream, fingers and hands have become a popular placement for people to express themselves and their tattoo artist’s work. However, hand and finger tattoos have also developed a reputation of being known as “job stoppers”.
But with tattoos becoming increasingly commonplace, are hand and finger tattoos still known as “job stoppers” today? When it comes to finding a job, hand and finger tattoos used to be a sure-fire way for an employer to reject a potential employee a few years ago.
However, in recent years, with creative jobs on the rise and a more relaxed outlook being encouraged by modernizing companies, hand and finger tattoos have grown to become more acceptable in the professional world. Depending on the company you are seeking to have a career at and how conservative their policies are, hand and finger tattoos are not immediately written off as a reason for someone not to hire you.
Hand and finger tattoos have become more popular in general, with many celebrities sporting them, which has led to their greater acceptance in society overall. However, that is not to say that they are accepted everywhere.
In many professional settings, visible tattoos still carry the stereotype of being unprofessiona l and will even go against workwear guidelines. 
Traditionally, hand and finger tattoos have been labeled as “job stoppers” because they have rendered plenty of qualified people unhirable, simply because of a visible tattoo. As mentioned before, hand tattoos have grown to become more acceptable and a more common sight in the professional sphere in recent times. Fortunately, workplace stigma surrounding tattoos has decreased over time, but certain conservative professional sectors like the financial sector still maintain strict standards about tattoos.
While hand and finger tattoos are not illegal in the US, some artists do have policies in their shops against doing tattoos in certain areas that are immediately visible. Some tattoo artists feel strongly about face and hand tattoos because they can seriously impede an individual in the professional world.
For this reason, tattoo artists will refuse to tattoo a client. For other artists, it might be a matter of quality. Because the longevity and appearance of a tattoo are seriously compromised when it is placed on a person’s hand or finger/s, a tattoo artist might refuse to ink someone here.
- Hand and finger tattoos are notoriously finicky;
- Even the most expert tattoo artists are susceptible to a blurry, splotchy mess that fades poorly;
- Many tattoo artists would rather avoid that for the customers’ sake and their own reputation;
* Thanks to our teams’ talent and experience, we offer hand and finger tattoos in our shop. Read also: How old do you have to be to get a tattoo? 
In a practical sense, finger and hand tattoos are not always the best idea if you are aiming for the longevity of your tattoos. Tattoos on your hand and fingers generally do not age as well because these tattoos are constantly being exposed to water and the sun. The skin on a person’s hands regenerates quickly, meaning that tattoos are susceptible to fading exceptionally fast. Additionally, finger and hand tattoos are often at the risk of blow-outs and blurred ink , which immediately ruins the aesthetic of the tattoo.
- Because a person’s hands are constantly being used in everyday life, this too ultimately affects the tattoo;
- * Don’t get us wrong here;
- We love all types of tattoos, and some of us have their hands and/or their fingers tattooed;
However, we think it’s important to bring both pros and cons, so you can make a responsible decision. Considering getting your hands or finger/s tattooed? Contact us and we will professionally guide you and answer all your questions regarding your next tattoo .
Can you wear gloves after a hand tattoo?
TIPS – If possible, shower rather than bathe during the healing period – this prevents unnecessary water exposure. Ideally the tattooed area should not be exposed to water fro more than a few minutes and ensure all soaps are rinsed well. – always pat your tattoo dry with a separate towel or tissue until it is fully healed.
Do not pick your tattoo as this will increase the healing time and will also lessen the quality of your healed tattoo. It may become itchy during the healing process, do not be tempted to scratch , a light tap over clothing may alleviate some itching if necessary.
Avoid swimming, sun bathing and sunbeds until your tattoo has fully healed – sunlight and chlorine can interact with the dyes in your tattoo causing irritation or inflammation of your skin, and public pools contain germs – even sea water is a risk. Where possible, minimise the amount of “rubbing” from clothing by wearing loose fitting clothes around the area of the tattoo – this will minimise irritation of the skin around your new tattoo.
Keep your new tattoo covered if working in a dirty or dusty environment, clothing and cream is sufficient. Avoid rubber gloves for a week or two if possible for hand / wrist tattoos. Those who work with their hands and desire hand tattoos should ideally plan 2-3 days off work.
Ensure your tattoo is kept away from contact with pets or young children. It is advisable to cover your tattoo with clothing if it is in the door or ankle and you are walking around with your pets, during the first week, but take advantage when at rest of leaving it to the air.
- Signs of infection: If your tattoo appears to be getting worse rather than better, or has swelling or redness beyond the second day that is not improving, this may be a sign of infection;
- Prompt treatment from your GP to be prescribed appropriate antibiotics is essential;
If you have any problems or questions at any time then you should contact your tattooist – – to ask their advice in the first instance. It may be the case that they may refer you to your GP, or reassure you that what you are seeing is part of the natural healing process. You may find this health service sheet useful; .
Which hand is best for tattoo?
A tattoo is a permanent form of an image imprinted on your skin with the help of dyes A tattoo is a permanent form of an image imprinted on your skin with the help of dyes or pigments and a needle. The tattoo artist uses a machine that looks like a sewing machine. The machine contains one or two needles that inject inking droplets just under your skin. Any arm, right or left, would be good for a tattoo. The choice boils down to your personal preferences.
Whats the most painful place to get a tattoo?
- Tattoo pain will vary depending on your age, sex, and pain threshold.
- The most painful spots to get a tattoo are your ribs, spine, fingers, and shins.
- The least painful spots to get a tattoo are your forearms, stomach, and outer thighs.
Getting a tattoo involves an ink-filled needle repeatedly puncturing your skin. Consequently, it’s not unusual to wonder how much pain you should expect when considering a tattoo. As it turns out, pain is a highly subjective experience , and how much discomfort you feel while getting tattoed can depend on a couple of factors including your biological sex, pain tolerance, and most importantly – the area of your body getting tattooed.
What is the least painful place to get a tattoo?
Least painful to tattoo – The least painful places to get a tattoo are areas of your body with fewer nerve endings. Think outer shoulder, calf, buttocks, and outer arm. While people generally focus on the location on the body, Stanley Kovak , a cosmetic physician, theorizes that pain is more about size.
Does numbing cream work for hand tattoos?
Numbing Skin Before Getting Tattooed – With tattoos, the pain is part of the ritual, and most people are able to tolerate the tingly sensation of getting tattooed for up to a few hours. However, there can be certain scenarios where the pain is intolerable, and you may choose to explore your options with numbing your skin prior to your tattoo appointment.
- For example, some parts of the body are much more painful to be tattooed on than others, such as the ribs, the tops of the feet, and the backs of the knees;
- While numbing cream does not entirely eliminate the pain, it can help reduce it and make your tattoo experience much more pleasant, especially during the beginning portion of a long tattoo session;
One important thing to note is that for more lengthy tattoo sessions (longer than 1 hour under the needle), it is likely that the numbing cream will wear off, especially as the artist wipes away at the tattoo with surgical soap. Aside from the fact that the numbing cream naturally wears off over time, this soap takes some of the numbing cream with it in the process.
Are hand tattoos hard to heal?
Whether you love complex, colorful works or simple, black-ink-only designs, tattoos for fingers or hands are more popular than ever. The downside: They can be much tougher to heal and prevent fading. We asked artists to share their tried-and-true aftercare tips that keep tattoos looking fresh for years to come.
