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“How bad does a tattoo hurt?”

As with most things in life, there are no cookie-cutter answers. Everyone is unique, and what might be unbearable pain for one individual might be nothing for another. Still, it is a valid question when you’re considering a tattoo. Everyone knows that a tattoo will likely come with some discomfort, but researching how much discomfort you are likely to experience is still valuable.

At Lamar Street Tattoo Club, we often compare the sensation of a tattoo artist’s gun to being scratched by a cat. It’s not a pleasant experience typically, but it’s not an insurmountable amount of pain. However, the intensity of that “cat scratch” can vary depending on where that tattoo is located.

It’s important to have a rough estimate, which is why we compiled our thoughts on how much a tattoo hurts. Please note that this is just a rough estimate. The only person who really knows your pain tolerance is you, so keep your own experience of pain in mind when reading about how much certain tattoos hurt.

Read on to Learn About How Much a Tattoo Hurts

Tattoo Pain Consideration 1: Location

You don’t need to be a tattoo aficionado to know that where you decide to put that ink will play a role in determining the pain level. To illustrate this, imagine what it would feel like to be hit by a baseball or softball in the leg. (Some of you might not need to imagine!) This likely wouldn’t be a pleasant experience, but it probably wouldn’t be intolerable. Now, imagine taking that same blow to a boney section of your body, like your wrist or ribs. That is likely to be a much more sensitive area.

As previously mentioned, this will vary from person to person. However, typically, the more muscle or fat a body part has, the less painful it will be. Think of a quadricep or bicep, for instance. Areas of the body that don’t have many nerve endings will also be pretty manageable for most people. For instance, the back of the shoulder or a pec is likely to be a comparatively mild tattoo.

Now, imagine a tattoo on an area of the body with either low fat and muscle or a high cluster of nerve endings. Behind the ear, on the face, or on the buttocks, for example. Boney areas also can experience a “scraping sensation” on the bone in question, which some find grating. Rib and wrist tattoos can be particularly difficult.

Remember, everyone is different. We’ve seen people cringe at bicep tattoos, and we’ve seen others handle wrist tattoos without so much as a grimace. Everyone is different, and your unique physiology is probably the most pertinent piece of this.

Tattoo Pain Consideration 2: Size

The size of a tattoo does not necessarily always equal more pain. For instance, a large tattoo on your shoulder will likely hurt a lot less than a small tattoo on your ribs. However, the more of your body that is exposed to the artist’s tattoo gun, the more pain you will likely be under, so larger tattoos will likely hurt more. We’d advise you to just expect that and possibly be pleasantly surprised if it doesn’t hurt.

Remember that a large tattoo will cost more due to the higher ink requirement and the artist’s time. These large tattoos also will likely require multiple sessions with the tattoo artist. This isn’t to dissuade you, but it is worth remembering when planning. You are your own person and can make your own choices, but some people like to start small for a first tattoo. Again, it is completely your call how large your tattoo will be, but it is a good idea to think about these details before you begin the process.

Tattoo Pain Consideration 3: Duration

This one is typically related to size, but it is possible to have a smaller tattoo that requires a lot of detail and a lot of time. The duration of a tattoo session is a critical piece of understanding pain. What might have been uncomfortable but tolerable for a half-hour can become extremely distressing after two or three hours. Because of that fact, many tattoo artists will set maximum session durations. This helps alleviate pain and ensures that the tattoo artist can do their best work.

If you are a tattoo newbie, it might be worth starting small to decrease the amount of time you spend in the tattoo artist’s chair. This might not work for all subjects, but it’s a good rule of thumb. Now, it is also worth remembering our previous point about location. If you want a small tattoo, placing it on a smaller part of the body, like the wrist or behind the ear, might not be a good call. For a custom recommendation, ask one of our tattoo artists, and they can offer their thoughts. It is, of course, your body and ink, but we’re happy to be a consultant in the process.

Turn To The No 1. Dallas Tattoo Artist

Are you interested in planning your next tattoo? Turn to the best tattoo artist shop in Dallas. Lamar Street Tattoo Club is an award-winning, DFW-based tattoo shop. Planning a tattoo, whether it’s your first or your tenth, can be challenging. Trust your ink to the best tattoo artists in Dallas.

Tattoo artistry isn’t a commodity. It’s a craft. We will never offer quick, sloppy work. When we say we are the best tattoo artists in DFW, we mean that. Creating the best atmosphere possible in our shop lets us design and create the best tattoos in Dallas. In a world filled with cheap, sub-par tattoo offerings, trust your next piece of art to a tattoo shop that will never cut corners when it comes to design, expertise, and cleanliness.

All of our tattoo artists are vetted, talented professionals, and their work shows that. From planning to aftercare, we are here to ensure you get the most beautiful piece of art possible. Sitting in a tattoo artist’s chair can be a little uncomfortable and time-intensive, but our DFW tattoo artists have repeatedly proven that their work is worth the price.

We are…

• A 4.9 Star Tattoo Artist on Google Maps
• Recently Voted Best Tattoo Shop in Dallas
• Experts in Both Tattoos & Tattoo Removal

Fill Out the Contact Form Below to Discuss Your Next Bit of Ink

We love the art of tattooing! It’s an amazing process, and if done right, a tattoo can be an expressive, unique piece of art, an exquisite celebration of your individuality!

However, just because most tattoos are gorgeous tapestries of ink doesn’t mean there aren’t a few less-than-ideal tats out there. Poorly-designed tattoos happen, and while rare, they can be a literal and figurative eyesore for the tattooed subject. No one wants to have their perfect tattoo design turn into a distorted mess of color, and bad tattoos can be a real drag on the subject.

Your subpar tattoo might impact your self-esteem or the clothes you wear. It might affect how others perceive you. It might just be frustrating to have a tattoo that you were excited about take a left turn into mediocrity! Regardless of your use case, know that there are options. The fact that you have had one bad experience with a tattoo artist doesn’t mean there aren’t incredibly talented shops and artists ready to help you salvage your bad tattoo.

There are so many great Dallas tattoo artists and shops out there. It’s a shame to sport a tattoo you aren’t in love with when there are so many talented tattoo artists in Dallas who can fix the problem.

Read on to learn more about designing over a bad tattoo With Lamar Street Tattoo Club!

Why Do Bad Tattoos Happen?

In our experience, fears of bad tattoos are overblown. It’s perfectly natural to be skeptical and wary when considering a tattoo, but the industry has implemented many safeguards to prevent this. Choosing the right shop, seeing examples of an artist’s work, reviewing a stencil prior, and taking the time to properly discuss and design the ink and aftercare will prevent most tattoo issues. Plus, the available tools for tattoo artistry are improving by the day!

Still, we do see bad tattoo recipients walk into Lamar Street Tattoo Club to discuss removal or redesigning, and there are some commonalities we’ve noticed, including:

• Choosing a Friend to Do the Tattoo Instead of a Shop
• Poor Aftercare
• Inadequate Planning & Designing
• Selecting a Less-Experienced Shop to Save a Few Bucks

You’ll notice that these are all preventable causes. It’s extremely rare for an experienced and well-reviewed tattoo shop to just have a bad day and mess up an otherwise perfect tattoo. Usually, the selection process and aftercare routine are the culprits and causes of any bad tattoo.

While that might be helpful context, it doesn’t help if you’ve already received a bad tattoo. If that’s the case, what do you do?

We’ve put together our thoughts on designing over a bad tattoo to help walk you through the process.

Designing Over a Bad Tattoo Tips & Tricks

Bad Tattoo Redesign Tip 1: Figure Out if This Is Right For You

It can be a great option if you want to use that piece of your body for another beautiful bit of ink. But for some people, tattoo removal is a better option. We highly recommend consulting with our FAQ page on laser tattoo removal for a little more color.

 Bad Tattoo Redesign Tip 2: Meet With the Artist First

If you received some bad ink in the past, your choice of artist was likely the main culprit. We absolutely recommend taking the time to talk to the artist first to see if they are a good fit. After all, they’re going to inject ink into your skin via an open wound – you need to know they understand what they’re doing!

Usually, we recommend…

• Reading a Shop’s Reviews
• Asking to Look at an Artist’s Past Work
• Evaluating if You Get a Bad Vibe From Any One Artist or Shop

Once you know you can trust your artist, feel free to ask their opinion. If they’re a seasoned tattoo artist, they have done countless tattoo cover-ups and likely have some unique professional recommendations to help make this project successful.

Bad Tattoo Redesign Tip 3: Use Darker Colors

This one shouldn’t be a surprise. The darker the colors, the easier it will be to cover up the bad ink. Now, this doesn’t mean you can only choose Gothic designs for your tattoo cover-up. However, blacks, blues, magentas, and greens can all be useful. Even a darker shade of the past tattoo’s base color can be enough.

Bad Tattoo Redesign Tip 4: Go Bigger

Typically, you will need to design a bigger tattoo to cover a past failed design. You don’t need to place a tapestry over your entire back to cover up one subpar shoulder blade tattoo, but you will probably need to go at least 50% larger than the past tattoo. This is to ensure that the fresh, new ink completely obscures it. Keep this in mind when budgeting – both money and time.

Bad Tattoo Redesign Tip 5: Utilize the Previous Tattoo’s Design Elements

Any quality tattoo artist can look at your past ink and see where past design elements can be repurposed. Maybe some past script can be repurposed into a tribal or runic design element. Maybe a heart can be transformed into a rosebud. The more you can take bits and pieces of your past tattoo and mold them into the new design, the better.

Contact Lamar Street Tattoo for a Consultation

Do you have a poorly designed tattoo that you want to design over? Contact Lamar Street for one of the best tattoo cover-ups in Dallas! Your design is unique; let us help you redesign over your past ink and make a new, beautiful tattoo!  We did not become an award-winning tattoo shop in DFW without spending countless hours crafting gorgeous designs. Explore our tattoo artists’ work now!

Contact Us Now for Your Free Consultation!

Are you regretting your tattoo?

Looking for the best tattoo removal in Dallas?

You’re not alone.

It happens – more often than you might think.

Luckily, you don’t have to be forever stuck with a tattoo you hate. At Lamar Street Tattoo Club, we have options for tattoo cover up and laser tattoo removal in Dallas. Check out our quick guide to laser tattoo removal to learn more about your options and what to expect.

Laser Tattoo Removal vs. Tattoo Cover Up in Dallas

Generally speaking, two options are available if you want to get rid of a tattoo. You can either choose to have it covered by a talented tattoo coverup artist or opt for laser tattoo removal.

A tattoo coverup artist will work with your existing tattoo and create something new (and much better!) to cover up what was already there. It’s important to work with someone who specializes in tattoo coverups if you choose this option – otherwise, you might be left with a tattoo that’s much worse than before.

If you’re interested in this option, we have tattoo coverup artists in Dallas at Lamar Street Tattoo Club. Get in touch with us to learn more!

Alternatively, you could opt for laser tattoo removal. This is where we actually remove the tattoo from your skin using a high-powered laser. If you’re not looking to replace the bad tattoo with a better one, then laser tattoo removal is the way to go.

How Does Laser Tattoo Removal Work?

But how does laser tattoo removal work? Removing an old tattoo from your skin using a high-powered laser might sound a bit intimidating, but the procedure is actually quite straightforward.

When you choose to get a tattoo, your body’s immune system immediately recognizes the tattoo ink as a foreign matter. But, since the ink particles are quite large, it’s quite difficult to remove them from the skin once they are there. This is where the laser comes into play.

In short, laser tattoo removal utilizes a technology in which a high-powered, very short, pulsed beam of light is delivered at a specific wavelength to the treatment site. The beam passes through the skin, breaking the tattoo ink into smaller particles. Once this occurs, the tiny particles are removed or “flushed” out by your immune system, and over time the tattoo eventually begins to fade.

At Lamar Street Tattoo Club, we use only the best when it comes to laser tattoo removal in Dallas, TX. This is why we recently upgraded our technology to the Astanza Duality. The Duality is backed by Astanza, the leading manufacturer of tattoo removal lasers, so you can rest assured that your tattoo removal is in good hands when you choose Lamar.

FAQs About Laser Tattoo Removal in Dallas

Understandably, you might have more questions about laser tattoo removal in Dallas. After all, choosing to remove your tattoo is a big decision. Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about laser tattoo removal.

Have more questions? Be sure to check out our full laser tattoo removal FAQ page here.

How Much Does Laser Tattoo Removal Cost?

Costs can vary quite a bit depending on the size and location of the tattoo in question, but typically our pricing starts at $50. For a more accurate estimate, get in touch with us – someone from our team would be happy to assist you.

Does Laser Tattoo Removal Hurt?

It depends on your pain threshold, but some discomfort is generally associated with the procedure. Some patients have described it as if a rubber band was being constantly snapped at the skin, while others have compared it to actually getting a tattoo. Regardless of your pain threshold, various methods are available to help relieve your discomfort.

What Happens After Your Tattoo is Removed?

After your procedure, the healing process takes some time. The treatment may create a superficial burn wound on the skin, and patients may experience swelling, redness, blisters, and scabs. These side effects are temporary, though. Check out our laser tattoo removal aftercare page for more information on the healing process.

On the Fence About Laser Tattoo Removal in Dallas?

Still have questions about laser tattoo removal? We’d love to help! Get in touch with our team today or give us a call at 972-863-3518.

Most people don’t know what makes a tattoo placed “correctly” or what makes a design look good on the body. You might know what design or style you want and the general area in which you want it, but how do you really choose?

Whether you have an idea of where you want to get your tattoo or you’re open to suggestions from your tattoo artist, it’s always a good idea to have a consultation with your artist before starting. Allowing them to view and run through your ideas before the design stage ensures everyone is satisfied with the outcome.

Keep reading to learn more about picking your tattoo’s placement and why you should always consult a professional!

Visibility & Hideability

Whether you want your tattoo to be easy to hide or not can impact its placement. For example, a tattoo on the torso, upper arm, or upper leg will be easier to hide than on the forearm or calf.

While tattoo stigmas are starting to change, a tattoo on the hand, face, or neck can change how others see you. People with tattoos in these areas are actually more likely to get stopped at customs and by police, and some licensed venues will not allow them.

Additionally, tattoos on the face, hands, or neck can limit career opportunities, as most corporate jobs will not hire applicants with visible tattoos. If you’re not heavily tattooed (yet) or are still very young, you might want to wait before getting a tattoo in a prominent area.

Consider the Size and Amount of Detail

The size and details of your tattoo should match its placement. It’s easy to see that a large and detailed tattoo just won’t fit right on someone’s wrist or ankle. Even if your artist did cram detailed linework into a small space, the lines would blur together over time, leaving a “blob” of ink.

Be Wary of Your Pain Tolerance

If you’ve come this far, you’ve probably already acknowledged that the tattoo will hurt, but the pain is temporary and worth something that lasts a lifetime.

However, we usually tell newbies to avoid big tattoos or particularly painful areas, like the ribs or armpit. If you’ve never felt the pain of a tattoo before, it can be challenging to prepare for, but by picking a place on the body that hurts less, you’ll have an overall better experience.

Numbing cream can help you through the tattoo if you have a low pain tolerance. It won’t take the pain away entirely, but even the idea of it can make the tattoo easier.

Future Plans & Tattoo Goals

Bodies change over time, which means your tattoos will change, too. If you’re planning on seeing a  client significant change in your body, like major weight loss, pregnancy, or significant muscle gain, a tattoo can become warped as the skin stretches or shrinks.

If you plan on getting more tattoos — like, for example, a full sleeve later down the road — putting a tiny tattoo on your forearm can make that more difficult for your tattoo artist. You’ll probably have to cover up the tattoo or remove it entirely.

Consult With an Expert at Lamar Street Tattoo Club

Lamar Street Tattoo Club, we don’t compromise on the quality or cleanliness of our work. Whether you need some assistance with creating a design or just need to find the perfect tattoo placement, we’re here to help.

Visit Lamar Street Tattoo Club and see why we’re voted the number-one tattoo shop in Dallas. Send us a message, or book your complimentary consultation today!