Though tattooing is typically painful, certain areas of the body will generally cause less discomfort than others. These include locations with thicker skin, less nerve endings, or more fat.
Outer Arm, Calf, and Outer Thighs
tattoos can often be placed less painfully on the outer arm, calf, and outer thigh as these areas feature thick skin with few nerve endings making it an excellent spot to get ink on.
Elbows and Knees
For a more effortless tattoo experience, consider placing it on your elbow or knee instead. Like rib cage tattoos, these areas feature bones just beneath the skin, which could considerably reduce pain.
Hips
Tattooing hips tend to be less painful than other areas due to thin skin across bones and highly-sensitive nerve endings that run along them, leading into the groin area. Females typically find getting ink on their hips less painful than males, who rank this area 7/10 on the pain scale.
Ankles and Feet
Ankles and feet are two areas with thin skin spanning across numerous bones, along with significant nerve endings running down either side of them. This makes tattooing this region of your body difficult and painful.
Neck and Spine
Tattooing around the neck and spine is among the most sensitive of processes, as thousands of nerves run throughout these regions, making getting one a painful endeavor. The spine is also composed of bones, which can make it among the most uncomfortable spots on our bodies.
Feet and Ankles
Tattooing these areas can be particularly excruciating due to their thin skin, lack of fat cushioning, and proximity to bone.
Note: Before getting a tattoo in any area, it is essential to consider its pain level and prepare accordingly, such as using numbing creams or taking painkillers without blood thinning properties to minimize discomfort during the tattooing process.
