The pain of a chest tattoo is often compared to a constant tapping. It’s also among the most painful places on the body to get tattooed because of the close presence to bone and a lack of fat in the area. Pain can be reduced if there are more muscle and fat under the skin, though.

Chest Tattoo Basics

Many people prefer to get tatted on the chest because you can keep the tattoo close to the heart for personal reasons. Another reason is that it’s easy to hide or show off as you’d like.

In saying that, the chest is a  super-sensitive area that will cause pain when tattooed. The general consensus categorizes the chest as a high pain area, along with the stomach, ribs and feet.

How much it hurts, though, also depends greatly on the individual being tattooed since we feel pain differently. We know some people who’ve said that getting a chest tattoo was the worst pain they’d ever felt — for others, it was more of a therapeutic sensation.

Why Do Chest Tattoos Hurt More?

Chest tattoos tend to be more painful due to their proximity to the ribs and sternum bone. The skin in this area is generally quite thin, and you have less “padding” to protect you from the needle. Bony areas, in general, are among the most painful.

Taut skin is usually easier to work with when it comes to chest tattoos. This is because the skin is more toned, so it won’t move as much, which can ease the pain. On the other hand, if the individual is bustier, the skin will be harder to work with, which can increase the pain.

Chest tattoos tend to be larger, as well, due to the wider area available. It can, therefore, take a longer time to finish the tattoo, which will prolong the pain.

What Can I Expect the Pain to Feel Like?

How you’ll experience the pain depends on your pain tolerance. In saying that, most people describe the sensation as a constant, sharp tapping motion. This can be highly uncomfortable, especially if you’re in the chair for hours at a time.

When the needle comes close to bone, it can also send a vibrating feeling throughout the area. While this isn’t usually painful as such, it can be an uncomfortable sensation.

What You Can Do to Ease the Pain

Although chest tattoos do hurt, there are ways for you to ease the pain slightly and help the healing afterward. Here are a few helpful tips:

• Start small: If this is your first tattoo, don’t overdo it. Consider a small design that won’t take too long — talk to your artist about creating a design that can be added to in the future.
• Get plenty of rest: Before getting tattooed, make sure you get plenty of rest. This will ensure your body is well-rested and can help to increase your pain tolerance. Choose a morning appointment, if possible, to ensure you’re well-rested.
• Avoid alcohol and caffeine: Having a “courage drink” before getting a tattoo is a grave mistake. Both alcohol and caffeine act like blood thinners, which will cause you to bleed more. Although a little excess blood isn’t life-threatening, it can alter the results of the tattoo.
• Listen to the artist: After getting tattooed, your artist will apply a lotion to the area before proceeding to cover it with plastic wrap or bandage. Follow their aftercare advice to the best of your abilities to ensure your skin heals properly and the tattoo stays vibrant.
• Try a numbing product: If you’re really worried about the pain, you may want to try applying a numbing cream to your chest area before/at the beginning of your tattoo sitting. Although the effectiveness of a numbing product will vary from person-to-person, many customers are usually happy with the numbing effect achieved by their chosen product.

For people wanting a little extra assistance for dealing with the pain, a good tattoo numbing cream can really help to take the edge off.

One of the most effective tattoo numbing products currently on the market is Zensa Numbing Cream, which contains the highest level of Lidocaine allowed by the FDA for over-the-counter use. The feedback left by thousands of customers for this product is nothing short of exceptional.

Just follow the instructions supplied with the cream and apply shortly before your tattoo appointment is due to begin so that you can look forward to a less painful and more comfortable tattooing experience. The amount of cream you get in a tube also ensures you have more than enough for a large tattoo. Click here to buy from Amazon

Embrace Your Chest Tattoo

Chest tattoos are among some of the most beautiful artworks on the body. The area is very personal and can easily be hidden behind clothes if needed. Another reason for its popularity is the size of the area — you have more freedom when choosing your design.

The chest area can be pretty painful to tattoo, so it’s important that you’re prepared for the sitting, and ready to fight through some pain. It’ll all be worth it in the end.