Before we begin with our ultimate list, here is a fair disclaimer for you: There are no tattoos in this world that are painless. No matter how good your pain tolerance is, you will always feel a pinch or a prick.
However, if your pain tolerance gives you the green signal for a few pricks and pinches here and there, you can proceed with the list.
We conducted a survey of people with mild to high pain tolerance and found the areas that are least painful to the most painful. The tattoos we will be discussing will be based on this survey.
Here is a list of body parts ranked from the least painful to the most painful:
Least Painful:
- Outer Upper arm
- Outer Lower arm
- Outer thighs
- Left & Right side of your calf muscles
- Back (Excluding the spinal area)
Mild Painful:
- Shoulder.
- Inner Upper Arm
- Belly Area (Excluding the navel circumference)
- Inner tights (Front)
- Inner Calf muscles
Kind of Highly Painful! (Between Mild & Most):
- Back of the leg
- Spinal Area
- The back of the neck & skull
Most Painful:
- Chest area (including nipple area)
- Mid Riff
- Circumference of the belly button
- Pubic area
- Wrist
- Ankle
- Feet
- Elbows (Inner & Outer)
- Knees (Inner & Outer)
- Left & Right Torso
- Inner thighs back
Although there are tattoo artists who have claimed women have more pain tolerance than men, it is wholly subjective. It depends on how much you can handle, and the more tattoos you get, the more you get accustomed to the pain.
However, the first time could always be jarring! So, without any further ado, let’s get into the list of things you can try.
100 Least Painful Tattoo Ideas (…To Begin Your Tattooing Journey)
This is where you should start your tattooing journey.
1. Small Symbols
These take the least time to obtain. If you are enduring the pain for a shorter time, it is easier to resist. For example, stars, hearts, and single letters.
2. Single Words
A single word in cursive can be done in one stroke. An expert artist won’t take much time, so you won’t have to endure the pain for long. For example, dream, love, peace, etc.
3. Geometric Shapes
Simple geometric shapes are another easy tattoo to achieve with the least pain. If you are a fan of Harry Potter, getting the Deathly Hallows symbol would be the least painful first tattoo.
4. Zodiac Constellation
Another common geometric shape for a spiritual person is the constellation of your geometric shape. You can also pick some other constellations.
5. Dotted Anything
Tattooing anything with lines is more painful than a series of dots. You can create shapes with these series of dots.
6. Abstract Patterns
Small abreast patterns compiled with a few shapes are also the least time-consuming tattoo. You can get one in thirty minutes of sitting.
7. Line Tattoos
Just like dots, you can create shapes with a series of lines. Since they do not follow a complicated continuity, they are quite easy to follow.
8. Tribal Shapes
Tribal shapes are easy to achieve if you go to an expert artist. They also look beautiful with the least amount of pain to tolerate. The best would be to find the least painful part of your body.
9. Numerical
Lucky numbers or numbers that are truly meaningful to you can be tattooed, especially if you really wish to get one but know your limitations in pain tolerance.
10. Simple Floral Patterns
Get simple floral patterns if you want to add some color to your tattoos. A green vine or something can add character to your design. However, do not try to fill the flower petals with designs (…. because creating solid color fillings HURT). Rather, get colored outlines, which the artist can get done in one stroke.
11. Continuous Line Drawings
These are arts with which one can create a portrait or an animal with one line. It won’t be painless, but the time you must endure it is less. Plus, you will come with a beautiful tattoo afterward.
12. Butterfly Outline
A butterfly symbolizes freedom and a story of survival after an episode of pain. This is why you can get a small tattoo on you forearm. An outline detailing the intricacies of the wings can bring out beauty with the least pain.
13. Carpi Diem
This is one of the simplest tattoos you can get. It is easy to create with that one cursive swipe. However, those two syllabi can have a plethora of meanings for many.
14. Ring Tattoo
A ring tattoo will hurt a little, but you wouldn’t have to endure that for long if it is a simple thin band. Therefore, pick your tattoo very carefully.
15. Angel Numbers
If you are spiritual, angel wings could be the perfect tattoo. Plus, they often come in three, so the pain won’t last too long.
16. Sun Sign
Another spiritual and less painful tattoo idea is a zodiac tattoo of your astrology sign. The best part is that you can go full creative with these signs. There are many ways to customize them.
17. Random Doodles
If you fear design, pick up the pencil. Why not make it an exciting activity? Sketch something simple that you would love to have tattooed. Or you can even ask a friend to do the same. I once saw a video of a guy inking a winning Tic-Tac-To game on his upper legs (what a memory to cherish!).
18. Pet Paws
Small paw marks are equally cute and equally meaningful. If you have furry friends, they are the best thing you can get. The thought might make the experience a little less painful.
19. Small Sceneries
Line drawings of small sceneries might sound too plain, but you will understand how beautiful they are once you see a few prototypes.
Mental Health Tattoo Idea
Here are some of the mental health tattoo ideas you might choose. Again, they are small and relatively painless but with a pool of meaning. These tattoos become armor for people who have survived a big mental health challenge.
1. Hugging Arms
All the time, you had to hug yourself and remind yourself that you were okay!
2. Words Breath-in
The classic Ariana Grande song depicts anxiety and sets a reminder to keep breathing in and out when you feel like an anxiety attack is coming.
3. A Heart with A Band-Aid
Another meaningful tattoo could be showing the journey of your healing heart.
4. A Tea Bag with The Tag Showing Anxi-Tea
This is a quirky one that can show your acceptance of your condition while at the same time doing everything to cherish yourself.
5. I Forgive You – The Words
These might be mundane words for many. However, the meaning is too deep. It is all about finding the strength to forgive yourself after extreme self-criticism.
6. Bent Not Broken
These are perfect finger tattoos that show your imperfections. However, it also provides subtle self-insurance.
7. Line Drawing of Meditation Pose
This is for people giving Zen, mindfulness, and meditation to try to calm their psyche. Maybe this is a good way to motivate yourself.
8. The Happy Emoji
Suppose you are confused and do not understand which tattoo to pick, why not pick your favorite emoji? Something that makes you happy and will remind you of happy times every time you feel yourself spiraling to the dark side.
9. Favorite Song Quotes
For me, it is always some verse from Lana Del Ray. It makes me feel beautiful whenever I am self-doubting and going to deeply criticize my insecurities.
10. A Heart in a Jar
It symbolizes how one should protect one’s heart and always cherish it.
Safety Measures for Your First Tattoo
For someone who had a fear of needles, getting tattoos was a difficult task. I always had this meaningful verse prepared & minimized, but I just couldn’t muster the courage to go to the salon and get a tattoo.
However, one thing I would advise anyone getting their first tattoo (…also having a certain phobia) is to be careful with the safety measures. If your first tattoo experience is not a (borderline) pleasant one, you could be facing trauma.
Do not worry—this is not to scare you but to ensure you have the safety measures in check!
I will discuss the safety measures of getting your first tattoo and the mistakes you can make.
Mistake No. 1 – Not Checking Your Allergens
There have been horror stories of individuals breaking out in hives right after getting a tattoo. It turns out there was an element in the ink that led to that reaction. This is a minute change which can turn into something very big.
Safety Measure: When it comes to safety measures, always ensure that you get an allergen test beforehand.
Mistake No. 2 – Going to A Shady Place
Whether it is your first or 22nd tattoo, a shady place is not to get permanently inked. You are susceptible to suspicious activities, one of the dangerous ones being contaminated needles.
Safety Measure: Check the reviews of the tattoo artist closely. The best would be to go to an artist who has already inked someone close. This gives you an account of their firsthand experience.
Mistake No 3 – Not Checking Other Skin Problems
Getting your first tattoo is very exciting. However, it involves permanent ink mixing with your blood. You are causing yourself external skin trauma, and your skin should be able to handle it.
Safety Measure: Check whether your skin has other issues. This could be inherent or caused by sun exposure and other catalysts. Not that you cannot get a tattoo with a skin issue. However, checking and getting the right treatment before getting inked is safer.
Mistake No 4 – Not Checking with Your Artist
It could be jarring when you are sitting to get your first tattoo. However, you need to be careful and keep an eye on your artist. You cannot allow any mishap, no matter how highly recommended a person comes with.
Safety Measure: Check whether the needles are fresh and if they are taking them out from a fresh packet. See whether they are wearing gloves, if it is a long tattooing process, and whether they change them frequently.
Mistake No. 5 – Not Checking the Sterilization
Tattooing can be tedious, sometimes requiring the same tool again. It is impossible to get fresh batches of towels, inks, and diffusers every time. However, are you checking whether they are sterilizing them?
Safety Measure: Take a friend who will look sternly at these matters. This is the final resort if you think you won’t be in a state to check it.
How to Take Care Afterwards
Your duty towards keeping your skin intact doesn’t end after getting the tattoo. You will need certain safety measures even after the tattooing process.
Do not get alarmed. You won’t be hurting yourself, and you don’t need to go into hibernation while you are healing. There are just a few clinical steps to keep in mind.
Avoid Sun Exposure
Keep your tattooed area covered for at least two weeks. Extreme sun exposure is already bad for your skin, and adding already-healing skin to the mix can delay the healing process, to say the least.
In the worst-case scenario, you might expose yourself to sunburn more than usual (especially if you are already more prone to burning). If you have pale skin, then covering your tattoo is very important.
Choose Comfortable Clothing
The seams of clothes can irritate your skin while the tattoo is healing. Therefore, wearing loose-fitting clothes that do not cling to your tattooed area is advisable.
Go for mor breathable materials, like cotton, especially if you are getting a tattoo during the summer season. Avoid items like nylon, as they can easily stick to your skin upon sweating.
Avoid Chemical Exposure
Avoid applying moisturizer, lotion, or other skin care products; this can cause unnecessary irritation. Harsh soaps can strip the first layer of your skin, making it more prone to cuts & burns.
That area of your skin is sensitive until it heals, so it is better to use gentle products. Although cleaning and washing the area is a requirement, you do not have to do so thrice a day.
Pat it Gently
Try to be as gentle to your skin as possible. One important thing is to not rub your skin while drying it.
Use a microfiber towel to soak up the moisture and gently dab on the tattooed area.
Avoid Too Much Water Exposure
Extreme water exposure might not directly harm your skin, but it is the biggest catalyst for discoloration and fading, especially if you are exposed to warm water.
Do not run water around your tattooed skin for too long. Do not take longer warm baths or swim for at least a fortnight.
Do Not Self-Peel
When your epidermal (top layer of skin) starts to heal, there will be some shedding after a week. I can understand how tempting it is to peel that off, but you better not do so.
You do not know how much your skin has healed underneath, so you could be peeling too much.
If the area is getting itchy, it’s better to take a professional opinion. Call your tattoo artist and ask for the right protocol. If it gets too out of hand, do not be afraid to go to a dermatologist and get some over-the-counter ointment.
14-Day Self Intervention – Getting Rid of Your Fear of Tattoos
I had a fear of needles for as long as I can remember. I used to quiver at the thought of getting a shot. But, I was always fascinated with the idea of tattooing. This is why,
Day 1: Identifying and Acknowledging Your Fear
You can never get rid of fear if you do not acknowledge it. The first step to recovering from a needle phobia is absolute acknowledgment. You can start by taking an online phobia quiz, answering a few simple questions, and judging yourself on a scale of 1-10. Once you are quite suspicious about an underlying phobia, go for a professional assessment.
Day 2: Researching the Tattoo Process and Needles
The second step in getting over your fear is understanding the process. Knowledge can always make you less nervous about any situation. We would warn you not to watch someone tattooing their skin but rather to read more about the procedures.
Day 3: Talking to Others About Their Tattoo Experiences
If you know someone, why not talk to them about their tattooing experiences? Ask if it was a discomfort for them, if the pain is manageable, or if they should be that scared.
Day 4: Changing Your Perspective on Needles
Rather than think of it as a matter of fear, try looking at it like another object. It might be a regular object with functionality. It is easier said than done, for sure. However, keep your final goal in mind. After all, you do want that tattoo, right?
Day 5: Deep Breathing and Relaxation Techniques
Before your final session, try incorporating some deep breathing technique that calms your nerves. When you breathe consciously, you begin a practice known as mindfulness. This is when you mindfully distract yourself from the thoughts in your head and remind yourself of the present.
This includes paying attention to different parts of your body during the breathing exercise or finding sounds and tactile feelings from outside.
Day 6: Visualization Exercises
Other than breathing exercises, visualization can sometimes help during your tattooing session. For example, visualize a happy place when physical pain suddenly hits you.
Practiced visualization can also help someone manage their emotional pain. Therefore, the same can be said about the light-stinging pain when tattooing.
However, when it comes to different techniques to help you deal with pain, it also requires practice. You cannot simply walk into a tattoo parlor and expect yourself to be a visualization expert. You must begin with practicing almost a few weeks before your appointment.
Day 7: Celebrate Your Progress
Now that you are practicing certain techniques to calm your nerves, it is time to celebrate your milestone. This will help you motivate yourself to reach another milestone and the final goal of getting a tattoo.
Week 2
Exposure therapy
Day 8: Start Thinking Logically
Now, it is difficult to think logically when you have an intense fear of something. But which needle are you scared of?
Have you ever wondered?
Is it the thin needle points used to give shots?
because that is the general kind that frightens many. Most importantly, it is because of the stinging pain when you get a shot. For certain vaccine shots, the pain can spread throughout your arms. These uncomfortable memories of needles generally cause fear. However, when you think about it from a clinical standpoint, the pain in your arm is caused by the medicine that is pushed.
It is an indication that the antibiotics are working and fighting the virus in your body. This won’t be the case when you get a tattoo.
First, the needles are way different from what you see on a doctor’s tray. First, a tattoo needle won’t reach your nerves. They work on the first dermal layer, so the blood is not from your veins.
Second, there is no muscle pain after you get a tattoo. If you are getting one of your forearms, your entire arm won’t hurt; however, you will feel the healing pain just on the spot, just like you would if you had gotten a cut or scrapped yourself.
Day 9: Find The Best Tattoo Artist
Before you start searching for a tattoo artist, remember one detail:
No tattoo artist should promise you an absolute painless experience. There is something very suspicious about it.
Therefore, find some of the green and red flags of a tattoo artist, talk to customers who have had their tattoo done by that artist, and look through some of the Google service reviews.
You do not have to go to the tattoo artist for a consultation now; just do some research.
Day 10: Check With a Professional
If you haven’t found a therapist yet, we suggest it is high time you get one. Other than CBT, they might also recommend exposure therapy.
This is when a professional (at a very slow pace) will expose you to fear under safe and guided supervision.
Day 11: Try Hypnotism Therapy
This is surely taking the procedure a little too far. However, when it comes to different mental health management theories, hypnotism therapy is certainly one of them.
However, you do need to find the right person to execute such therapy. Continue this for at least two more weeks before you finally book a consultation. So, if it takes time, do not rush your healing theory.
Day 12: Find the Right Spot for Your Tattoo
So, today’s task is big. You will sit and find the right place to get the tattoo, fixing a spot that you can’t see.
Plus, the tattoo that you would want to get. Pick a simple and meaningful tattoo for your first time.
Day 13: Go For Your First Consultation
Again, this is not the day you get your tattoo but a consultation. If you have a fear, the right thing is to talk to the person who is tattooing you.
Understand how they are going to make you comfortable during a process. Plus, do not pick just one artist; speak to at least five and understand how they differ.
Day 14: Remember The Pain Is Bearable
Remember, your fear of needles has nothing to do with your natural pain tolerance. If you do not pick a “painful” spot, you will see that the pain is bearable. It will sting a little, but you won’t have to clench your teeth the whole time, wondering when it will end.
Hopefully, in this guide, I was able to give you the right guide to getting a tattoo as someone who fears needles.
It is time to get that first tattoo and share your experience.
Happy tattooing!
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