One person’s pain is another person’s pleasure. The same can be said for the process of receiving a tattoo. The most common questions in the H&H shop revolve around the feeling of getting a tattoo. Does it hurt? For first timers, the anticipation can be the worst part. But it’s difficult to fully assuage fears of pain because every spot is different for every person.

In general, most tattoo veterans report the tattoo process is more irritating than painful – but always worth it! The two factors that contribute most to a tattoo’s irritation level are time and placement. A 20-minute armband is a very different experience than a large, back-covering tattoo that takes 6 hours or more.

So what about placement? There are plenty of rumors and opinions of where the most and least painful places to get inked are. The truth is it varies from person to person. In general, though, the ribs and anywhere with bone close to the skin is a little more sensitive. Meatier areas like the upper arms tend to be easier.

Orlando tattoo artist Isaac Bills says the last 20-30% of the tattoo is the most difficult, but he’s had just as many clients fall asleep on the table as squirm. The trick is just to take it in stride.

All the tattoo artists at the H&H shop in Orlando are skilled in using the latest tattooing technologies to maximize effect and minimize discomfort. While every artist tunes and runs his tattoo machine a little differently, most machines run at between 6 and 12 volts and use groups of needles in different formations.

Like the name suggests, Round needles are grouped in a circle. The number with the name tells how many needles are used. A BugPin needle is very thin. Artist Isaac likes to use a Round 7 down to a BugPin 3 for outlines.

For fill or coloring, he prefers to load a Magnum (Mag) 7 to 15 into his tattoo machine. Mags have every other pin raised slightly to allow for more ink and less damage to the skin. A Flat is just straight across, more like a small brush.

The good news is the folks at H&H in Orlando are very experienced at working with tattoo virgins and are happy to answer any questions. So, if you’re hesitant to take the plunge, we encourage you to contact us and take care of the most painful part – the anticipation!