Do you want a tattoo but are afraid about the pain? If getting a new tattoo soon and getting it in a sensitive location, numbing lotion may be an option to help you cope with the agony of the needles inking your skin. However, many people have questions about tattoo numbing creams like do they work, and do numbing creams affect new tattoos?
There is a lot of debate in the tattoo community if tattoo numbing cream affects new tattoos. In general, numbing cream does not affect tattoos and only helps your tattooing experience.
The tattoo process is a lot easier when planned ahead of time. Starting the numbing cream process an hour before the tattoo may seem excessive, but it's well worth it! Giving the numbing cream that long to kick it will have the almost area completely numb. This allows for less pain and stress for both the tattooer and the person receiving a tattoo.
Always ensure to apply the cream to dry, unwashed skin at least 45 minutes before starting the tattoo.
In this article, we will dive into everything about tattoo numbing sprays including:
Tattoo numbing lotions, ointments, and sprays are all very similar. To put it simply, you apply them to the tattoo site and they numb it.
Lidocaine is the active component that helps achieve the desired numbing. Lidocaine is a member of the "caine" family of medicines that originated from the Coca plant; you may be familiar with Cocaine, lidocaine's crazier cousin. Lidocaine does not contain the intoxicating effects of cocaine, but when applied to the skin, it causes numbness by blocking your nerves from relaying pain signals to your brain.
If you choose to utilize a tattoo numbing agent, the procedure is normally simple and quick. The tattoo numbing agent will be applied to the tattoo region and gently rubbed in by your tattoo artist or by yourself. After that, you'll wait a few minutes before starting to receive your tattoo. Allowing the tattoo numbing spray to sit for a few minutes ensures that it absorbs into the skin and begins to work before the tattooing begins.
However, some tattoo numbing creams are the most optimal when left on the skin for 30 minutes or more before receiving a tattoo. It is recommended to ask your tattoo artist about numbing cream prior to your appointment. That way you can put the cream on the area that will be tattooed before arriving at the tattoo shop. This gives the numbing cream ample time to sink into your skin and take effect.
Some numbing creams work better if the skin is already broken, meaning the tattoo has been started already. If you are using a numbing cream like this, tattoo artists would prefer to finish the outline of the tattoo before putting it on the tattoo numbing cream. This way the stencil of the tattoo won’t be rubbed off when applying the cream.
Tattoo numbing agents come in a variety of forms, including tattoo numbing spray, tattoo numbing lotion, and tattoo numbing ointment. You may be debating which option is best for you and your new tattoo. Thankfully, the distinctions between the three are easy to understand.
The most versatile, popular, and easily openable tattoo numbing agent is Tattoo Numbing Cream. It's not as difficult to administer as a numbing spray, and it doesn't need to be used as frequently. Tattoo Numbing Cream can be used on practically any tattoo area.
Most numbing creams have different ways to apply them, some you have to apply up to 60 before your session. Others you have to apply after the tattoo has started. Following that, the numbing effect lasts for 3-4 hours; however, if you apply the needle numbing cream to your face, the numbing effect may last for a shorter time.
So there you have it- you can go into your next needle session without dread or anxiety, and relax throughout the session.
Tattoo Numbing Spray is the simplest tattoo numbing agent to use. It does, however, require the most frequent application. This is because sprays do not last as long as creams or ointments. Most creams will last the whole session while you will have to apply a spray 3 to 4 times per session.
Tattoo numbing spray is an excellent numbing agent for minor tattoos on sensitive places such as the face.
The most powerful of the three tattoo numbing treatments is Tattoo Numbing Ointment. It simply requires one or two applications. It adheres nicely to the skin and is ideal for larger tattoos or tattoos in particularly painful areas.
Your tattoo artist will know which tattoo numbing agent is best for your tattoo, so don't be concerned about which one they use; they have your best interests at heart.
The most popular question about tattoo numbing is: Do these tattoo numbing creams, ointments, and sprays actually work?
In short: Yes, tattoo numbing creams do work.
However, they are not a miracle cream that will make all of your problems go away. They will, however, make the discomfort manageable, and in some situations, much more so.
Just remember that tattoo numbing creams' job is to "take the edge off" during your tattoo session. They are not required for every tattoo, but they are occasionally just what the doctor ordered.
Tattoo numbing creams are advised for most people and situations. The most common situations for numbing creams are if you're having a tattoo in a very sensitive location, or if you're getting a large tattoo.
They're also helpful if you're frightened. If the dread of pain is the only thing keeping you from getting your ideal tattoo, then a tattoo numbing agent should be used. After that, sit back, relax, and enjoy your new tattoo.
You shouldn’t need any form of tattoo numbing if you are getting a small tattoo in a non-sensitive area. If you need help finding what areas of the body are sensitive and non-sensitive for tattoos visit Vlogigurl’s Tattoo Pain Guide.
Numbing cream isn’t needed for smaller tattoos because most small tattoos take less than one hour to complete and most creams take longer than that to take effect. Making a thirty-minute tattoo turn into a two-hour tattoo. With that stated, if you're truly nervous or insistent on using one on your tattoo, go ahead and use a tattoo numbing spray. No one will make fun of you, and your new tattoo will not be made worse.
It is up to you (the customer) to determine whether or not you want to use an anesthetic prior to your tattoo. You will often have to bring up the topic of numbing cream to your tattoo artist.
The reason tattoo artists rarely give numbing cream prior to the tattoo is due to the cost of the cream and the time commitment required to administer the cream (cleaning the skin, applying the cream before the tattoo appointment). Therefore, ensure to do your own research prior to talking to your tattoo artist. Although, your tattoo artist should be honest with you and point you in the correct direction.
It has also been reported, not proven, that once the tattoo numbing cream does wear off, the pain comes back twice as much. If you and your tattoo artist are able to manage the time of your tattoo session so that the numbing cream doesn’t wear off you should be fine.
The vast majority of people who have had a tattoo have returned for another. Seventy percent of people with tattoos have more than one, and twenty percent have five or more. If the pain of getting a tattoo was so unbearable a lot more people would not be able to go through with it.
Many tattoo artists are hesitant to give their clients any form of numbing cream. There are multiple reasons for this, but the two main ones are infections and tradition.
Most tattoo numbing creams come from china and are not as strictly regulated as you would hope. A common reason that tattoos become infected is because of numbing cream with chemicals or fiberglass inside it. You can purchase high-quality numbing creams, sprays, and ointments from reputable sellers that are not likely to have extra bad things inside of them. However, they are often very expensive and either the tattoo artist or the client doesn’t want to spend the money on them.
Some artists (and consumers) may argue that suffering is a necessary element of the process. They might consider it part of the process when you decide to get a tattoo, ink on your skin for the rest of your life. Also, consumers have been receiving tattoos for a long time prior to tattoo numbing creams becoming a thing.
If you invest in a good numbing lotion the chances of it interfering with the tattoo ink or producing any negative side effects goes way down. Basically, you get what you pay for. While even poor-quality numbing creams have not been shown to fade tattoos, it is still advised to speak with your tattoo artist before purchasing. Some people have found that the healing process for the tattoo appears to take longer after applying a numbing lotion than without one.
Depending on the type of numbing cream you choose, you may have little to no discomfort for the first hour of the tattoo if you use it before the tattoo (and follow the directions correctly). After an hour, your skin will become more sensitive, and you will feel the needle machine working against your skin. Your skin will eventually restore full sensitivity in the affected area.
Some creams, on the other hand, claim to last up to four hours after application. For tiny tattoos, these lotions are more expensive and unneeded. If you're planning a long tattoo, a stronger cream might be a better investment because you don't want the cream to fade while there's still time left in your session.
Tattoo numbing products are one of the best ways to reduce the pain of getting a tattoo. However, there are other techniques to reduce the discomfort of having a tattoo if you don't want to take anesthesia. Consider the following possibilities:
Ensure you purchase a high-quality tattoo numbing cream to avoid any major side effects. Also, always speak to your tattoo artist before purchasing your numbing cream. While you won't feel any discomfort throughout the procedure, a tattoo artist can work without being distracted by pain or movement. Use the cream according to the package directions.
Do you have any questions concerning tattoo numbing creams? Let us know in the comments section below. Or follow Vlogigurl on Instagram!
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