Numbing Cream, Laugh Now Cry Now
I get it—the first thing everyone asks about is the pain. Getting a tattoo does hurt, but your body is designed to handle it. The pain isn't just a nuisance; it’s a necessary trigger for your body's best defense: the endorphin rush.
The Natural Endorphin Wave
The moment the needle touches the skin, your body responds by releasing a rush of endorphins and adrenaline. Endorphins are natural painkillers that create a calming, focused state. This is that "tattoo zen" feeling—the initial sting gives way to a rhythmic, manageable sensation. This natural high helps you ride the wave of the session more smoothly than any cream can.
The Problem with Numbing Cream
While the temporary relief sounds appealing, the side effects of numbing creams often complicate the tattooing and healing process:
It Changes the Canvas: The most significant issue is what it does to your skin. The cream often makes the skin rubbery, swollen, or unusually tough. This makes my job harder because the needle doesn't penetrate smoothly. I have to apply more pressure, which can cause more trauma to the skin than the tattoo itself and lead to patchy healing.
The Pain Cliff: Numbing creams rarely last the whole session, usually 1-2 hours tops. When the effect wears off, it often happens abruptly. You crash from feeling nothing to feeling a sharp jolt of intense pain that is much harder to process than the natural, gradual sensation you would have felt otherwise.
Compromised Ink: When the skin is rubbery or swollen, it doesn't accept the pigment correctly. This means the ink can struggle to settle, often leading to poor saturation or the pigment "falling out" during the healing stage.
Ultimately, we believe that relying on your body's natural defense mechanism ensures a smoother, cleaner tattooing process, better ink saturation, and a healthier final result. The discomfort is temporary, but the art is forever. Trust the process.
I do recommend one thing very highly and I use it on everyone and that's Hustlebutter Numbing Spray. This stuff is amazing but it's a spray you use during the tattoo generally for the second half of the session when you really need it. All my clients love it!
Written by Brian Ulibarri
