GETTING A TATTOO ... DOES IT HURT?

This is the first question that people ask. The answer is yes. 

Having needles pierce your skin *does* hurt. 

But what you *really* want to know is, "How MUCH does
it hurt, and can I handle it?"

It's not nearly as bad as what you might imagine. The pain comes from
the cluster of needles on the tattooing machine piercing your skin very
rapidly. This sensation, however, doesn't feel like the poking pain of
an injection--it's more of a constant vibration. You will be amazed at
how quickly your body releases endorphins, (pain killers), which dullens
the pain significantly.

The pain will also vary according to where on your body you get worked
on. Skin right above bones (collarbone, anklebone, etc.) tend to be more
painful than other areas. In addition, certain types of needles seem to
hurt more than others. I personally think the needles used for outlining
produce a sharper, more noticeable pain, while the needles used for
shading seem to be much more like an electrical buzz (nearly painless).

Remember, you are volunteering for the experience. The amount of pain
will depend on your psychological attitude.

NOTE: Do not drink alcohol or take illegal drugs for pain relief
purposes prior to your tattoo sessions. Both aspirin and alcohol thin
your blood and promote excessive bleeding. Aspirin also decreases the
clotting of blood, which will slow down your healing as well. In
addition, artists do not appreciate dealing with drunks and is illegal
in many states.

WHAT ABOUT ANAESTHETICS?

Some people say that taking a couple of over-the-counter analgesics
before tattooing can take the edge off the pain.  Acetaminophen,
commonly sold under the brand name 'Tylenol' is generally recommended,
but not aspirin, ibuprofen, or other NSAIDs, as they tend to inhibit
clotting.  In short, you may find yourself bleeding like the
proverbial stuck pig.

For instance, Bactine contains some
lidocaine, and it is possible to buy benzocaine preparations
over the counter.  The drawback of these is that they do not
work on unbroken skin, but if they are applied after the first
pass with the needle, they *can* make a tremendous difference.