Five Painful Places to Get a Tattoo

WRONG!!! This aritcle is just wrong. First off I have been a tattoo arist for the past ten years. The first thing I tell people is to not worry about the pain, this is a tattoo, it hurts, that pain is what is supposed to keep you from doing something stupid. So if you are not committed enough to get it where you want it, you should not be getting tattooed. Believe me, a reputable arist would rather work on someone who knows what they want, then someone who is getting something to be trendy or cute. For all those people who are complaining about how you hate your tattoos, all I can say is you got what you deserve. Didn't think about it did you? You got a tattoo for the wrong reasons and now you regret it, thats your fault.

WRONG!!! This article is just wrong. First off I have been a tattoo artist for the past ten years. The first thing I tell people is to not worry about the pain, this is a tattoo, it hurts, that pain is what is supposed to keep you from doing something stupid. So if you are not committed enough to get it where you want it, you should not be getting tattooed. Believe me, a reputable arist would rather work on someone who knows what they want, then someone who is getting something to be trendy or cute. For all those people who are complaining about how you hate your tattoos, all I can say is you got what you deserve. Didn't think about it did you? You got a tattoo for the wrong reasons and now you regret it, thats your fault.

I have a tattoo behind my ear and I am extremely sensitive to pain. It did not hurt at all. In fact, I giggled.
Contrary to what Ehrenfeld may think, directly behind your ear has very few nerve endings. I think what they mean when they say a "behind the ear" tattoo is in fact on the high neck area, which does have a lot of nerve endings.

Black henna tattoos are NOT safe!
from Wikipedia: ???Black Henna??? is a misnomer arising from imports of plant-based hair dyes into the West in the late 19th century. Partly fermented, dried indigo was called ???black henna??? because it could be used in combination with henna to dye hair black. This gave rise to the belief that there was such a thing as ???black henna??? which could dye skin black. Indigo will not dye skin black. Pictures of indigenous people with black body art (either alkalized henna or from some other source) also fed the belief that there was such a thing as ???black henna.???

In the 1990s, henna artists in Africa, India, the Arabian Peninsula and the West began to experiment with para-phenylenediamine (PPD) based black hair dye, applying it as a thick paste as they would apply henna, in an effort to find something that would quickly make jet black temporary body art. PPD can cause severe allergic reactions, with blistering, intense itching, permanent scarring, and permanent chemical sensitivities[25] [26]. Estimates of allergic reactions range between 3% and 15%. Henna does not cause these injuries[27]. Henna boosted with PPD can cause life long health damage. [28]

Para-phenylenediamine is illegal for use on skin in western countries, though enforcement is lax. When used in hair dye, the PPD amount must be below 6%, and application instructions warn that the dye not touch the scalp and the dye must be quickly rinsed away. ???Black henna??? pastes have PPD percentages from 10% to 60%, and are left on the skin for half an hour.

Para-phenylenediamine ???black henna??? use is widespread, particularly in tourist areas. Because the blistering reaction appears 3 to 12 days after the application, most tourists have left and do not return to show how much damage the artist has done. This permits the artists to continue injuring others, unaware they are causing severe injuries. The high profit margins of ???black henna??? and the demand for body art that emulates ???tribal tattoos??? further encourage artists to ignore the dangers. It is not difficult to recognize and avoid para-phenylenediamine ???black henna???:

if a paste stains torso skin black in less than ½ hour, it has PPD in it, and little or no henna.
if the paste is mixed with peroxide, or if peroxide is wiped over the design to bring out the color, it has PPD in it, and little or no henna.
Anyone who has an itching and blistering reaction to a black body stain should go to a doctor, and report that they have had an application of para-phenylenediamine to their skin.

PPD sensitivity is life-long and once sensitized, the use of synthetic hair dye can be life threatening [29]. These injuries are not caused by henna, and a person can use henna as hair dye

I have 3 tatoos and if I choose to show them I can or if I don't want to show them I don't have to. The art is very pretty and I do think you should really think before you get one and make sure it is what you want. I think if you get your first one it should be able to be hide in case you don't like it.

I have three tattoos. Every single one means something very near and dear to my heart. I have one on my shoulder, one on the calf and one on the ankle. The one on my shoulder hurt the worst. The one on my ankle i was laughing so hard i was crying it tickeled so much. I just asked a coworker about the one behind her ear. About an average pain range. What a stupid article.

I have three tattoos. One on my shoulder, calf and ankle. They all mean something very near and dear to my heart. The one of my shoulder hurt the most . I laughed the entire time getting my ankle done, it tickeled so much. What a dumb article

I have 3 tattoos and I put them where if I need to hide them I can or if I want to show them off I can. Tattoos is not for everyone but if you do get one for the first time make sure you can hide it. I love the art of tattoos. And if yo have a good artist doing it the pain is not bad. And well worth it after it's done.

I totally agree with Nonfiction-I was 38 years old before I got my first and only tattoo. My daughter was 19 and she got one on her foot. It's pretty, but I always tell her to think about what it's going to look like when she's 60 or 70 when considering what and where she gets her next one. Mine is a small sun on my ankle and I have to admit that when I see it in a mirror or passing a store window, I'm still surprised because it's somewhere I really can't see it readily. I think what I'm saying is put a lot of thought into it and don't ever do it spontaneously because that will only result in regret.

I thought I'd add one more comment about this article.. Whoever wrote it must have been in a hurry. It's probably one of the least informative articles I've read this morning. And I read a lot every morning. Find a topic you know more about when you write. Peace!

I got my tattoos when I was under 21 years old. I've hated them ever since! Not that they are off the wall or anything. I just wish I didn't have any tattoos. But they are there regardless of what I want now. I should also note that I think it is a huge turn-off to see a girl with tattoos. And several of my friends agree with me on that. Remember.. These things are permanent! DUH!

Who do you include when you use the term 'we'? Do you have a mouse in your pocket? Don't include me in your little gbroup-that's insulting as is your moronic diatribe towards a cultural tradition. How dare you! Tribal scarring is done to signify African tribes-only the 'ugly americans' have taken it to signify which gang they belong to and have sullied the origination of this tradition.
MAN, somebody with a tattoo must have really done a number on you to be so hateful towards tattoos!! What's your story?

I have three tattoos, one on my lower right back, and one on each of my wrists. The one on my back, a large dreamcatcher with feathers that stretch down onto my buttocks, hurt very badly. I got through it by making fists, and focusing on other things. My wrists did not hurt. There were a few spots that I could feel the drag, but these are simple, black Latin words on my wrists. I thought it would hurt, but it did not hurt for me. And to "quetzl", getting a tattoo is more of a spiritual and meaningful act for some, so don't criticize us.

Tatoo advice? In Newsweek? No wonder I stopped subscribing.

Do NOT get a Black Henna tattoo - it contains PPD, a dye that may scar your skin or cause serious health issues. Go to a reputable Henna Artist who uses only all natural henna. The color may not be as "black" but in my opinion is even more beautiful.

Black Henna is not safe - it contains PPD, which may scar your skin and cause serious health issues. Only use all natural henna that does not contain PPD. It may not get quite as dark as "Black" henna, but in my opinion it's just as beautiful.

I have 7 tattoos and the most painful one was the bottom of the armband on the underside of the upper arm. The least painful- the shoulder.