Do tattoo artists use numbing cream?

You may have thought about buying numbing cream before, but stopped with the thought- If numbing cream is available now, why don’t tattoo artists use this product and advertise their expertise as ‘pain free’?

The answer isn’t always straight forward and in some cases it is subjective as people have had their own experiences with businesses who advertise their cream in a deceitful way, leaving customers unsatisfied with the product (not like us!).

The first numbing creams were developed in the early 1900’s and started out as a medical product which has slowly developed into a lotion that today is used by professionals all over the world, and now is available to the general public for different uses including: tattooing, laser hair removal, waxing, injections, blood tests, vaccinations, lip fillers and piercings. Our tattoo numbing cream works by blocking the pain signals in the nerves from that area from reaching the brain. Other creams can work slightly differently depending on the components.

Why doesn’t everyone use numbing cream?

1. Some artists consider the pain to be part of the process and tradition of getting a tattoo. Some people also say that the pain benefits them as it is a method to concentrate the brain in one area to help mental health disorders. There is also the possibility of the pain making the moment more memorable and humorous for the customer.
   
   
2. Some products in the market do not work effectively, making tattoo artists with a bad experience not want to buy the product. This opinion is often outdated as numbing creams have developed over time to give customers the best, and most effective service possible.
   
   
3. It is slightly more time consuming, and tattoo artists like to make the most out of their time to fit clients in. However, if you apply in time before your session, this will not be an issue.
   
   
4. A tattoo artist might not offer numbing cream to every client because of the cost of the cream.
   
   
5. Tattoo artists cannot make assumptions that everyone will react the same way to the numbing cream, some people may be allergic. If you buy it yourself you can test a small amount on your arm to test for the small possibility of your skin being sensitive towards it. 

You may be thinking, ‘this is all personal preference, surely tattoo artists should give the option to their customer’. This is right, and this is exactly why some tattoo artists do not supply it- essentially it’s not down to them, it is your responsibility as it is your personal preference.

Should I use tattoo numbing cream?

Numbing cream can be beneficial for everyone included in this painful process, but both parties need to be open towards trying it out. It is best to take your pain threshold into consideration and understand that certain places of the body will hurt more than others, for example, if you are planning on getting a big tattoo on the ribs or elbows, we would advise getting tattoo numbing cream. Follow the link to order yours online now!