Getting a Tattoo - Where it Hurts!

So you want a tattoo? Believe it or not, deciding where to place this piece of art might be more challenging than deciding what type of tattoo art to put there.

The decision to have a tattoo is a personal one. No one can tell you what to do with your body - unless you are under 18 years old and Mom and Dad still have control!

Tattoos are considered permanent body art, so what you choose and where you choose to display it should not be done without some forethought. I mean, if you are thinking of becoming the next President of the United States, you might want to stay away from controversial pieces placed on highly visible areas.

Next point to consider is your tolerance for pain. Let's face it, tattoos hurt. Having your skin scraped and prodded with needles is never painless! If you have never had a tattoo, you first need to know your own threshold for pain - in addition, knowing your own body is helpful too. Remember, the bigger and more colorful the tattoo is, the longer the process will take.

Several tattoo artists from years of experience, will say that areas on your body that have more mass are the least painful. Such areas like the upper arm, bicep, calf, thigh, shoulder blades and back are considered to be ideal for tattoos. Keep in mind though, that anything on your back that is positioned close to your spine, or that crosses over your spine may become very uncomfortable and is more likely to be highly sensitive due to the nerve segments in the spinal cord.

The areas considered to be the most painful for tattoos, are all related to parts of the body with the highest nerve endings, areas that have an absence of fat, or are closer to the bone. Areas on your face - like your eye brows, lips and behind your ear are all considered high nerve areas. Just like the tops of the feet and ankles, the rib cage and sides, inside of the upper arm or arm pits, and lastly the groin area.

It is also said that any area on your body that is highly ticklish can be considered very painful, even excruciating to endure.

Besides the placement on the body to consider, it is wise to do some research about the tattoo artist and studio. How experienced are they? Shop around, ask for prices and look at the artist's portfolio. The more experienced the artist, the larger his or her portfolio will be.

When deciding upon a tattoo and artist it's more important not to make a spur of the moment decision and don't settle. Make your choice based on what you really want and where you really want the tattoo. After all, this tattoo will remain with you for quite some time!