Does it Hurt? This has got to be the most asked question in the body art business, next to how much dose it cost. The question itself is a legitimate one. It’s not the question that amazes me, rather it is the answers given by others. It never fails, I have people in the shop, the question is asked and before I can respond, a friend of the customer says “No it doesn’t” or “it tickles” or the famous “it’s like a bee sting."

My reply to the infamous question is: “It is an annoying, burning sensation that is tolerable.” I’ve found the first two minutes is the “getting used to” stage. After that, it’s cake. Of course the rule of thumb is, pain is an individual thing. I’ve had people say they can’t tolerate pain but afterwards say that it wasn’t so bad.

My take on it all is that the apprehension of the unknown is the bigger problem. Once a fear is faced it loses its power. Once the person realizes first hand it’s not so bad, they are liberated from the fear factor. Having been liberated, many look for their next tattoo or piercing right away. So the catch phrase of the day is: “it’s not as bad as you think!”