Let’s start off by saying this: all tattoos hurt. There is not a single spot on your body that doesn’t at least slightly hurt from getting a needle put into it–logically speaking. However, some spots (lower back, upper bicep, ribs) hurt more than others (outside of the shoulder, and forearm).

Painful Spots

Olde City Tattoo in Philadelphia is the perfect place to come and see for yourself exactly how each spot feels and sits with you

This is because, the more nerve endings a part of your body has, the more pain it might cause the synapses in your brain to tell you is occurring. Now, this is all within reason, of course–a 1CM tattoo on your ribs is not going to hurt as much as a three-hour session on your entire outside shoulder. Size, design, color, shading, etc. are all taken into consideration when answering the “how painful” question, but the reality remains: they all hurt a little and temporary pain shouldn’t deter you from a lifetime of looking and feeling like the person you want to be.

Olde City Tattoo in Philadelphia is the perfect place to come and see for yourself exactly how each spot feels and sits with you. Everyone at the shop is patient and knowledgeable and can give you an honest answer about how something might feel compared to another spot or design. We’re here to work with you and make it the best experience possible, not just in the Philadelphia tattoo scene, but in the world.