do tattoo's hurt at the top of the back/ bottom of neck area? would it be best to use emla cream beforehand or would it not be worth it

It depends on your own pain threshold really, and if there's much flesh, less meat, more pain. It would also depend on how big and intricate the tatt is, if the tattooist is having to go over the same bit over and over, then that will get sore.

yes they do.I was surprised as I had an old tattoo re coloured on my arm and there was nothing to it and at the same time I had a cross done on my back just below my neck and I can tell you I had to grit my teeth,im not sure you can use a cream best ask first.

Not had one done in that area, but can recomend taking glucose tablets before having the tat done, as it'll stop the faint/sick/panick feeling you can get from the drop in blood-sugar caused from getting the tat (pain/stress/shock).
With my first tattoo (lower back) the pain was much less than I thought it would be, but I felt soooo faint and sick that I had to have a 10m min break before he could finish it off, after he'd given me a glucose tablet.
I did a bit of research before having the second 2 (one on shoulder, one down the side of my leg/knee) and ate a few glucose tablets before I had them done - I had them done 1 straight after the other. Depsite the one down the side of my knee really hurting in places (the bony bit) I never felt faint or sick so was very pleased :)

So, keep your blood-sugar up by making sure you have eaten well, or had a mars bar 20 mins before or have some glucose tablets and it should help you with your tattoo.

Thanks, i will go get some before as it is my first tatoo so dont know what i would do , best to be on the safe side

I couldn't tell you wether or not it will hurt as I've never experienced it but I just wanted to ask.....Are you all mental?!?!  Why on earth would you pay for someone to do this to you?  And with it being so painful??  Am I missing something, glucose tablets to stop you fainting?  Why on earth?  Am I maybe too old?.....I dunno.....

im a big fan of tats and have a few myself, i would strongly recomend Not putting anything on the skin before having work done, the tattoo artist will use an ointment whilst doing the tattoo this is what helps soothe the skin, but at the end of the day tattoos can hurt but it always depends on the person, just make sure you have eaten before, this can have a huge affect if your not a good pain taker!!! i normally drink a bottle of coke if i know i having a lot of work done, just keeps the sugar level topped up, and i have never felt faint or woozy afterwards! hope all goes well!!! and make sure its a repitble tattoo shop, not a cheap tattoo studio, because its there on you for ever!!!!!!

Do make absolutely sure your going to a reputable studio, you should also try and view a few different artists to see who's work you like the look of. A good studio would rather talk you out of a tatt than take your money if your unsure.

I've never found tatt's to be that painful, irritating, but not painful.

> Thanks, i will go get some before as it is my first tatoo so dont know what i would do , best to be on the safe side

As others have said, make sure it's a reputable studio. If you are nervous (I was very nervous with my first tat) then don't be afraid talk it through with the tatooist, they should be very understanding & reasuring.

For me, on my first tat, that horrible sick/faint feeling was much worse than the pain of the tattoo, so do remember to do something to keep your blood-sugar up and it will be a much more tollerable experience :)

Best of luck and rememebr to let us know how it went.

One piece of advice. My daughter decided she wanted her star sign (Gemini) put on the back of her neck. Unfortunately she had it done whilst lent forward, stretching her neck, with her chin down. When she sat up afterwards it meant the tattoo was compressed so it now looks like the roman numeral for 2. It's only when she stretches her head/neck that you see what it should look like.

thanks everyone i got it done this afternoon, it wasn't as bad as i thought !

So what did you get ?

> it wasn't as bad as i thought

it never is. tattoos are like childbirth. people that have done it like to boast to those who havent that it is the worst pain in the world, however, once you have been through the experience yourself you discover it's never as bad as those people made out!!
Are you already planning your next one...they can be quite addictive :-)

i got a dove with the words love,peace and happiness on it and a nice pattern on it !
this one will do for now haha !