Tattoos hurt, but you can take the edge off. We've got your back (or your arm) if you have an upcoming tattoo appointment and feel a little nervous about it.
We’ve got you anywhere you’re getting a tattoo. Numbing the area before an appointment can reduce your discomfort during a tattoo session.
Here’s what you need to know about numbing your skin like a pro before you get a tattoo.
Does Numbing Your Skin Before a Tattoo Really Help?
If you’ve had a tattoo and prefer not to feel that sensation again, or if you’ve never had a tattoo and don’t want to feel uncomfortable, you can numb the area. Numbing the area won’t prevent you from feeling every sensation of a tattoo, but it can turn the dial down a few notches.
Think of it this way: numbing can take some of the punch out of a tattoo. It’s similar to how it feels when you put special cream on an itchy ant bite or soothing cream on a sunburn.
It really sucked before, but the topical gel or lotion you used made it bearable. Numbing cream for tattoos has the same effect and contains some of the same ingredients.
Can Numbing Cream Mess Up Your Tattoo?
Numbing creams and gels that weren’t made for tattoos could mess up your experience. If they have fragrance or artificial ingredients, like some numbing creams used for skin waxing, they might irritate your skin.
If they’re very oily, they may make it difficult for your tattoo artist to do their job. Products made for sore muscles, like capsaicin rubs, can really burn your skin when you get a tattoo. You should always use a product specifically for tattoos.
Hush tattoo numbing gel is formulated with Lidocaine HCl 4%, which numbs your skin, plus a blend of botanicals like aloe vera, green tea and comfrey.
While numbing your skin, you’re giving it what it needs to stay nourished. It’s the perfect combination of ingredients for a tattoo numbing gel.
How Does Numbing Cream Work?
While some tattoo numbing products (like our Gel) contain bonus ingredients to soothe and condition skin, their main purpose is to numb your skin. The ingredient responsible for the numbing sensation is lidocaine.
Lidocaine is used as a local anesthetic. Dentists and surgeons use lidocaine on people who undergo procedures without general anesthesia. It prevents the area from relaying sensation from your skin to your brain.
Topical lidocaine is like a less intense version of a lidocaine shot. It doesn’t penetrate as deeply, but it doesn’t need to. Your tattoo is only going a few millimeters deep into your skin.
Lidocaine sinks into your skin and reaches the nerves, dulling their response. You won’t feel as much pain when lidocaine disrupts the messages your nerves are sending.
How To Numb Skin Before a Tattoo
If you want to numb your skin before your tattoo, plan ahead: check the product label for timing, and count your travel time if your tattoo artist is far away.
Prep the Area
Your skin needs to be able to absorb the lidocaine. If you have dirt or oil on the surface of your skin, it will act like a barrier. This reduces the amount of lidocaine your skin can absorb.
Gently wash the area with warm water and mild antibacterial soap to remove debris and oil from your skin. Gently pat it dry with a paper towel.
Apply HUSH Gel
Apply HUSH Gel to the area where you’ll get your tattoo, plus a little extra room on each side. Follow the label directions for how much to use.
Don’t rub it in. Just let it sit.
Wait It Out
Tattoo numbing products don’t work immediately. Follow the label directions for how long to leave it on.
Most tattoo artists won’t mind if you show up to your appointment with your numbing product still on. Call ahead and ask your tattoo artist how they’d like to handle it, and don’t go past the label directions.
You’re Ready To Go
When the label directions say it’s time, use a paper towel to gently wipe the numbing product off your skin.
Your tattoo artist can go through the rest of the motions of preparing you for your tattoo. You can use our session bundle of tattoo prep products for the process.
When your tattoo starts, it may feel more manageable than going in un-numbed.
You’ll definitely know your tattoo artist is working, but you may be comfortable enough to sit through your tattoo session. Results vary by person and placement.
Your artist will give you instructions on taking care of your tattoo, and you should follow them. Ask your artist about our aftercare set. The aftercare set has a special spray that you can use for lingering discomfort after your tattoo.
In a few days, it’s going to be really itchy. The itch might make you a little crazy, especially since you aren’t allowed to scratch it. Our Healing Spray brings aftercare comfort to healing ink; use it only as the label directs.
Never Get a Tattoo Without HUSH
Tattoos can hurt, but you can make them more comfortable. HUSH makes tattoo care products for every step. We use ingredients like plant extracts and CBD in our aftercare, while our Gel contains lidocaine to help take the edge off during your session.
Why do things the hard way when you don’t have to?
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