roger_vasak

If I had a painless needle, I’d use it here.

Moments like this mean a lot to me.

There are thousands of tattoo artists and millions of things that you could do with your time and money.

I appreciate all my clients for the level of freedom and trust they give me.

I appreciate everyone who takes the time out their day to look at my art.

If you’re reading this, I appreciate you.

If you randomly saw some random design, I’m probably not the right artist for you.

If you’ve been sitting on an idea for years wanting something that unlocks the version of yourself that you want the world to see, then don’t I’m the best person to talk to so don’t hesitate to message me.

As a tattoo artist with 8k+ hours of experience, here’s what I’ve seen work for managing pain.

1. Get a well-rested sleep
I had a client show up for a leg sleeve session looking beat. He’d been up all night playing poker. It ended up being his worst session ever. Your body spends the session trying to survive—make sure it’s in optimal condition to do that.

2. Load up on carbs
I once sat for a shading session while on the keto diet (high fat, no carbs). It was my most painful session ever. When you’re in pain, your body needs an easy energy source. Carbs are the simplest fuel for your body to pull from. Fat burns too slow when you’re in pain for 8 hours.

3. Breathe when the artist pulls a line
People usually pass out because they’re holding their breath. Do the opposite: breathe. It relaxes the body. If holding your breath is the worst thing you can do, it makes sense that breathing is the best.

4. Overload another sense
I tattooed a client’s chest while he blasted music in his headphones. He said the music hurt his ears, but it kept him distracted from the needle. If you overload one sense, your mental focus shifts there. It won’t eliminate the pain, but it helps.

These won’t stop the pain completely, but it’s what I’ve observed throughout my career. I recommend this for anyone nervous about their first tattoo or a long session.

Follow me for more tattoo secrets.

Bonus tip: if you’re wondering about numbing creams or sprays, they do work. However, not all artists are okay with using it. Numbing creams change the texture of the skin while sprays only work when the skins open.

How long have you been thinking about your tattoo?

Large scale tattoos aren’t something you think about one time and later get tattooed.

People spend years thinking about getting a tattoo.

Some wait until they’re deep in their career.

Some wait till they’re a father or mother and finally decide to get a tattoo.

Some wait until something changes in their lives.

Regardless of the reason, when you do it, you’ll finally see the person you’ve been waiting for.