Should You Use Numbing Cream?

Recently, numbing cream has been a hot topic on social media! 

There were different aspects of whether numbing cream should be applied or not. Some say it affects the tattoo a lot so there are cases where artists cancel appointments and have clients go back. Opinions do contrast upon numbing cream but I think this is a difference in opinions based on the artists' tattoo styles!

Let me tell you my opinion from my personal experience.

To cut to the chase, I do not allow my clients to use numbing cream. 

Numbing cream itself makes the skin firmer. I would recommend using numbing cream for traditional or linework tattoos because I strongly believe that my clients should not need to endure unnecessary pain. In fact, if I were an artist specializing in color-packing, I would have started every consultation after applying numbing cream.

However, I specialize in creating highly detailed tattoos, meticulously drawing each hair using single needles.  When we use numbing cream in this case, it limits the level of detail I can achieve because the skin gets firm. For example, if I had to draw 100 fur strokes, I would only be able to draw 70. In this case, I could simply fill in with color and shade, but you chose me to draw each hair meticulously, right? I believe enduring a bit of pain for a few hours for the best outcomes is worth it. I mean, no pain no gain. 

There is a way to still use numbing cream with my style of art but drawbacks do exist. Tattoos that require more intricate detail like mine tend to heal with reduced detail when numbing cream is used (about 70% detail retention). So, a second session will be necessary to make up for this loss (about 50% more detail). Please consider this option and the budget implications as it does take much more time. Additionally, it's important to know that I do not have any numbing cream, so you'll need to obtain it at your own cost.) Also, note that using numbing cream may result in different healed results compared to clients who do not use it.)

There were videos on Instagram discussing low saturation of colors, and there were many comments claiming they hadn’t had any issues for years. Frankly, I haven't experienced a color change myself. Perhaps this can be an influence of different brands on numbing creams. Tattoo artists cannot access BLT cream(Prescription numbing cream), so we end up choosing from various products available to us, many of which are actually counterfeit in the market. It may be specific brand products that affect the color saturation. It was easy to see that artists were sharing their experiences and preferences regarding different brands in the comments. Sometimes, I have clients who come in after applying numbing cream without reading my FAQ, and they occasionally have red rashes on their skin. Using any over-the-counter numbing cream or even medical-grade cream can lead to side effects if your skin is sensitive.

I've been using a numbing spray on my clients for a few years now. This product primarily contains Lidocaine 5%, which is a bit pricey. Among the various brands I've tried, it's the only one that has no side effects and provides a clear numbing effect. However, it's not as strong as a cream, so its effect only lasts around 20-30 minutes, rather than a few hours. If applied more than 3-4 times, the skin eventually becomes firm, similar to numbing cream, so there's a limit on frequency. Additionally, it only works on open skin, so I have to scratch the entire tattoo area for the first hour to prepare the skin before applying it. (FYI: After applying a numbing spray, it temporarily creates a bright outline around the tattoo as seen in the thumbnail.)

My usual process involves light shading in black and grey for the initial hour, which is almost painless, followed by layering colors. The sensation is similar to lightly scratching the skin with your fingernails.

Most of my sessions end within 1.5 to 2 hours, so one application of the numbing spray is sufficient. If your session extends, I'll reapply it every hour. However, I typically don't do sessions longer than 5-6 hours with a single client. In such cases, I divide the session. If you experience excessive discomfort, feel free to let me know even after three hours, and we can continue in the next session. Your comfort is essential, so don't hesitate to communicate!