I'm fine with numbing cream as long as my clients understand there are no guarantees of it being a perfect solution to completely avoid tattoo pain. I am not a medical professional. All information on this page is based on my personal experience and what I've observed with clients. Numbing cream is always just an option; clients are freely using these products at their own risk.

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things to consider:

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• When applied properly, it can be effective.
   

• They work best in fleshy areas.
   

• Most clients have told me it's been helpful, even though it didn't last the whole appointment.

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• The numbness will most likely not last through the whole appointment. They typically last about an hour to a couple of hours. If the cream wears off before I finish tattooing the stencil, all the pain coming back could feel worse since your body didn’t have time to get used to the sensations. I cannot reapply the cream if I’m still outlining because it will clean off the stencil. We will have to keep powering through since it's very difficult to place the stencil on exactly the same again.
   

• The cream's efficacy can vary between brands and person to person, as well as how quickly the body metabolizes lidocaine. It's different for everyone. Some may say one brand doesn't work as well and others may say it does. I haven't found any sure way to know.
   

• The creams could change the texture of the skin, often making it feel thicker and rubbery. This may affect the time it takes to complete your tattoo and the quality, possibly resulting in additional tattoo appointments.
   

• Some creams can cause the skin to flush deep pink to red, and sometimes bruise. It only looks intense for a few days after, but they generally heal ok. That being said, because the tattoo can become very flush, I may not be able to complete some single-day pieces in one session. The excessive redness can make it difficult for me to see what I'm doing. Additional appointments will need to be booked at cost.

The highest legal percentage you can buy over the counter is 5% lidocaine (the active ingredient). There are many brands to choose from online. I recommend purchasing ahead of time and doing an allergy patch test several days before your tattoo appointment. 

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Instructions:

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You will need to do this yourself at least 2 hours before your tattoo appointment. I do not recommend going larger than the size of standard printer paper.

 

1. Wash and exfoliate the area that's going to be tattooed.

 

2. Apply a generous layer of numbing cream. Make sure it covers the area and a bit more over.

 

3. Apply a sheet of plastic wrap over the cream and massage it into the skin a bit. Make sure there are no air bubbles. Use tape to secure the edges. Let it sit for 30 minutes.

 

4. After 30 minutes, peel the plastic off, apply another thick layer over what's already there and massage it in a bit. Reapply plastic wrap the same way as before. Let the cream sit for another hour to an hour and a half.
 

To be effective, the cream should be on your skin for about 1.5 to 2 hours. Wear it to the studio to maximize efficacy. It's ok if it's on for a little longer than the recommended 2 hours.

 

Hopefully, this information helps. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.