October 23, 2026
Tattoo Myths vs. Tattoo Truths: Know Your Tattoos!
Tattoo myth or tattoo truth? When it comes to the tattoo world, many people have beliefs about things which are far from true. Here are some tattoo myths vs the tattoo truths you may not realize you had fallen victim to. This is your sign to always do your research!
Myth No. 1:
Firstly, Drinking Alcohol or taking Aspirin helps to numb the tattoo pain and make the process easier. This, however, is very false. In reality, drinking or taking aspirin before an appointment, actually thins out your blood. This is a problem because you blood ten is much more likely to push out the ink through its bleeding and make the tattoo heal much lighter than intended to be. It is just a bad look as a client to drink before an appointment, or even the night before, because it makes it much harder for the artist to produce good, proud work. Don’t be that client!
Myth No. 2:
Another common myth is that tattoos feel like cat scratches or some sort of injection. This is not entirely untrue; however, it is not accurate. In the end the tattoo pain will vary based on placement. Some parts of the body are more sensitive due less protected nerves because there is less muscle or fat to cover them. This would be areas like elbows, knees, arm pit etc. Plus, even on the less painful areas, the tattoo will feel more like a slow scratch or intense pressure. Not like an injection.
Myth No. 3:
A very harmful myth, which many people act on and believe, is that using a lot of ointment (whether it be Aquaphor, Butter-lux etc.) will help keep the tattoo moist and aid the healing process. This is not true! Drowning or over-using your ointment on a fresh tattoo actually suffocates the tattoo. This means it is not allowing the tattoo to get the oxygen it needs for the cells in our body to heal correctly. It causes the ink to be pulled from your body and can cause breakouts. You only need a small amount which you can gently rub into your skin evenly, allowing the tattoo to continue to breathe.
Myth No. 4:
The last myth we will talk about is the tattoo, mid-healing journey. As your tattoo heals, it is likely to scab up, especially if you had a large piece done, or a very dark piece. Some people think that if your tattoo is itchy or scabby it is best to peel the scabs away to help the healing process. This is not true! When you peel and itch your healing tattoo, you are actually pulling the ink out of the fresh tattoo. This will cause the tattoo to heal much lighter than intended and can prolong your healing process. It can also lead to a need for touch-ups. What is best to do is to let the scabs heal on their own time and through their own process. If the tattoo becomes very itchy, you can scratch around, above, or below the entire tattoo to help satisfy the itchy cravings. Otherwise, please just let your body handle the healing process fully to allow your tattoo to look the best it can! It’s worth putting up with the scabs and inchiness in the end!
Do not trust everything you hear about tattoos before doing your own fact check from research or a professional. Learning about these tattoo myths vs. the tattoo truths should help you realize why doing your research is so important!
