No Pain Tattoo Blog | Tattoo Tips, News & Artist Features
What is a Halloween Flash Special? Your Guide to Spooky Ink & GWYG
(Banner Image: The Halloween GWYG machine at Historic Tattoo in Portland, OR) As the spooky season approaches, you might see your favorite tattoo studios buzzing with excitement about a special event:...
Tattoo Pain After a Week: Is It Normal, or Should You Be Worried?
Understanding the Post-First-Week Tattoo Experience  You've made it through the first week with your new tattoo. The initial sting has subsided, the constant wrapping is over, and you're starting...
A Guide to Your First Tattoo on a Visible Area
You're ready for your first tattoo, and you're not interested in hiding it. You want a piece of art that you can see and enjoy every day, a bold statement...
How to Handle the Anxiety Before Your First Tattoo
The day is finally here. Your appointment for your first tattoo is just a few hours away, and the excitement you've been feeling for weeks is starting to mix with a...
What to Do if You Feel Uncomfortable at Your Tattoo Appointment
You did all your research. You had a great tattoo consultation and you were excited for your appointment. But now you're at the studio, and something feels wrong. Maybe the artist...
A Guide to "Tattoo Shock": When Your New Ink Feels a Little Strange
You’ve just gotten home from your tattoo appointment. You look in the mirror at your new art, and a strange, unexpected feeling washes over you. It's not exactly regret, but...
A Guide to Getting Your First Tattoo as an Athlete
As an athlete, you are disciplined, dedicated, and deeply in tune with your body. A tattoo can be a powerful way to honor that dedication—a symbol of your strength, your...
How Tattoo Artists Use Negative Space in a Design: A Guide to the Art of What Isn't There
It’s a perfect time to be scrolling for inspiration for your next piece of ink. As you look at stunning, complex designs, you might notice that the most powerful tattoos...
What is a "Color Test" in Tattooing? A Guide to a Safer Tattoo
You're in a tattoo consultation, discussing your first big color piece. You might mention to your artist that you have sensitive skin or are worried about a potential reaction to the...
What Happens if You "Tap Out" During a Tattoo Session?
You're hours into a long tattoo session. You've done everything right to prepare for tattoo pain, but you've hit a wall. The pain is becoming unbearable, you're starting to feel unwell,...
What is a "Shop Rate" vs. an "Artist Rate" in Tattooing?
You're in the planning stages of a new tattoo, and you're trying to figure out the cost. You've probably heard artists talk about their "hourly rate," but you might also...
The Art of White Ink: A Guide to Effective Use in Tattoos
White ink holds a certain mystique in the tattoo world. It can be used to create stunning, ethereal designs or the brilliant, high-contrast highlights that make a tattoo "pop." But...