Once your artist has been set up, it’s finally time to get tattooed. pain is subjective, so we cannot promise that an ear tattoo will not hurt. Vancouver-based tattoo artist Denyse Labarca tells Allure they’re not as painful as you think.
She would rate the pain a two or three on a scale of one to 10, with 10 being the most painful. “A lot of people think her ear will hurt because of the stain and how red it looks, but it doesn’t hurt as much as it looks,” she explains. “a lot of my clients fall asleep or say getting a tattoo on their ear is like a spa treatment. I’ve had two clients say it tickled them!”
Although the pain may not be too intense, like any tattoo, there is always a potential risk of scarring, infection, or an allergic reaction to the ink, according to Connecticut-based dermatologist Mona Gohara. “Any time the skin is compromised, there is a potential for infection and inflammation,” she says. “The process of tattooing is a compromise for the skin.” A more likely side effect of an ear tattoo is keloid scarring, especially for people with darker skin. she also says that anything with cartilage is prone to infection.
After the session, don’t be alarmed if your ear feels warm or looks red, as that’s totally normal, labarca says. Like any new tattoo, you have to keep the area well hydrated and protected from the sun. metz-caporusso says you don’t need anything super fancy for aftercare, just a “simple unscented, dye-free lotion.”
ocean gao, an artist based in new york city, typically covers her clients’ tattoos with a medical-grade healing bandage, like a second skin. suggest an ointment & d, which is usually used for diaper rashes, for aftercare, but they say many of their clients opt for an aquaphor tub, which works too. (For more aftercare products, check out these recommended by tattooists and dermatologists here.)
There are certain ingredients and products you should avoid after your appointment. “I tell all my clients to avoid letting shampoo or soap run directly on the ear tattoo for the first day or two after receiving the tattoo. The same goes for spraying or applying hair products. hair in that period of time,” explains labarca. “After the ear tattoo has healed, you may continue to use all soaps and hair products as usual.”
Toronto tattoo artist Rachel Weldon agrees to ditch the hair products, but goes one step further, suggesting her clients limit hydration to the area during healing, but only for tattoos on the ears. “I’ve found that most people’s bodies produce enough natural oil, especially in the hairline, that it’s not necessary,” she explains. this may differ from other artists’ advice, so ultimately it’s important to ask yours what they recommend.
Tattoos fade over time, regardless of location, so taking care of them, especially in the healing phase, is key. To best preserve your ink, sunscreen is a must, according to London-based gi artist, known as Slowpokes. dr gohara says it should be spf 30 or higher.
