Best Tattoo Numbing Creams for a Pain-Free Experience

Over the past few years, tattoos have become a self-expression form of art for many tattoo artists. But the thought of clients scared of the needle-piercing pain has worried many artists. This makes them wonder if there is any way to prevent fear of tattoo-induced pain. Here, knowing the best tattoo numbing cream can come as a rescue that can make the tattooing experience of ink lovers so easy and comfortable. The tattoo numbing creams help numb the area and reduce pain, allowing the artists and clients to get pain-free complex designs without any discomfort. Several ranges of creams are available that can provide long-term relief. Explore our article to find the best tattoo-numbing creams! But first have a brief understanding of what these products are and how they work!

What Is a Tattoo Numbing Cream?

Tattoo numbing cream is a topical (that is applied to the skin surface) anesthetic medication that temporarily helps desensitize the area of the skin over which it is applied. They consist of active ingredients such as prilocaine, benzocaine, lidocaine, or tetracaine which play a significant role in blocking the nerve signals to reduce the pain. This in turn, also reduces the number of hours of tattoo sessions for complex designs. Among these, Lidocaine is the most common and strong ingredient that is found in prescription and over-the-counter numbing products. It gets absorbed more rapidly and is less toxic compared to other active ingredients. Before starting tattoo work, these creams are applied on the skin of the clients for an hour that help numb the area. Wondering how the numbing cream works? Read the below section!

How Does The Best Tattoo Numbing Cream Work?

As we have already explained, tattoo numbing creams help desensitize the skin surface by blocking the nerve signals to reduce pain, their core action lies in the potent active ingredients they are incorporated with. Let's learn the role of each ingredient in relieving the pain:

• Lidocaine: Well, Lidocaine is called a nerve deadener that has strong numbing properties, making the tattooing experience less painful. It acts as an anesthetic that blocks the nerves in the skin from recognizing pain. Simply, it hinders the functioning of the nerves for a temporary period instead of blocking the pain signals. Even if pain is identified by the nerves, it is either suppressed or provides a little discomfort. It is crucial to mention that Lidocaine does not penetrate the skin and remains only on the skin surface. This means it won't help when the needle goes inside the surface of the skin during the session. However, it lowers the pain levels and makes that painful session more bearable.

Also Read: How Long Does Lidocaine Last?

• Tetracaine and Benzocaine: These are known as nerve blockers that restrict or block the signals of pain transmitted to the brain. Both ingredients make sure the nerve recognizes some pain levels but not all. When it comes to the main role, these nerve blockers work effectively in less sensitive skin areas for small tattoos and can significantly reduce the pain. However, for large intricate designs in more sensitive skin areas, tetracaine and benzocaine act smoothly with the assistance of a potent nerve deadener, a Lidocaine that can help drop the pain levels and ensure the least discomfort during the tattoo session.

• Epinephrine: Well, epinephrine is a vasoconstrictor which is much more effective than Lidocaine as it helps in constriction of blood vessels which in turn decreases blood flow. Reduced flow of blood makes the numbing creams last for longer periods which makes the entire process least painful. Epinephrine lowers the risk of bleeding in the area to be tattooed, making the tattooing experience less messy and time-saving. Moreover, this potent ingredient is also fast-acting (that means bringing effect quickly), making it easy to use during and after the tattoo session to relieve swelling and inflammation.

Now, if you are wondering what tattoo numbing cream works best for an amazing pain-free tattooing experience, take a look at the below section and know the high-quality brands!

The 5 Best Tattoo Numbing Creams for A Painless Tattoo Experience

To enhance your client's tattoo experience, the following are the most effective tattoo-numbing creams you can give a try:

1. ZENSA Numbing Cream

Being an all-rounder and long-lasting, ZENSA numbing cream is the best tattoo numbing cream for sensitive skin. This anesthetic product is popular for its effectiveness in reducing pain along with its smooth formulation customized specifically for people with sensitive skin. It is an FDA-approved tattoo numbing cream, enriched with the vegan formula of vitamin E and 5% lidocaine, making it a plant-derived steroid and cruelty-free medication.

Most importantly, ZENSA’s hypoallergenic properties bring up attention which makes it smooth enough for sensitive skin types. Besides this, the formulation of this numbing cream does not contain blood constrictors which ensures that the settling and color retention of the tattoo ink on the skin surface is not affected. For clients with sensitive skin, this cream provides pain relief for about 2 to 4 hours after an initial application. You can also re-apply it to increase the numbness effects for around 8 hours. This way, ZENSA makes sure of a more convenient and discomfort-free tattooing experience.

2. UBER Numbing Cream

UBER Numb Topical Anesthetic Creams is made in the United States of America and is 100% vegan. It is highly rich in an anti-inflammatory agent, Vitamin E that helps reduce swelling. This anesthetic product also prevents flaky skin (dry skin) that occurs at the time of the healing process. It is a water-based and non-sticky numbing cream which after wiping does not leave any greasy debris on the surface of the skin. This consistency makes this cream appropriate for application before tattoo inking. Though the brand states 1 hour of numbness effect, most clients claim relief from pain for about 4 to 5 hours after the initial application.

To ensure the maximum reduction in pain, apply the thick layer of UBER tattoo numbing cream to the skin, cover the surface properly with plastic wrap, and then keep it for 40 to 45 minutes for good absorption. Take out the plastic wrap and again repeat the process. The two applications work amazingly for intricate tattoo designs on body areas like the stomach or chest.

3. Ebanel Topical Anesthetic Cream

Ebanel topical cream is a multi-purpose tattoo numbing cream with many positive reviews on Amazon, making it a highly recommended product. The formulation of this numbing cream is enriched with allantoin (a compound that soothes irritated skin) and does not contain any harsh chemicals. Ebanel is rich in 5% lidocaine, blocking the nerve in the skin that stops them from transmitting the pain signals to the brain cells.

Allantoin being a skin-calming active ingredient can effectively help facilitate wound healing and boost cell regeneration. This in turn will increase the healing process of inked tattoos. This anesthetic product can deliver the numbing effect in around 1 to 2 hours after the application. It is important to keep in mind that never rub the tattoo-numbing creams on the skin, instead, apply or spread it smoothly over the area.

4. BASE Labs Numbing Cream

Base Labs tattoo numbing cream is one of the most affordable numbing creams, consisting of potent ingredients that can help survive a long tattoo session. It is available as a whole kit which consists of a 5% lidocaine-rich numbing cream tube, weighing around 4 ounces and a non-irritating and skin-friendly film wrap, ensuring you have everything required for effective inking. The other ingredients in this product help enhance the benefit of lidocaine such as hemp seed oil, aloe vera, chamomile, and tea tree oil.

To improve the numbing effect of this anesthetic cream, you can wash the specific skin area using warm water before the application of the numbing cream. Also, do not forget to cover the area firmly with film wrap. This will help open the pores of the skin, allowing smooth, quick, and deep absorption of the numbing cream. After the cream gets soaked, the numbness action will start after 40 to 45 minutes which will stay for about 4 hours.

5. Deeveeant Lidocaine Numbing Cream

Two thoughts emerged regarding the numbing creams for tattoos. It is believed that sometimes a higher concentration of lidocaine (that is 5% of lidocaine) in numbing cream is effective while sometimes a lower concentration is suitable. Though opting for the low concentration of this active ingredient might seem ineffective, there is a reason to go for this range.

The more extreme the numbing effect of the product, the more severe the pain will be felt after it subsides. Deeveeant lidocaine numbing cream is loaded with 4% lidocaine (low concentration of lidocaine) that offers pain relief for a longer time. This makes it a potent anesthetic product to use for extended tattoo sessions. It eases the pain after the numbness gradually decreases along with ensuring a smoother and relaxing tattooing experience. This numbing product can minimize the pain sensation for about 2 hours, helping you increase your endurance strength for larger intricate tattoo designs.

What Is The Best Way To Use Numbing Cream For Tattoo?

If you have never used the numbing product ever and looking for what is the best way to apply tattoo numbing cream, the following are the right steps you can consider for a pain-free and comfortable tattooing experience:

1. Clean and exfoliate the designated area using a water-soap solution and exfoliator. This helps get rid of accumulated dead skin and dirt and eases numbing cream penetration.

2. Dry out the designated area completely and then spread a thick layer of tattoo numbing cream smoothly on the entire skin area and massage it gently.

3. Cover the cream-applied area with film wrap, helping to open the pores of the skin, activating the cream, and letting the quick and deep penetration of the cream. Also, this plastic wrap keeps the numbing cream from getting dry.

4. Allow the cream and plastic wrap on the skin for about 60 minutes.

5. Then, remove the film wrap and clean the numbing cream with the help of a soft paper towel. Here, you are ready to ink your client!

How Long Does Tattoo Numbing Cream Last?

The numbing effects of tattoo numbing cream last for 2 to 4 hours. This effect will slowly begin to decrease. After this duration, a client will start feeling some sensitivity to the particular area. So, make sure to apply the anesthetic cream at least for 30 minutes before starting the procedure. This provides sufficient time for the cream to bring its effect. In addition, do not apply the cream too early as its effects can subside during the session. Also, using it very late can prevent it from giving numbing effects when it should. After the application and waiting for 30 to 60 minutes, you are ready to perform inking.

What To Look For In The Best Tattoo Numbing Cream?

To get a high-quality tattoo numbing cream, look for the following factors:

1. Strength

A study shows that lidocaine is the active ingredient of the numbing creams for tattoos. The maximum strength is 5% lidocaine, however, many anesthetic products contain 4%. Which one to prefer? If the session involves the tattooing of complex designs, the numbing effect will probably subside before the session comes to an end. Clients may face a full pain sensation that returns to the inking area, making the tattoo experience more unbearable. In such cases, 4% lidocaine (low concentration) is sufficient! On the other hand, if the session lasts for a short period like for around 4 hours, you can get 5% lidocaine-rich tattoo numbing cream.

2. Effectiveness

Some numbing creams for tattoos numb the designated area of the skin for about 1 to 2 hours while others deliver pain relief for around 4 to 6 hours with no re-application. So, always discuss with your client about the types and sizes of the tattoo designs they are looking for. This will help determine the time required for the full session, this, in turn, will let you use the numbing cream that will last for more hours, providing relief from pain till the session ends.

3. Formula

Select either multi-purpose or specially designed numbing cream for tattoos. When it comes to multi-purpose tattoo numbing cream, its formulation is suitable for pains, tattooing, general skin issues, and cosmetic methods. They are cost-friendly, offering a great pain-free tattoo experience and providing a benefit in the post-tattoo healing process. Moreover, the formula of these products will not affect the settling and color retention of the tattoo. However, if budget is not your concern, you can go for specially designed numbing creams that only work effectively for tattoo pain relief.

Summing Up

Tattoo-numbing creams are game-changers for artists to relieve the pain and discomfort of getting tattooed with needles. Whether you want to make your tattoo experience pain-free or start a long tattoo session, these varieties of numbing creams will benefit you a lot with their potent formulation. From creams customized for sensitive skin types to fast-acting creams for longer sessions, they have everything to deliver. The key is to pick the best tattoo-numbing cream based on your skin sensitivity and session duration. Moreover, always consider the application direction for profitable results. Using the right numbing product, you can focus on your art rather than on pain, making the tattoo experience enjoyable and comfortable.