13+ Best Tattoo Numbing Creams for Painless Experience

Get any type of tattoo you want without worrying about the pain. Nervous about getting a tattoo due to the pain? Well, you are not the only one! Did you know that about 32% of people find their first tattoo to be the most painful?

The truth is – Tattoos actually do hurt, especially if you are getting one on sensitive areas like, ribcage, ankles, and fingers. But this doesn’t mean you have to give up on tattoos altogether.  There is a solution available to curb the pain – Numbing cream for tattoos!

As the name goes, this type of topical anesthetic that artists apply on the skin to help reduce pain.  These creams contain ingredients such as prilocaine, lidocaine, or benzocaine – all known for numbing your skin by blocking nerve signals. 

If you are a tattoo artist looking for numbing creams that are safe, effective, and easy to use, keep reading our guide.

Today, we are going to discuss the 13+ best tattoo numbing creams to help manage pain.

1. Senhorita Tattoo Numbing Cream – Best Overall

Strength	5% lidocaine
Ingredients	Vitamin E, aloe vera, menthol and lecithin
Size	60g
Effectiveness	6 to 8 hours

Senhorita Tattoo Numbing Cream is a tropical formula that offers a pain-free tattoo experience. With 6 hours of extra strength, this cream is ideal for small to medium-sized tattoos.

It has 5% lidocaine to effectively numb your skin to avoid pain and discomfort. It also contains menthol, aloe vera, lecithin and vitamin E. The natural ingredients make it suitable for all skin types, and its multi-purpose functionality adds to its appeal. 

This cream not only helps to reduce the pain but also aids in healing. Its anti-inflammatory ingredients promote healing, reduce swelling, and keep your skin moisturized. It also has anti-bacterial properties to prevent infection. 

The application is very simple – just apply, cover with cling film for 30 to 45 minutes, and wait an additional 25 minutes before starting the tattoo.

2. Acolye Tattoo Numbing Cream – Best for Multi-Purpose Use

Strength	5% lidocaine
Ingredients	Chrysanthellum indicum extract, glycerin, mentha arvensis leaf extract, and portulaca oleracea extract
Size	50ml
Effectiveness	Up to 6 hours

If you are looking for a multi-purpose numbing cream for tattoos, try this product from Acolye. This extra-strength cream offers 6 hours of numbing power for a comfortable tattoo session. 

Enriched with healing ingredients like chrysanthellum indicum and portulaca oleracea extracts, it not only numbs but also accelerates the tattoo healing process. It is suitable for various cosmetic procedures, including piercing, tattooing, and waxing. 

The application is simple – cleanse, apply, cover with plastic wrap for 40 to 60 minutes, and wait for absorption. With a 60-day money-back guarantee, Acolye ensures satisfaction and stands behind its product. 

3. Pressy Tattoo Numbing Cream – Best Affordable 

Strength	5x numbing
Ingredients	Lidocaine, allantoin, rose oil and vitamin E
Size	60ml
Effectiveness	Up to 6 hours

Pressy’s Tattoo Numbing Cream is an affordable choice for painless tattooing. With a generous 60g capacity, this extra strength cream ensures 6 to 8 hours of relief throughout the entire tattooing process, making it ideal for larger areas. 

Formulated with natural ingredients like vitamin E, it suits all skin types, minimizing irritation and promoting faster healing. Beyond tattoos, it’s useful for waxing, micro-needling, and piercing, providing localized numbing and soothing effects. 

The cream is user-friendly, rigorously tested for safety and effectiveness, and requires no professional assistance. It also helps to reduce itching, inflammation, swelling, and minor burns. 

4. SUNHEAL Tattoo Numbing Cream – Best Long-Lasting 

Strength	5% lidocaine
Ingredients	Glycerin, menthol, lecithin, retinol, and sunflower seed oil
Size	45ml
Effectiveness	Up to 7 hours

SUNHEAL’s Tattoo Numbing Cream, featuring 5% lidocaine strength, can help you avoid pain and discomfort. The 45ml size gives ample coverage for various tattoo sizes. 

Its unique blend of ingredients, including glycerin, lecithin, menthol, retinol, and sunflower seed oil, not only numbs effectively but also soothes and protects the skin. 

The cream’s effectiveness is impressive, providing up to 7 hours of relief from soreness, itching, and burning during tattooing, piercing, or waxing. With a simple application process and no-mess removal, it caters to all skin types. 

The fast-acting formula, visible within 10 minutes and peaking at 60 minutes, makes it an excellent choice for those seeking a long-lasting numbing cream for tattoos. 

5. Natural Heals Painless Tattoo Numbing Cream – Best Natural Ingredients

Strength	5% lidocaine with liposomal technology
Ingredients	Emu oil, arnica, and propylene glycol
Size	80g
Effectiveness	Up to 6 hours

If you are looking for a natural and safe numbing cream, this product from Natural Heals’ is the best choice. Recognized as the higher-rated painless tattoo numbing cream, it ensures up to 6 hours of relief, minimizing the need for frequent applications. 

The reliable pain relief provided allows you to focus on the art rather than the discomfort. Easy to apply, the cream’s liposomal technology ensures rapid absorption and long-lasting efficacy. 

With a generous 2.82oz volume, it covers larger tattoo projects, improving the tattoo experience with its rapid onset of numbing relief within just 5 minutes. 

The best thing is that it is free from harsh chemicals and fragrances. It is also hypoallergenic and suitable for people with sensitive skin. The natural ingredients – emu oil and arnica help to heal your skin as well. 

6. Telanshare Tattoo Numbing Cream – Best for Before and After Use

Strength	5% lidocaine
Ingredients	Carbomer, glycerin, castor oil, propylene glycol, chrysanthemum extract, and purslane extract
Size	60ml
Effectiveness	Up to 6 hours

This tattoo numbing cream by Telanshare is best for before and aftercare. This 60ml cream contains ingredients like carbomer, glycerin, chrysanthemum extract, propylene glycol, castor oil, and purslane extract for effective numbing and healing. 

With a 5% strength reliever, it offers numbness for up to 4-6 hours, making it good for tattoos, piercing, micro-needling, and various pain relief needs. 

The fast-acting topical anesthetic numbs the skin in just 15 to 30 minutes, providing a hassle-free tattooing experience. It’s odor-free, non-greasy, and free from harsh chemicals. Overall, Telanshare’s Numbing Cream is an effective solution for reducing pain and discomfort.

7. YOUCOPIA Tattoo Numbing Cream – Best Non-Irritating Formula

Strength	5% lidocaine
Ingredients	Menthol, vitamin E, lecithin and aloe vera
Size	50g
Effectiveness	Up to 6 hours

This is another product you can use to reduce pain from tattooing. This extra-strength numbing offers up to 6 hours of painlessness, making it perfect for tattooing, piercing, waxing, microneedling, and more. 

The powerful healing ingredients in the blend soothe, moisturize, and promote skin healing. With a non-greasy formula, it’s easy to apply and remove, providing a hassle-free experience. 

The 5% lidocaine strength guarantees a long-lasting numbing effect, allowing for maximum comfort during your tattoo session. Specifically designed for tattoos, it delivers a quick, soothing sensation. 

The non-irritating formula is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin. YOUCOPIA’s Tattoo Numbing Cream is a must-have for a pain-free and comfortable tattooing experience.

8. TattooKreamTX Cream – Best Strength and Effectiveness

Strength	40% more numbing
Ingredients	5% lidocaine, 1% epinephrine and 5% prilocaine
Size	10g
Effectiveness	6 to 8 hours

TattooKreamTX Cream guarantees a more pleasant tattoo experience by effectively numbing your skin. It allows you to finish your sessions without interruptions. 

The active ingredients, including 5% lidocaine, % epinephrine, and 5% prilocaine, effectively reduce discomfort during tattoos and permanent makeup procedures. 

This cream has many applications, from laser hair removal to tattoo removal and cosmetic tattooing. Since 1996, TKTX Topical Anesthetic Numbing Cream has been a go-to choice for tattoo professionals and is widely used in various procedures. 

Follow the easy-to-use instructions for a pain-free and relaxed tattooing experience that lasts for 6 to 8 hours. However, if you have any health conditions, it is best to consult your doctor first before using this product. 

9. Adellina Tattoo Numbing Cream – Best With Soothing Properties

Strength	5% lidocaine
Ingredients	Purslane, mentha arvensis leaves, and chrysanthellum indicum top
Size	50g
Effectiveness	Up to 6 hours

Adellina Tattoo Numbing Cream has earned 4.7-star rating, making it a top choice for pain relief during tattoo sessions. It’s a popular product, with over 1,000 purchases in the past month. 

The cream’s powerful numbing action ensures quick relief within 40 to 60 minutes, peaking at 15 to 25 minutes and lasting up to 6 hours. Designed specifically for tattoos, it includes healing ingredients like purslane and chrysanthellum indicum top to promote skin healing and provide soothing properties. 

This numbing cream is ideal for various cosmetic and beauty procedures. Apply generously on clean, dry skin, and experience a comfortable tattooing process with Adellina’s effective and long-lasting formula.

10. OHEAL Tattoo Numbing Cream – Best Vegan Formula

Strength	5% lidocaine
Ingredients	Shea butter oil, menthol, and jojoba seed oil
Size	30g
Effectiveness	Up to 6 hours

OHEAL offers a premium vegan tattoo numbing cream for pain relief. The cream promises up to 6 hours of relief from itching, pain, and swelling, featuring a special formulation with 5% lidocaine. 

It contains healing ingredients like jojoba seed oil, shea butter oil, and menthol to quicken the tattoo healing process, minimizing scabbing and reducing infection risks.

You can use it for various cosmetic procedures like tattooing, microblading, piercing, and more. Odorless, oil-free, and non-greasy, this vegan-friendly cream is easy to apply and remove. 

11. Dr. Numb Topical Anesthetic Foaming Soap – Best for Face Tattoos

Strength	4% lidocaine
Ingredients	Lidocaine and benzethonium chloride
Size	50g
Effectiveness	Up to 24 hours

If you are going for a face tattoo, use Dr. Numb Topical Anesthetic Foaming Soap to reduce pain. It offers a convenient and innovative approach to pain relief during common skin procedures. 

The soap, expertly formulated by Dr. Numb, provides immediate temporary relief from procedure-related pain and is a unique alternative to traditional numbing creams. 

With an extra-strength formula containing 4% Lidocaine and 0.24% Benzethonium Chloride, it stands out for its powerful numbing and disinfecting properties. 

The soap’s desensitizing effects absorb quickly, making it an ideal choice for tattoos, microdermabrasion, piercings, and more. Dr. Numb Soap ensures a thorough and effective cleansing experience, providing relief and preventing skin infections. 

12. Painless Tattoo Cream – Best on Amazon

Strength	5% lidocaine
Ingredients	Vitamin E, aloe, benzyl alcohol
Size	17g
Effectiveness	3 to 5 hours

 The Painless Tattoo Cream is a popular choice for pain relief during various procedures. This cream is Amazon’s Choice and has been purchased by over 2,000 customers in the past month. 

This premium PT cream is designed to eliminate pain during tattoo sessions, making it an ideal solution for multiple applications, including tattoo removal, laser hair removal, cosmetic tattooing, and anorectal issues. 

With a potent formula featuring 5% lidocaine, vitamin E, aloe, and benzyl alcohol, this cream provides effective relief for 3 to 5 hours. Customers can relax during their sessions, knowing they won’t have to endure unnecessary pain. The brand stands behind its product with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

13. Mad Rabbit Painless Tattoo Numbing Cream – Best Fast- Acting

Strength	5% lidocaine
Ingredients	Vitamin E and lecithin
Size	44ml
Effectiveness	Up to 1 hour

This product by Mad Rabbit is a fast-acting tattoo numbing cream. It offers quick pain relief for various cosmetic procedures. With a 5% Lidocaine concentration, it quickly numbs targeted areas within 3 to 5 minutes, reaching its peak effectiveness at 25 to 30 minutes. The effectiveness lasts for approximately 1 hour. 

The formula, enriched with Vitamin E and other vegan ingredients, minimizes visible redness associated with fresh tattoos. This cream is suitable for tattooing, microblading, piercing, Brazilian waxing, hair removal, and permanent makeup. 

The fragrance-free and non-greasy formula is quickly absorbed by the skin, making it suitable for all skin types. The Mad Rabbit Numbing Cream is easy to use—simply apply, wrap with plastic for 45 to 60 minutes, and wait for full absorption.

14. Monsters Ink Biotat Tattoo Numbing Cream – Best All- Natural

Strength	Unique Biotat formula (natural anesthetic)
Ingredients	Clove oil, honey, and lavender
Size	100g
Effectiveness	Not mentioned

The Biotat Numbing Tattoo Glide from Monsters Ink offers a natural and effective solution to minimize discomfort during the tattooing process. Made with care and expertise, this 100g glide is a firm favorite among artists for its super-smooth texture that won’t clog needles or erase transfers. 

The transparent glide is especially appreciated by artists, allowing precision when working on black and grey as well as lighter colors. Using the powerful natural qualities of clove oil, Biotat Envy Tattoo Glide provides unparalleled comfort. 

With ingredients like honey and lavender, it’s 100% Lidocaine-free, making it suitable for various skin types. The natural composition reduces pain, numbs the area, and aids in inflammation reduction. Biotat is committed to eco-friendly practices, using recycled and degradable materials in its packaging. 

Factors Affecting the Level of Tattoo Pain

Various factors influence the pain you feel during a tattoo. These include:

1. Pain Tolerance

Everyone’s pain tolerance is different, impacting how much discomfort you’ll feel during a tattoo.

2. Body Part

Where you get your tattoo matters – areas with thinner skin, more nerves, or closer to bones can be more painful.

3. Tattoo Size and Complexity

Larger or more intricate tattoos may take more time and effort, potentially increasing pain. Detailed work like shading or coloring can also add to discomfort.

4. Artist Technique

The artist’s skill matters – an experienced artist with a light touch can be less painful than one with a heavy hand.

5. Hydration and Nutrition

Your physical well-being plays a role. Stay hydrated and nourished to minimize discomfort during your tattoo session.

6. Type of Tattoo

Different tattoo styles can affect pain levels. Bold lines might hurt more than dotwork or stick-and-poke styles.

Understanding these factors can help you gauge and plan for the discomfort you might feel during a tattoo. 

Body Parts and Tattoo Pain

In this part, we’ll list different body parts based on how much they might hurt during a tattoo. Remember, everyone’s ability to handle pain is different, so think of these rankings as a general idea.

Most Painful	Moderately Painful	Least Painful
Ribcage	Chest	Upper Arms,
Feet and Ankles	Stomach	Shoulders,
Hands and Fingers	Lower Back	Wrists and Forearms
Spine	Buttocks	Thighs
Knees and Elbows	Calves
Armpits and Groin
Neck and Throat

Tips to Ease Tattoo Pain During Your Session

Hershell Carrasco, the owner of Pachuco Tattoo, shared, “I usually work on large tattoos like full forms and half sleeves. These sessions can last from 4 to 6 hours and sometimes even up to 10 hours. I prefer using tattoo numbing cream because it helps many of my clients sit through these long sessions.”

Here are some tips to follow to reduce pain during the inking session:

1. Choose a Skilled Artist

Pick an experienced tattoo artist known for a gentle touch. Make sure they have a comfortable studio to ease the nervousness. 

2. Talk to Your Artist

Discuss your pain concerns before the session. Your artist may suggest alternative placements or techniques to alleviate discomfort.

3. Consider Numbing Creams

Explore over-the-counter numbing creams after consulting your tattoo artist. Confirm their compatibility with tattoo ink and the healing process.

4. Practice Relaxation

Use simple techniques like deep breathing or meditation to manage pain. Find what works for you and practice it before your appointment.

5. Get Enough Rest

Get a good night’s sleep before your appointment, as fatigue can affect your ability to handle pain during the session.

6. Bring a Distraction

Have a friend, music, or a book with you to divert your attention from the pain during your tattoo session.

How to Choose the Best Numbing Cream for Tattoos?

Not all creams offer the same level of results, so it is important to pick the best one. Here are some important factors to consider to make the best choice.

1. Strength

The active ingredient in tattoo numbing creams is lidocaine, with over-the-counter options typically having a maximum strength of 5%. However, some creams contain 4% lidocaine. 

For larger or intricate tattoos that require extended sessions, a lower concentration (3-4% lidocaine) might be preferable to avoid a sudden shift from complete numbness to full sensation.

For shorter sessions (up to 4 hours), opting for a 5% lidocaine strength cream is suitable, ensuring a comfortable experience throughout.

2. Formula

When selecting the best numbing cream for tattoos, you have two choices – a multi-purpose anesthetic cream or a specifically formulated tattoo numbing cream. 

Multi-purpose creams are suitable for various uses and are often more budget-friendly. However, a tattoo-specific cream is designed for the job, with ingredients that benefit the healing process without hindering ink retention.

3. Effectiveness

Consider the duration of numbing provided by the cream. Some last 1 to 2 hours, while others offer 4 to 6 hours of pain relief without re-application. 

Consult an expert to determine the session length and choose a numbing cream that remains effective throughout. Plan ahead for application timing to avoid sudden pain once the effect wears off. 

4. Safety

Another thing you need to consider is safety. As you are going to use the cream on clients, it needs to be safe for their skin. Choose a product that uses quality formulas to avoid any side effects.

Also, follow the right directions when applying it to the skin. Follow all the safety guidelines for desired results.

FAQs

Conclusion

And that’s a wrap! 

Here you have it – the 13+ best tattoo numbing creams to avoid any pain. With these products, even people with low pain tolerance can get a tattoo. All the creams are effective and specially designed to help lower discomfort during the inking process.

They are very useful for big pieces and full-form tattoos as they take longer to complete. Clients can easily sit through 5 to 10 hours of sessions with the application of numbing creams.

Depending on the duration and type of tattoo, you can select one or more products from the list. They are easily available on Amazon, saving you all the time and hassle of visiting a chemist’s shop.

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