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Tattoo Numbing Cream Options

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For some, pain during the tattooing process is almost like a badge of honor, making them feel like they’ve “earned” their ink. For others, pain is, well… painful, something they’d rather avoid. Fortunately, tattoo numbing creams mean that no one has to miss out on getting the tattoo they desire, even if their pain tolerance is low. Keeping your shop stocked with tattoo numbing cream lets you provide all of your clients with the best tattooing experience possible.



Skin Numbing Cream for Tattoos

Skin numbing cream is typically the first pain management tool you can offer your clients. Other tattoo numbing products like gels and sprays are often meant to be applied to broken skin after you’ve made the first few passes with your tattoo machine. Most numbing creams, on the other hand, can be applied before you start working, allowing your clients to feel comfortable from start to finish.


How Does Tattoo Numbing Cream Work?

Tattoo numbing cream works thanks to the active ingredient lidocaine, a powerful topical analgesic that provides a numbing effect. Some numbing creams also contain other numbing agents like tetracaine and benzocaine as well as vascular constricting agents like epinephrine that are meant to reduce swelling, bleeding, and bruising. Some also include natural ingredients like yarrow root and Vitamin E which are known for their pain-relieving and healing effects.



Most numbing creams should be applied approximately 20 minutes before the tattooing begins to allow them to take effect. After you’ve made the first few passes, if your clients want additional relief, you can then apply tattoo numbing gels or sprays to the broken skin. When numbing creams and gels or sprays are used together, they can provide maximum comfort for clients throughout the entire tattooing process.


What’s the Best Numbing Cream for Tattoos?

Of course, every artist and shop owner has their favorite tattooing products, and it’s no different when it comes to numbing cream. Different brands offer different benefits, so we recommend trying a few before you decide what’s best for you and your clients.



We carry well-known topical anesthetic brands like Zensa, Recovery Numb Tattoo Numbing Cream, Maximum Zone 1, Super T, Pro Plus, and Feel Better Now. Each has its own benefits. For example, Maximum Zone 1 and Pro Plus are safe for use during eyeliner procedures, making them top tattoo numbing cream options for PMU artists. Super T’s active ingredients include three different numbing agents for maximum pain relief. Zensa contains Vitamin E, an antioxidant that promotes faster healing.



Choosing the best numbing cream for you is a matter of preference and which benefits matter to you and your clients the most. Whatever you choose, you’ll always find the industry’s most trusted tattoo numbing creams and other tattoo numbing products at Painful Pleasures.