How to Choose the Best Numbing Products for Tattoos

A Comprehensive Information Dump About Numbing Skin for a Tattoo *Summer 2025 Update

A lot of folks are curious about what is out there as far as numbing products for tattoos. There are various options to help you through your session and it is hard to know where to start in finding the right one. This is everything I have learned so far on the subject so I hope it is helpful to people.

I will start by listing some key numbing ingredients and their effects on our bodies, followed by the different vehicles for these ingredients (cream, spray, soap, etc.) and their application methods, with specific product recommendations. Test all products before use. This insight is based on my experience as a tattoo artist and client, not medical expertise.

Full disclosure, I regularly use numbing products when I get tattooed. I have a strategy that works for me and my artist, I manage my expectations, and I have been tattooed enough to know when I should go without. If you know you need something, be prepared for some trial and error in finding the right product. None of this solves everything, and if your artist doesn't want you to use it, just follow their instructions because you don't want to mess with their flow.

What Ingredients are Used to Numb Skin?

Lidocaine for Tattoos

The main ingredient in the vast majority of topical numbing product is lidocaine. Lidocaine products are available without a prescription in a quantity of up to 5%. You can get creams with a higher percentage of lidocaine with a prescription from your doctor.

Lidocaine can be used in preparation for a tattoo to numb the skin *completely for upwards of two hours, or it can be used in small doses during a session to take the edge off. Lots of companies claim their product will make you numb all day, or at least for several hours - I have yet to see it.

I am firmly in the camp of "Just trying to take the edge off" and not interested in "I don't even want to feel the air on my skin". It's just way more realistic, gentler on the body, and less frustrating for the artist.

Warnings: Always patch test any new products for allergies and make sure that your lidocaine product is appropriate for use on wound sites.

CBD For Tattoos

Before getting into CBD, I feel I need to say that it does not help to get high before your tattoo. In fact, I've had experiences with clients that suggest that the opposite is true. Many people become more physically sensitive when they're under the influence of marijuana which can lead to discomfort during the tattoo session. Additionally, THC can act as a vasodilator or vasoconstrictor. Later on, I will describe why that should raise a red flag.

Despite my misgivings about THC, I have had good experiences with topically applied CBD products.I haven't found that CBD will numb skin per se, but it can somewhat take the edge off when applied onto skin during the tattoo as a glide. With that method, I haven't seen any unsavory side effects.

Warnings: Make sure that your CBD product is appropriate for use on wound sites. If your employer does drug tests of any kind, or you are a military member, CBD products may not be appropriate even topically.

What Ingredients to Avoid in Numbing Products for Tattoos

Some numbing products have vasoconstrictors in them. There are various chemicals and consumables that cause vasoconstriction but a numbing product will usually label it as a "vasoconstrictor" in the main ingredient section. It's important to look up all the ingredients in any product before you use it on an open wound because it might not be under "main ingredients".

Vasoconstrictors narrow blood vessels which limits blood flow and increases blood pressure. In turn, this can limit the body's ability to heal itself properly and protect itself from infection. It also can make the tattoo process really difficult for your artist.

In my opinion, no product with a vasoconstrictor is suitable for use on a wound site. I have seen strange outcomes in the healing process and it makes the skin really difficult to work with. I cannot state enough how careful people need to be to avoid this type of ingredient. There are some numbing products that contain lidocaine, along with a vasoconstrictor, promising better results. Be aware and read the label. While we're at it, purchase products like these from trusted sources (Amazon listings will show the shop name. Check that the shop name is the brand name and not something random).

Examples of some common vasoconstrictors are caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines, and antihistamines, all of which are things to avoid when you are getting tattooed.

Is Lidocaine or CBD a Vasoconstrictor?

Lidocaine and CBD are both vasodilators, which means instead of constricting blood vessels, it widens them. I haven't seen anything too weird when it comes to these vasodilators, but they can still impact how the skin is able to handle wounds, as well as alter the skin slightly (which can cause it to be more difficult to work with). If you have trouble healing or have health issues, it's best to avoid any of this stuff. It's just another hurdle for your immune system to deal with.

Types of Numbing Products for Tattoos

There are a various vehicles that these ingredients can come in: creams, glides, patches, gels and sprays etc.

We'll start by talking about creams because I tend to see them making the biggest claims on how much they numb you and for how long.

Numbing Cream Application for Tattoos

Products that are intended to fully numb an area before a tattoo are usually in cream form. With this method, preparation and planning is a must. Firstly, you can't be shy with the amount of product you use; Apply a thick layer onto the area and cover with cling wrap. When I say a thick layer, I mean the amount of cream cheese you secretly want to put on your bagel. You need to do this 2 hours before tattoo time to give the product time to absorb.

Numbing Your Skin For a Tattoo: Hope vs. Reality

With this method, you still have pressure sensation and sometimes it feels tingly like when your foot falls asleep. People find that their skin is completely numb in patches and will have some sensation in other parts. This is due to the fact that different parts of our body with absorb the lidocaine at different rates, and some areas simply don't do a good job of absorbing it at all.

It's important to also note that this does not numb the skin long term. At best, you will be numb for about 2 hours. If the application is too light, or the cream slides around or settles somewhere weird on the way to your appointment, this will impact how numb you are and where. I have found sliding and settling of the cream to be frankly unavoidable due to body heat, gravity, and life.

Being Strategic With Numbing Cream During Your Tattoo Session

When the cream starts to wear off, you can reapply numbing cream before a lunch break let it sit another hour or so, and hopefully get a little more numbing action out of it for the day. Your artist can also try and keep parts of the tattoo covered with cream while they work on other sections. However, in my experience, overuse of lidocaine results in diminishing returns, potentially weird healing, and is really messy.

Numbing Creams I Recommend for Tattoos

The brands I have worked with for this method are Mad Rabbit, Dr. Numb, Numbskin, and Inkeeze. So far, Mad Rabbit has been my preference as a client but as an artist, I'm really not a super-fan of any of it.

Numbing Patches as an Alternative to Numbing Cream

Keeping gobs of melty cream on large areas of your body is miserable in my opinion, which is why the patch alternative can be intriguing.

Patches should also be applied about 1-2 hours prior to tattooing, though different brands might have varying recommendations on that.

They aren't as liable to shift and they aren't as messy and uncomfortable. However, they don't seem to numb people as well from what I can tell. It's also hard to find patches that are suitable for open wounds because most patches are marketed as muscle pain solutions. I haven't personally tried these myself yet, but I've had a few clients who have used them and it's on my list of things to do. I'll update this post when I get a chance to try some options out.

The Pitfalls of Fully Numbing Your Skin for Your Tattoo Session

So far, the methods and products that I have listed, that require this prep work and strategizing, are what I call "Going for the Full Numb" (emphasis on "Going For"). The idea is that you will be fully numb for your tattoo, but if you've been paying attention, you'll know that that isn't really true. Still, some of my clients feel that the benefits are worth it.

In my experience, clients who "go for the full numb" will miss out on naturally- occurring chemicals that our bodies produce when injured (dopamine and sometimes adrenaline). This means that their natural pain threshold is severely stunted from the get-go. When sensation invariably returns, the pain is even worse. I'm also being generous when I say this stuff lasts 2 hours. Because the tattoo process involves so much wiping, that lidocaine just gets rubbed away really thoroughly, and the effects gradually subside from there. Sensation comes back at different rates depending on the area of skin, and can start happening anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours in.

I should also mention, I personally would not recommend keeping lidocaine on the skin longer than the 2-hour preparation time mentioned. Read the product label and strategize with your artist. If you have an RX, talk to your doctor. Lidocaine creams change the color and texture of the skin and generally give me the heeby jeebies. I suspect prolonged, direct contact would be bad news.

When is Numbing Cream Appropriate to Use For a Tattoo Session

All this nay-saying aside, there is a time and a place for "The Full Numb That Maybe Lasts Two Hours If You're Lucky". I usually recommend this method for areas that are relatively small and super sensitive: Feet, ankles, hands, fingers, elbow, elbow ditch, knee, knee ditch, armpit, nipple area. These areas can usually be tattooed relatively quickly while the cream is still effective, and they are really, really painful areas. I've noticed that the bonier areas don't absorb lidocaine as well as other parts of the body (knuckles and joints), but it still helps.

Intermission

Whew ok. I know that was a little more than my two cents, but you're almost through this essay and you're doing great. I saved my preferred numbing methods for last because a) I am incredibly devious and b) Numbing Creams are overly represented in the tattoo world and widely misunderstood. The following products / methods are far less problematic, so the rest of this is much quicker, I promise.

What Other Numbing Products are Out There?

Tattoo Glides That Numb the Skin

A great method to introduce lidocaine or CBD into the tattoo process instead of numbing cream is to use products that are designed to replace the classic, petroleum tattoo glide. Tattoo glide is generally a petroleum-based ointment used consistently throughout the tattoo process by the artist.

If you use a glide containing a numbing agent, that numbing agent is naturally applied continuously throughout the entire tattoo session in tiny doses. Pretty savvy.

This method does not numb the skin completely, but it does take the edge off and help with the soreness that tends to develop toward the end of a session. This method also doesn't interfere with the pain threshold like "Going For the Full Numb" does, and it except in very rare cases, it doesn't alter the texture of your skin or mess with the healing process.

As a client, I find that this subtle hack allows me to relax more easily. Being relaxed during your tattoo session makes things easier for your artist and helps your body focus on what it needs to (healing and producing dopamine). Because of this, you can sit longer, get more done, and the time spent is more productive.

The products I have worked with for this method that are available to the public are Hustle Butter CBD Luxe and H2O Nothing Glide. Hustle Butter has also released a stronger CBD glide here.

Always check with your artist and patch test new products before bringing them to your tattoo appointment. My clients know that I'm cool with this stuff but I certainly do not represent the entire tattoo artist community with these opinions.

Numbing Soaps for Tattoos

Are there any other ways to sneak numbing ingredients into the tattoo session? Why yes. But it can be hard to find and its a bit more iffy on wether your artist will agree to it or not. A simple, diluted soap is also used during every tattoo session. Many people claim that during a tattoo, "The constant wiping is the worst part". It is possible to use an alternate soap that contains a numbing ingredient instead.

*Hustle Butter makes a product to be used during the tattoo session called Hustle Helper. I would say this 5 oz bottle might last for 2-4 long sessions so the amount of product does not go very far. However, I have had good feedback about it helping with pain and can be used in conjunction with their Hustle Butter CBD Luxe. This is a lidocaine product.

*UPDATE: The above paragraph is no longer true. Hustle Butter has seemingly discontinued this product line and I'm not sure why. As of right now, I haven't found a a suitable alternative to this, but keeping my eyes open.

Numbing Sprays For Tattoos

Another option I'm seeing more of are lidocaine sprays. They can be used sporadically throughout the tattoo process, such as before and after breaks, or if you hit a pain wall. Sprays will more effective if it is left on the skin for a few minutes to soak into the wound. It usually lasts about 15 minutes, and when sensation returns to normal, it is gradual and does not interfere with the pain threshold. This can help you move through sticking points and get back to the rhythm of natural pain management. I utilize this method on occasion using Bactine which I keep on hand in my studio. There are other brands out there but I've found Bactine to be the best, most attainable, and cheapest option.

Will Numbing Products Affect my Tattoo?

The overuse of lidocaine on skin can cause a change in the skin texture as the artist works. In my experience, sometimes the skin will not accept ink as well because of it. This can result in overworking the skin as the artist struggles to create even saturation. Additionally, all the aforementioned vasoconstriction and vasodilation can impact the natural healing process negatively in some individuals. It's important to respect the body's natural process of handling trauma as much as possible so consider the use of numbing products carefully.

Note:

Please do not show up to your appointment with a new product without checking in with your artist. I am not a doctor, and none of this is based on any medical study. Patch test everything. With the popularity of tattoos growing, there are tons of products out there and not all of them are regulated, especially in the US.