Piercing Vs Tattooing: Which One Hurts More?

Body modification is one of the ultimate forms of self expression. There are many ways to decorate your body, but piercing and tattooing have been proven to be some of the most popular to give that edgy look that so many people are going for nowadays. While piercing involves a puncture made in the body with a needle, per Kid's Health, tattooing involves using needles (typically a "tattoo machine") to deposit pigment into the skin's dermis layer by making thousands of tiny punctures, as noted by Business Insider.

However, even though tattoos and piercings both look awesome, it's no secret that both of these procedures do not come pain-free, even though they can totally be worth it in the long run. The thought of pain might scare some people away, so it's good to know what you're getting into before you make the commitment. It is also good to know that the pain of piercing and tattooing are not totally equal. But which one hurts more? Keep scrolling to find out.

Tattooing is not for the faint of heart

While piercing is a sharp, short pain, tattooing is a more sustained, dull pain, according to Authority Tattoo. With piercings, the needle fully penetrates your skin in a more intense way, but this only lasts for a second (if the piercer is doing things right). However, a tattoo can last for hours. The pain also depends on what part of your body you're getting done. For piercings, the least painful tend to be the earlobes because of the soft tissue, and the most painful tend to be the genital area, according to Healthline. For tattoos, the least painful areas are where there's more fat, such as the thigh. The more bony areas of the body, such as the ribs, can be excruciating, per Healthline

Although neither tattooing nor piercing are for the faint of heart, if you're hyped up about body modification and have a low pain tolerance, we recommend going with a cool piercing to spice things up. However, if you think you can handle it, tattoos are a great way to prove to people that you aren't afraid of a little (or a lot) of pain.