When can’t you use numbing cream at lucky no. 3?

You cannot use numbing cream if it’s your first tattoo. This one feels self explanatory.

If you are getting tattooed by Bradley! Since most of the tattoos that Bradley do are a softer realistic style and numbing cream can effect how it heals (this is explained more later) he has decided he does not want his clients to use numbing cream. You can go to any other artist in the shop and utilize it.

If the numbing cream is 5% or above we are LEGALLY not allowed to tattoo you with it on. This is why it’s important to bring the bottle of whatever numbing cream you are using with you to the appointment so we don’t have to reschedule your appointment.

If you are getting tattooed in a large area. For instance, if you’re getting your whole back or half your leg it is not safe to use. Lidocaine (the main numbing agent of numbing creams) is not safe in high quantities in the bloodstream, tattooing that large of an area is not safe for you as the client to do. There are even instances of people being hospitalized from doing this.

RIsks of numbing cream

Feel free to do your own research on the side effects of numbing cream, but as your tattoo artists we feel it’s important that you know the risks that we are aware of. All of the risks mentioned are either from first hand accounts or from peers in the tattoo community who have warned others about their experience.

Risk No. 1- Numbing cream can cause chemical burns on your skin, especially if it’s left on too long.

Risk No. 2- Tattooing is a sterile procedure and numbing creams are not regulated at all, so we have no insight on what ingredients are in them, how sterile the packaging and ingredients are, etc.

Risk No. 3- Numbing cream can affect how your tattoo heals. This is the main reason Bradley doesn’t allow numbing cream but there are some instances that you end up needed more touch ups, large patches of ink fall out, large areas of dull ink in the skin. Below, I have attached some good picture/video examples of side-by-side comparisons of areas where clients used numbing cream vs. where they didn’t and how it affected how the tattoo healed. This of course is not every time, but we never know when it’s going to heal weird and when it isn’t. We touch all of our tattoos up for free, but we do not if it is because of numbing cream. This is one of the items you sign off on when filling out our waiver.

Risk No. 4- Some tattoo artists experience spongey or pruney skin when clients use numbing cream. This makes tattooing it harder and it usually takes twice as long (costing you money, since we charge by the hour) and possibly overworking the skin.

Risk No. 5- Lidocaine is a very common allergy, you could be allergic to it and not know causing a reaction in your tattoo.

All of these worries are not to scare you out of wanting to use numbing cream, we feel they are important factors to consider, that way you can make an informed decision and consent to the risks.

How to use numbing cream

In order for numbing cream to be affective, it needs to be applied 30-60 minutes before the procedure, be sure to check what your packaging says. We recommend applying it before you leave for the appointment, a generous layer (a little more than what you would do for normal lotion, but not so much that it makes your skin prune) wrap it in Saran Wrap and wear that to your appointment. Your tattoo artist will take off the wrap and clean the area. If you put it on right before getting tattooed it won’t have long enough to take effect.

If you are unsure about any of the steps or you need clarification, do not hesitate to reach out to us!