Numbing Cream for Blackout Tattoos: How to Apply It Correctly
Blackout tattoos are the most intense and challenging tattoos you can get. Hours of solid black packed into a large area is a lot for your body to handle, and numbing cream can turn a brutal session into one you barely feel, but only if you do it right. Most people who say "numbing cream didn't work for me" used the wrong product, didn't use enough, or got the timing wrong.
I've been using numbing cream with my blackout clients for years. This is exactly how I tell them to do it. For the mental side, read my guide on how to handle tattoo pain.
Numbing Cream Myths
"Numbing cream changes the skin texture." It doesn't. The skin looks and feels exactly the same.
"Numbing cream makes it harder to pack solid black." Completely false. There's no difference in how the black goes in or how smooth it heals.
"Numbing cream is for the weak." Nobody is judging you, and nobody cares. The technology exists, and there's no reason not to use it.
Which Numbing Cream to Use
Most numbing creams you find on Amazon or at tattoo supply stores contain 1 to 5% lidocaine. That takes the edge off, but it won't get the job done for a blackout.
I recommend TKTX, which is 20% lidocaine. It's the one that actually works. Don't waste your time with 5% creams.
Buy it from a legitimate vendor. There are a lot of fake TKTX clone websites out there, so do your research before you order. I'm not linking to any seller because I'm not affiliated with or sponsored by the brand. I just know it works.
How to Apply Numbing Cream Before a Blackout Session
How you apply it decides how well it works. The goal is to get as much of the cream absorbed as possible.
Shave the area the day before. Not the same day. Shaving right before can irritate the skin or cause razor burn.
Take a very hot shower on the day of your appointment. The heat helps open up the skin.
Scrub the area. Don't sandpaper it, but give it a good scrub to remove the dead skin so the cream can absorb.
Dry the area completely. The skin has to be 100% dry before you apply the cream.
Apply a very, very thick layer. Forget "a little goes a long way." Put on so much that you can't see the skin underneath, and cover the whole area we're tattooing.
Wrap it in plastic kitchen wrap. This stops the cream from evaporating and forces it down into the skin.
When you arrive at the studio, leave the wrap on. I'll remove it myself when we're ready to start.
Timing Your Numbing Cream
Timing is everything.
Apply the cream 1 hour before your appointment.
Full absorption takes about 1 to 1.5 hours. Between checking in, filling out the release form, and getting set up, about 30 minutes pass, so we start tattooing right around the 1.5-hour mark when the numbing peaks.
From that peak, you get roughly 3 hours before the skin stops being numb.
If you apply it too early, you lose numbed tattoo time. If you apply it too late, the cream hasn't fully kicked in. Time it right.
Everyone metabolizes lidocaine differently. Some people get a full 3 to 4 hours of numbing, others as little as 1 hour.
Is 3 hours enough for a blackout?
For most sessions, yes. I black out a full arm in about 4 to 4.5 hours, but I usually split it into two sessions of about 2 to 2.5 hours each. If you've prepped correctly, the numbing covers a half-arm session with no problem.
Can you reapply numbing cream during the session?
No. Once we've started, the blackout leaves a large open wound, and that dramatically increases how much lidocaine your body absorbs. I don't reapply mid-session, because we don't want to put too much into the body and risk an allergic reaction.
Always Patch Test First
Do an allergy test 3 days before your appointment:
Apply numbing cream to a small patch of skin, not where the tattoo will go.
Wrap it in plastic the same way you would on the day of the session.
Leave it on for 3 hours, then remove it and clean the area.
Watch the reaction.
Redness and very slight puffiness are normal with lidocaine and should go away without any problem. A rash is not normal. If the redness doesn't go away, or you get any other reaction, that's a red flag: you may be allergic or hypersensitive to lidocaine, and you shouldn't use it for your blackout.
Common Numbing Cream Mistakes
Not applying enough cream
Not covering the whole area
Not wrapping it in plastic
Getting the timing wrong
Not shaving the day before
Not scrubbing before applying
Almost every time a client tells me numbing cream "didn't work," it's one of these.
Does Placement Matter?
Yes. Areas with poor blood circulation, like the hands and feet, absorb the cream less. Areas with a good blood supply, like the arms, usually absorb it better.
After the Session: Take It Easy
If you timed it right and we kept the session to the right length, you felt almost nothing. That doesn't mean your body wasn't hurt. You just didn't feel it.
That can give you a false sense of confidence, like you just went for a walk in the park. You didn't. Blackouts are the most intense tattoos you can get, and your body is in shock whether or not you felt the pain.
Go from lying down to sitting to standing slowly.
Stay hydrated.
Take your time and don't rush out.
Then follow my aftercare instructions. For blackouts, I recommend the second skin method. If you prefer to dry heal, follow my dry healing aftercare guide.
Pros and Cons of Numbing Cream
Pros
With a strong cream, you'll feel close to nothing for most of the session.
It makes long blackout sessions far more manageable.
In my experience, it makes no difference to saturation, skin texture, or healing.
Cons
The drop-off is sudden. You feel nothing, and then you feel everything. Instead of gradually getting used to the pain, you go from 0 to 60 in a minute. Be ready for that.
Allergic reactions are possible. Always patch test 3 days before.
Nausea and sweating. Some people get these when lidocaine covers a large area. It's rare, but I've seen it happen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does numbing cream work for blackout tattoos? Yes, if you use a strong cream (I recommend 20% lidocaine), apply a thick layer, wrap it in plastic, and time it right. Weak 1 to 5% creams only take the edge off.
How long does numbing cream last for a tattoo? After it peaks at about 1 to 1.5 hours, you get roughly 3 hours of numbing. That varies from person to person: some get 3 to 4 hours, others only about 1.
How long before a tattoo should I apply numbing cream? About 1 hour before your appointment. Check-in and setup take roughly another 30 minutes, which puts you at peak numbing when the tattooing starts.
Does numbing cream affect how the tattoo heals or how solid the black looks? No. In my experience, there's no difference in skin texture, saturation, or healing.
Should I wrap numbing cream in plastic? Yes. Plastic wrap stops the cream from evaporating and pushes it into the skin. Skipping the wrap is one of the most common reasons numbing cream doesn't work.
Can numbing cream be reapplied during a tattoo? Not for a blackout. The open wound absorbs far more lidocaine, so I don't reapply once we've started.
What's the best numbing cream for a tattoo? I recommend TKTX (20% lidocaine), bought from a legitimate vendor. Watch out for fake copies.
Planning a blackout? Book a consultation or see my blackout tattoo portfolio.
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