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.
