Hi, I’m Kayla. I love tattoos, but I’m not tough. Needles make me clench my teeth. So I tested numbing creams. On real skin. On real tattoos. And yes, on my very tender ribs. If you’re hunting for more tattoo prep wisdom (from choosing studios to aftercare), I’ve found the articles on TattooRoadTrip endlessly helpful.
For starters, you can check out this in-depth guide on the best numbing creams for tattoos based on real sessions.
You know what? Some creams worked great. Some just… didn’t. Here’s the truth, plain and simple.
My skin and pain style (so you can compare)
- Skin: fair, a bit sensitive, dry in winter
- Pain: low to medium
- Sessions: ribs floral (3 hours), forearm snake (2.5 hours), spine script (1 hour), ankle sprig (1.5 hours), and a color calf piece (4 hours)
- I asked my artists first. Some say yes to cream. Some say no. Please ask.
My top pick: Zensa Numbing Cream (5% lidocaine)
Zensa won me over on my rib piece. That spot is spicy. I put on a thick coat. I covered it with plastic wrap for 50 minutes. I wiped it clean right before stencil.
- Ribs floral, 3 hours: The first 90 minutes felt… dull. Not pain-free, but quiet. Then the edges crept back. We took a short break. I added a light layer (my artist okayed it). I got 40 more calm minutes.
- Healing was normal. No weird scabs. No color loss. (If you’re wondering what healthy vs. sketchy scabbing looks like, see this honest hands-on review of tattoo scabbing.)
What I like:
- Smooth spread. No strong smell.
- Gentle on my skin. No burn.
- Perfect for lines and shading on small to medium areas.
What I don’t:
- It fades after 1.5 to 2 hours.
- Not enough for long color packing on big pieces.
My note: If you’re doing ribs or sternum, Zensa feels like a seatbelt. You still feel the ride, but you don’t fly forward.
If you’re curious how it’s worked for a wider crowd, the Zensa Numbing Cream product page on Amazon is packed with detailed user reviews.
The tank: Dr. Numb (5% lidocaine)
Dr. Numb hit hard for me on my outer forearm snake. Big lines. Deep shading.
- Forearm, 2.5 hours: I put it on thick and wrapped for 60 minutes. The first 2 hours felt muted. Like a buzzing pencil, not a hot blade. I could chat. I even sipped water.
- Skin looked a bit pale at first. Then it normalized fast.
What I like:
- Strong effect early on
- Solid for long lines and black shading
What I don’t:
- Slight tingle when it wears off
- Thicker texture, a bit sticky
My note: I keep this for bigger blocks of work. It holds up better than most.
Mid-session helper: Hush Gel
Hush is a gel you can use during the session, when the skin is open. Not all artists allow that. Please ask first.
- Calf color piece, 4 hours: After hour two, I was fading. My artist used Hush on a cleaned area. It stung for about 30 seconds, then cooled down. It gave me enough relief to finish the color without breath-holding.
What I like:
- Great rescue tool mid-way
- Cools fast, nice for hot spots
What I don’t:
- It can sting on open skin
- It won’t make it painless. It just takes the edge off.
My note: I treat Hush like a pit stop. Not full relief, but it keeps you going.
Budget buddy: Ebanel Numb520 (5% lidocaine)
I used this on a small ankle sprig. It’s lighter, and it worked better than I thought.
- Ankle, 1.5 hours: I wrapped for 45 minutes. It numbed well for about an hour. Then it drifted. Still worth it for small pieces.
What I like:
- Good price, wide cap, easy spread
- No strong scent
What I don’t:
- Shorter window of comfort
- Not great for ribs or spine
My note: Nice for quick flash tattoos or tiny line work.
Side note: If delicate imagery is your thing, you might like this story about my butterfly tattoos—what they felt like, what they meant, and what I learned.
What didn’t work great for me
- TKTX (yellow tube): I tried it once on a test patch at home. It felt hot. My skin got blotchy. I skipped it for real work. Also, lots of fakes float around. I’m out.
- Tea tree or clove oil tricks: These didn’t numb much. They only made my skin annoyed.
How I apply (simple and real)
- Shower and pat dry. No heavy lotion that day.
- Put on a thick layer. Think peanut butter, not butter spray.
- Cover with plastic wrap for 45–60 minutes.
- Wipe off, wash gently, then let the artist prep.
- For long sessions, ask if you can reapply a small amount during breaks.
Patch test the day before on a tiny area. If it burns or rashes, skip it. For authoritative information on the safety and efficacy of lidocaine-based numbing creams, you can review the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's warning regarding high-strength lidocaine skin creams.
Spots that hurt and what helped
- Ribs, sternum, spine: Zensa first, Dr. Numb if you want more punch
- Forearm and outer arm: Dr. Numb or Zensa, both fine
- Ankle, wrist, behind the knee: Ebanel for quick hits
- Big color work: Dr. Numb first, Hush during (if your artist agrees)
Everyone’s nerves are weird. If you’re low on sleep or caffeine-heavy, it can feel worse. Strange, but true.
Side effects I felt (small but real)
- Pale skin for a bit (blanching)
- Mild tingle when it wore off
- Slight dryness after
I moisturized the night before. That helped. In winter, I double down with a simple, scent-free lotion for a few days leading up.
Artist notes that matter
Some artists don’t like numbing. They say it can change skin feel or cause more weeping. Mine had rules: thin layer, clean removal, no slathering every 20 minutes. When I followed that, my lines healed crisp, and the color held.
Talk first. It’s their art and your body.
Quick picks
- Best overall: Zensa
- Most muscle: Dr. Numb
- Best mid-session: Hush Gel
- Best budget: Ebanel Numb520
Final take
Numbing cream won’t make a tattoo feel like a nap. But it can turn sharp pain into dull noise. For me, Zensa is the one I bring to ribs and sternum. Dr. Numb is my pick for long black work. Hush helps when I hit a wall. Ebanel is a nice cheap friend for tiny pieces.
I still breathe, stretch my hands, and drink water. I still eat a good meal first. I still tell myself, hey, this is my body and my story. And you know what? That little bit of calm makes the art feel even better.
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