Here’s how it works: the artist uses a mechanical needle to puncture your skin and deposit the ink below the surface. The needle moves up and down between 50 and 3,000 times per minute, so, yes — it’s going to hurt.

The pain level can differ for every person, and also depends on where the tattoo is going. For example, certain body parts have bone closer to the surface than other body parts, which makes tattooing more painful. “It is uncomfortable, but it’s not so bad that it can’t be dealt with, or obviously so many people wouldn’t have them,” says Saigh. To minimize the pain, keep the area still, try to relax, and most importantly, remember to breathe. Clenching your muscles can make it hard for the artist to get an even surface. And not breathing means, well, you could pass out.