Fingernail tattoos have gained popularity in recent years mostly because they are essentially temporary. As your nail grows, your tattoo will inevitably disappear making them a great choice for anyone not quite willing to make a permanent commitment. They are also the perfect introduction to getting inked because they are almost entirely painless since the ink is deposited into the hard keratin of the nails instead of the tender dermis of the skin (via Tattoo.com). In an interview with Insider, co-owner of the NeedleNails pop-up tattoo parlor Ambie Stapleton explained of fingernail tattoos, "As a person who has gotten them, it doesn't hurt at all." She goes on to describe the process as feeling like "small vibrations."
Not quite as painless, but a good choice for anyone nervous about the process is the fleshy and fattier upper and outer thigh area. As an added bonus, the thigh, especially the outer thigh, tends to have fewer nerve endings, making it a low to moderately low pain experience for most people. Be sure to tell the artist that you don't want your design to bleed into the inner thigh area, however. The skin gets thinner and has many more nerve endings in that area (via Healthline and Tattoo.com). As Inked Magazine also points out, the thigh is also a great choice because it allows you to lie down comfortably while your artist is working, and being comfortable makes the pain much more bearable.
