A shin tattoo can be quite painful due to the thin skin and proximity of bone to the surface.
Based on personal experience, the shin is often considered one of the more painful locations for a tattoo. According to one person's experience, "the shin for me was one of the worst bits on my leg. where it's quite a bony area. there's not a lot to cushion it. so it does hurt." The lack of fat and muscle between the skin and bone can intensify the sensation of the needle.
