Another thing to consider is the discomfort of getting a hand tattoo. While all pain is subjective, most people say that hand tattoos are some of the worst , mostly because of the area's thin skin and bony nature. Still, the level of discomfort depends on the exact location of the tattoo. Valentine says that there are a number of areas to tattoo on the hands, including the top (or back) of the hands, the tops of the fingers near the knuckles, the cuticles, the insides of the fingers, the sides of the hands, and the palms.