Bronner's Baby Unscented Pure-Castile Liquid Soap is just the soap for this job! Most tattoo professionals recommend the Unscented variety so that you are not putting any potentially irritating essential oils on your sensitive skin. Make sure to use warm water, and wash your hands thoroughly before washing your tattoo.
Wash using a mild gentle soap, preferably free from sodium laureth sulphate and sodium lauryl sulphate as these ingredients which make products foam, can be harsh on the skin.
Use mild soap like Dove, Ivory or Dawn dishwashing liquid. It's best to avoid very hot water. Be sure to remove all the Vaseline – it usually take 4 to 6 or more times washing and rinsing the tattoo before the vaseline is gone. Pat dry with a fresh, clean towel.
So what product should you use? You may have heard some rumours that Bepanthen shouldn't be used on new tattoos, but this absolutely isn't the case. Bepanthen is by far one of the most highly recommended tattoo aftercare products and is the go-to ointment for most tattoo artists and studios.
Phisohex is Great for washing your new tattoo. Remove the second skin (you may need to jump in the shower to remove the adhesive) and give the tattoo a thorough wash under warm sterile water (not hot or cold) you may need to wash the new tattoo more than once with an antibacterial soft wash.
On the fourth day, wash it like normal, let it air dry and from that day stop wrapping it in cling film and stop using Bepanthen. Now start moisturising it. I use E45 moisturising lotion. It works for all different skin types.
Wash your hands with antibacterial soap (unscented or with natural oils), then wash your tattoo with the antibacterial soap (we like dial foaming hand soap, dr. Bronner's, or soap made for tattoo aftercare like Redemption). Make sure to use your fingertips (not washcloth or anything abrasive).
Do not use Savlon, Sudacrem, Bepanthen or any other creams that contain Lanolin or (Liquid)Paraffin on your new tattoo. These creams are not suitable for use on tattoos as they are too thick and can block the pores in the skin, potentially causing an infection.
A&D ointment (yes, the kind used for diaper rash) is a cheap and popular choice for new tattoo aftercare. This ointment is also called Bepanthen. Aquaphor Advanced Healing Ointment is another hydrating and anti-inflammatory option. Good old petroleum jelly (aka Vaseline) also works well.
However, we also recommend coconut oil and certain brands of tattoo healing creams such as Hustle Butter, but please do not use Bepanthen, as the ingredients have changed and its no longer beneficial for the tattoo healing process.
Here's what someone should avoid when it comes to tattoo aftercare: Soaps and moisturizers with any fragrances or harsh chemicals. Even if a product does not normally irritate the skin, it may irritate the tattooed area. Picking at scabs, as this can cause scar tissue to form.
You want to avoid excess absorption of water by the tattoo, so washings should be efficient and deliberate to minimize time. You can use antibacterial soap for the first 3-5 days and then regular soap or body wash is fine.
Tattoo artist Jack Poohvis recommends using Cetaphil soap, which gently cleanses and keeps the tattoo clean without irritating the skin. According to Jaliman, you will want to use a gentle, hydrating cleanser on freshly tattooed skin.
I suggest QV wash, Cetaphil, Dermaveen or Dr Bronner's unscented wash. Pat the tattoo dry with paper towels or a clean cotton towel, and let air dry for 10 minutes before moisturising. Gently apply a thin layer of your chosen fragrance-free moisturiser after washing and when the tattoo feels dry.
I recommend unscented moisturizers like QV-Cream or Cetaphil.
Bepanthen Tattoo Aftercare Ointment is dermatologically tested to help heal and protect Tattoos. It contains Pro-vitamin B5 which helps to keep your tattooed skin moisturised and protected. The breathable protective layer provides the moisture level needed to help the skin to regenerate from within.
Wash the tattoo with soap and water once the appropriate time period has passed and gently apply a layer of lotion.7 It's best to wash and moisturize a couple of times each day until the skin has healed, which might take anywhere from two to four weeks.8 However, it's best to check in with your tattoo artist, who may ...
I'd say Cocoa Butter did an amazing job so I would highly recommend it for anyone. However more of my Twitter followers appear to still prefer Bepanthen. What do you prefer to use on healing tattoos? Click on the above Tweet to read some advice in the replies and a product that Lush would recommend.
Aquaphor Healing Ointment
For the first few days post-tattoo, Wallin says artists often recommend applying Aquaphor to enhance healing and promote deep hydration.
DO NOT USE 'SAVLON' cream or any other antiseptic cream similar to savlon. This will dry out and ruin your tattoo, antiseptic cream is designed to Push/Pull dirt out from the skin, and so recognises Ink particles as 'dirt' and will trick your body into rejecting the Ink.
Bepathen is a popular antiseptic ointment choice. However, other antiseptic ointments include Savlon and Soov. Any of the three can be used on new ink once gently cleaned with a combination of antimicrobial soap and lukewarm water.
Wash and Treat
After you remove the bandage, you should wash your tattoo. Use lukewarm water and mild, liquid antibacterial or antimicrobial soap to gently remove any ointment, blood, and plasma and to completely clean the area.
Our recommendation is to apply unscented soap with your hands. Speaking of bacteria, it's important to choose an unscented antibacterial soap for tattoos so that you minimize your risk of infection as your tattoo heals.
While it is healing, NEVER touch your tattoo without first washing your hands with a mild, liquid antibacterial soap. Initially, leave your bandage on for 1-3 hours. After removing the bandage in a clean environment, gently wash the tattooed area with warm water and an antibacterial soap. Do not scrub.