If you’ve seen our Tattoo Goo Tattoo Aftercare Kit, you know it comes with four products that are all about taking the best care of your ink. Each product has a specific purpose in the healing process of a tattoo and most have a purpose for the life of your ink. Here, we break down each product with our recommendations on when to use each one and why.
The two stages of care for tattooed skin: Immediate and Everyday Care
When you get a new tattoo, there are two important stages to consider: immediate care and everyday care. Immediate care falls within the first two months after getting a tattoo — the typical time frame for skin to fully heal. Everyday care is every day after that two month window of helaing.
With immediate care your focus is on quick healing by preventing infection and replacing moisture that’s lost during the tattooing process. The focus of everyday care is keeping ink bright by moisturizing the skin and protecting skin from the sun. Our Tattoo Goo Tattoo Aaftercare Kit considers these two stages of care by including four products that addresses tattooed skin from healing to healed. Keep reading to see how each product works.
Immediate Care
Focus: Quick healing by preventing infection and replacing lost moisture.
Everyday Care
Focus:l Protect ink from fading by retaining skin’s moisture and protecting it from the sun’s rays.
Start with our Deep Cleansing Soap.
We recommend using it once in the morning and once in the evening during your normal skin care routines. If you’d like to be extra diligent, especially if you’re tattoo is in an area that often rubs against your clothes, an additional wash mid-day can also be done without over stressing the skin. Make sure you pat the skin dry.
Then, apply the Salve.
During the first couple of weeks, we recommend applying the salve on dry skin after washing with our soap, or up to three times per day. It contains lavender oil that reduces pain and irritation associated with a fresh wound. And the olive oil, cocoa butter and wheat germ oil put moisture back into the skin that was lost during the tattooing process.
When your tattoo gets the itchy peelies, Tattoo Goo Lotion will be your best friend.
When this phase of healing begins, we recommend switching from the Salve to our Lotion. It has the same moisturizing capabilities as the Salve, but also contains a natural ingredient called Panthenol that soothes itching skin. This way, you’re less likely to scratch which could pull off scabs and pull out ink. After all, you didn’t come this far just to come this far, right? Right.
The last few weeks of healing
Yes! You’ve passed the itchy, peely phase and your tattoo is looking pretty healed. Tattoos typically take two months to heal completely (even though it may look healed on the surface). For good measure, continue to use our soap until you’ve reached that two month point.
As for moisturizing – it’s always a must, but once you’re past the irritation and itching from a healing tattoo, how you moisturize comes down to personal preference. Both our salve and our lotion are equally perfect for adding moisture back into the skin and you can use one or other other or both!
Yay, you’re fully healed!
Whether or not it’s cloudy outside, if you’ll be out and about you need a moisturizer with SPF. Not only is moisturized skin a must for bright ink, but protection from the sun’s rays is also. We recommend starting Tattoo Goo Renew with SPF 30 about eight weeks after getting your tattoo to ensure it’s fully healed as the SPF can cause irritation on healing skin.
Ok everyone, that’s the breakdown! The products mentioned here are all available in our Tattoo Aftercare Kit. Retail prices will vary, but in general it tends to be a decent savings vs. purchasing everything individually. Plus you can get the kit in-store which can be really convenient if you’re just walking out of the tattoo parlor. In the US you can find us on the shelves at Walmart, Walgreens, CVS and Mejer, and in Canada at Shoppers Drug Mart. We’re also available online.