Everything You Need To Know About The Best Soap For Tattoos

Keeping your skin clean is important at the best of times. It’s even more important if you’ve recently got a tattoo.

Do you have concerns about keeping your tattoo irritation-free?

Are you worried that the wrong soap could irritate your new artwork? Choosing a gentle one helps.

Tattoos are big business nowadays (one older estimate put it at 45 million Americans with at least one), so there are many soaps on the market.

But how do you know which ones are the best soaps for tattoos?

This article explains what to look for in a soap for tattoos. Always follow your tattoo artist’s aftercare instructions first.

It also offers five of the best soaps available to help you keep your skin clean and your tattoo fresh!

5 Soaps To Keep Your Skin Clean & Tattoo Fresh

Image	Model	Qty	Container	Price	Rating	Buy Now
H2Ocean Blue Green Foam Soap	H2Ocean Blue Green Foam Soap	1.7 Oz	Bottle	$$		Click Here To See Latest Price
Tattoo Goo Deep Cleansing Soap	Tattoo Goo Deep Cleansing Soap	2 Oz	Tube	$		Click Here To See Latest Price
Dial Antibacterial Liquid Hand Soap	Dial Antibacterial Liquid Hand Soap	7.4 Oz	Bottle	$		Click Here To See Latest Price
H2Ocean Blue Green Liquid Soap	H2Ocean Blue Green Liquid Soap	16 Oz	Bottle	$$$$$		Click Here To See Latest Price
Dove Beauty Bar	Dove Beauty Bar	4 Oz	Bar	$$$		Click Here To See Latest Price

Different Types Of Soap For Tattoos

Soaps, whether designed for tattoos or not, come in many different varieties.

When choosing soap for a new tattoo, look for a mild, fragrance-free soap. NHS guidance says to gently wash a new tattoo with warm water and fragrance-free soap, then pat it dry.

These can come in many forms and preference will vary from person to person. It often depends on your personal hygiene routine.

Bar Soaps

Bar soaps require you to roll the bar in your hand to create a lather.They’re easy to find in mild and fragrance-free form, and can often contain natural ingredients.

Bar soaps are generally more drying than liquid soaps.

That means that when you’re using a bar soap on your tattoo it’s best to be used in conjunction with a lotion or moisturizer.

Liquid Soaps

Whilst liquid soaps won’t dry out your skin as much as bar soaps, they can be trickier to apply.

It’s easy for the liquid to slip through your fingers and the use of a loofah or cloth should be avoided so no further irritation is caused.

However, liquid soaps that take on more of a gel-type consistency can be easier to apply and will help moisturize your skin.

Foaming Soaps

Foaming soaps are essentially liquid soaps that have added air.

They create a rich, moisturizing lather through a pump-action style dispenser, and will often last quite a while.

Because of the higher air content, a bottle can last a long time.

Brands Of Soap For Tattoos

Tattoo Goo

If you’re after a brand of soap that has been specifically designed for use during tattoo after-care, look no further than Tattoo Goo.

It’s a long-standing tattoo aftercare brand.

The company says its soap uses gentle ingredients that are tested by dermatologists. A gentle cleanser supports healing by keeping the area clean without irritation.

Tattoo Goo Soap also ensures the area around your tattoo is kept thoroughly clean.

H2Ocean

H2Ocean is another brand created with tattoos in mind. It markets its products as gentle and low-irritation.

The brand is known for its sea salt-based aftercare products.

Dove

When it comes to soaps, you’d be hard pressed to not have heard of Dove. A leading brand in the hygiene and beauty industry, their soaps are mild and effective.

Their bar soaps are gentle and moisturizing, therefore they don’t dry out your skin.

Dove does not cater specifically for those who have a new tattoo. The original bar contains fragrance, so pick Dove’s fragrance-free sensitive skin bar for newly tattooed skin.

Dial

Dial offer a large variety of different types of soap.

Like Dove, its products are not designed for tattoos. Many Dial soaps are antibacterial, but the FDA says there isn’t enough evidence that antibacterial soaps work better than plain soap and water.

Most Dial soaps also contain fragrance, which can irritate healing skin.

The Top 5 Soaps For Tattoos

1. H2Ocean Blue Green Foam Soap

H2Ocean Blue Green Foam Soap offers a gentle clean that’s packed with cleansing properties.

The foaming solution is easy to apply, even to large tattoos.

It contains aloe vera, which many people find soothing, and it’s gentle enough for sensitive skin.

H2Ocean Blue Green Foam Soap is mild enough to be used several times a day, ensuring that your tattooed skin stays clean all the time.

It’s on the upper end of the price scale, even when compared to other tattoo-specific products. The foaming style of soap means that it lathers well.

You might find it very expensive, however, if you have a large tattoo, as you’ll use up the product quite quickly!

2. Tattoo Goo Deep Cleansing Soap

Tattoo Goo Deep Cleansing Soap is one of the best-known soaps for new tattoos.

Designed specifically for use on tattooed skin, it’s designed to clean thoroughly without irritating the tattooed area.

Only a small amount of soap is required. It can be added to water to make spreading the soap over the tattooed area a little easier.

When compared to other soaps that have been designed specifically for use on a new tattoo, the price is very reasonable.

However, many other generic soaps may do a good job for a fraction of the cost.

3. Dial Antibacterial Liquid Hand Soap

Dial’s Antibacterial Liquid Hand Soap is a cheap, easy-to-find option that some tattoo artists suggest.

It hasn’t been designed for recently tattooed skin, and antibacterial ingredients aren’t needed for tattoo care.

The pump action bottle makes application a breeze and the liquid-gel formula allows the soap to be spread easily.

Its main advantage is that it’s inexpensive and widely available.

However, it contains fragrance, which can cause redness and irritation. A fragrance-free soap is the safer choice for a new tattoo.

4. H2Ocean Blue Green Liquid Soap

H2Ocean have created some of the best soaps for tattoos, and their liquid soap is no exception.

It contains aloe vera, which many people find soothing.

The fact that it’s paraben and fragrance-free means that there’s unlikely to be further irritation.

It comes in a larger size than the foaming version, so it lasts longer on large tattoos.

The type of bottle can make it tricky to dispense, but it’s worth persevering with to help keep your skin and tattoo in the best condition possible.

5. Dove Beauty Bar

Dove is a reputable soap brand, even if their products haven’t been designed specifically for tattooed skin.

The mild formula contains ¼ moisturizing cream. For a new tattoo, choose the fragrance-free sensitive skin version.

It’s gentle enough to be used several times a day and won’t dry out your skin.

The bar-style soap is easy to lather and therefore helps you feel like you’re giving your skin a thorough clean.

It isn’t antibacterial, but that’s fine. Gentle washing with plain soap and water is what keeps a healing tattoo clean.

How frequently do I wash my tattoo with soap?

Keeping your tattoo clean is a crucial aspect of aftercare, and it’s important to get this part right in order to preserve the quality of your tattoo.

Wash the tattoo gently when you take off the bandage, using the timing your artist gives you. Some oozing of fluid, blood and ink is normal at first.

From there, most artists recommend washing gently about twice a day while it heals.

Don’t over-wash it. Take quick showers and avoid soaking the tattoo in baths, pools or hot tubs until it heals.

In the early stages of the healing process, your tattoo may look a little oozy and there may be some dried blood.

When cleaning, avoid the temptation to scratch or scrub this off as your flannel/ loofah probably has some bacteria on it that will irritate the skin.

Be gentle to your body and wash the tattooed area each morning and night while it’s healing.

Add in an extra shower session if you work out or sweat a lot!

Sweat left on the skin can cause irritation at the best of times, let alone when you have a brand new tattoo.

Be careful when drying the skin, too – pat it rather than rub it, and be kind to your skin!

You can also let your tattoo air-dry if you don’t have paper towels or a freshly-washed towel to hand.

Follow this with a thin layer of the ointment or lotion your artist recommends.

When should I stop using soap on my tattoo?

This is mainly up to your body! The cleaning process has to be pretty strict during the early stages of healing, as your tattoo is more prone to infection at this point.

After a few weeks, you should notice it changing and becoming settled into your skin.

The amount of time your tattoo takes to heal will depend on your body, as well as the size of the tattoo and where on your body it is.

Keep cleaning it gently every day until it is fully healed.

Pus is never a normal part of healing. Spreading redness, swelling, worsening pain, pus, fever or chills can mean an infection, and Cleveland Clinic advises seeking medical treatment right away.

Keep using a mild, fragrance-free soap while it heals.

After that, you can normally switch back to your regular soap.

We all know that tattoos are (in most cases, at least) for life, and so is a good regimen when it comes to keeping them well looked after.

Using gentle products on your tattoo is important at all stages, so follow any additional aftercare guidance your tattoo artist gives you.

What they say is the final word, so pay attention and stick to their suggestions.

Why should my soap NOT contain alcohol?

This part can be confusing, because alcohol is known for killing germs.

But on a healing tattoo, alcohol-based products are best avoided.

Alcohol stings broken skin and dries it out, which is the opposite of what a healing tattoo needs.

Dry, irritated skin is more likely to crack and itch, and picking or scratching can damage the design.

The whole point of using a lotion during the healing process is to keep the skin under your tattoo nice and supple so that it doesn’t crack.

Using a harsh, drying product can undo that work.

Play it safe and go for one of our recommendations, or chat to your tattooist about aftercare before you get inked.

Soap For Tattoos Buying Guide

When buying the best soap for new tattoos, there are a few major factors you need to consider.

These factors help prevent further irritation, infection, and will help keep your tattoo looking clear and colorful.

Many household brands have been found to do a nice job of keeping your tattooed area clean, but tattoo-specific products have also found their way to the market.

Make sure your chosen soap has the following properties:

Fragrance-Free

Whilst it may be appealing to use a lovely smelling soap, it can actually cause your skin and tattoo some damage.

Fragrance is a common cause of skin irritation and allergic reactions.

That’s the last thing you want on a new tattoo, which is essentially a healing wound.

Mild

Mild soaps avoid harsh detergents and additives.

This lowers the chance of redness or irritation.

Antibacterial Is Optional

Your soap doesn’t need to be antibacterial. The FDA says plain soap and water work as well as antibacterial soaps for everyday washing, and many antibacterial soaps are scented.

In Conclusion

Keeping your new tattoo clean is essential for both the quality of your tattoo and the health of your skin.

The best soap for tattoos is mild and fragrance-free. Wash gently, pat dry, moisturize, and see a doctor if you notice signs of infection.

Sources

• Piercings & Tattoos, NHS Norfolk and Waveney (FYI Norfolk)
• Tattoo Infection: Signs, Causes, Treatment & Prevention, Cleveland Clinic
• Skip the Antibacterial Soap; Use Plain Soap and Water, U.S. Food and Drug Administration