The best advice I can offer on how to properly care for a new tattoo is DO NOT USE LOTION ON A FRESH TATTOO! Most tattoo artists advise their clients to use a fortified ointment for the first few days of healing, followed by colorless and fragrance-free lotions to keep skin hydrated, protected, and to prevent color from fading. These lotions are relatively cheap and are available at your local pharmacy. However, almost all of these lotions contain ingredients that have recently been shown to do more harm than good for tattoo health. Here are 5 tattoo aftercare tips:

1. Clean Gently, Keep Out of Sun and Heat: During the healing and aftercare process, which can take several weeks, gently clean the tattoo daily with fragrance-free, antibacterial body wash and warm water. During the first days, no sun, swimming, sweating or dirt. Keep your tattoo dry and clean. During the first 24 hours, try to ice the tattoo as often as you can, this will help reduce inflammation and also help with pain.

2. Oil or oil-based ointment only for the first 3 days – Some recommend not using any lotion for the first few days due to the high risk of infection. However, there are safe natural products that are very effective and actually speed up the healing process. For immediate tattoo aftercare, look for a light, oil-based product that contains hemp seed oil, tea tree oil, aloe vera, and jojoba oil.

Tea tree oil has anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral properties. It is a very effective remedy against countless skin ailments, infections, cuts, scrapes, burns, insect bites, skin blemishes, etc. Using tea tree oil combined with hemp seed oil will provide rich omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids. Using these oils will slightly moisturize, protect and heal the skin without causing irritation or discoloration.

3. Avoid Plasma Scabs on the Tattoo: During the first day, your tattoo will leak a clear liquid called plasma. Try not to leave this scab on your skin, but if you do, wash it off gently with lukewarm water.

4. After the first 3 days, keep your skin moisturized with a natural lotion – Keeping your skin hydrated during the exfoliation process and long after will help with itching, flaking, and preserve the rich color of your tattoo. Like I said before, be careful with lotions that contain harmful ingredients like lanolin or petroleum. Instead, use a lotion that is rich in fatty acids for protection against free radicals and non-greasy hydration. Hemp seed lotions are the best for this.

Hemp seed oil is rich in omega 3, 6 and 9 and is easily absorbed into the skin. Hemp contains anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties that are healthy and non-irritating to the skin. Continue to use a hemp seed oil lotion long after your tattoo has healed and enjoy truer, healthier tattoo color for longer.

5. Look at the ingredients: Lanolin is an ingredient that some will use, and lanolin causes allergic reactions in many people. Lanolin is the natural oil that comes from sheep’s wool. Some tattoo aftercare also contains products like beeswax or petroleum, which can clog pores and contain contaminants. These ingredients are very popular in over-the-counter creams and lotions because they are cheap and easy to make. The lanolin and mineral oil found in these lotions cause excessive seepage, clogging, crusting, scarring, and loss of color. Stay away from products that contain mineral oil, dyes, propylene glycol, or parabens.

Earthly Body Tattoo Toner preserves tattoo color, does not fade, is vegan, and is petroleum, lanolin, and paraben free. It also works wonders in healing piercings.