Tattoo Butter: How to Use It in Your Tattoo Aftercare
, by Golden Beards , 5 min reading time
How to use Tattoo Butter in your tattoo aftercare: washing, how thin to apply, how often, what to avoid while it heals and when to see a doctor.
A new tattoo is an investment of time, money and a fair bit of pain, so it is worth looking after properly. Good aftercare comes down to three things: keep it clean, keep it lightly moisturised and leave it alone while it settles. This guide explains where Golden Beards Tattoo Butter fits into that routine and how to use it. One rule comes before everything else: your tattoo artist's aftercare instructions come first. Artists use different techniques and coverings and know your tattoo best, so if their advice differs from this guide, follow theirs.
What is Tattoo Butter?
Tattoo Butter is a 100 ml moisturising butter with a short ingredient list: cocoa seed butter, shea butter and coconut oil. It melts on contact with warm skin, which makes it easy to spread in a very thin layer.
What it is not: a medicine. Tattoo Butter doesn't heal a tattoo or treat an infection. Your skin does the healing. A moisturiser's job is to keep the area from drying out and cracking while that happens (Cleveland Clinic).
Tattoo aftercare step by step
Day 1: remove the covering and wash gently
Your artist will usually cover the tattoo with film or a bandage. Keep it on for as long as they tell you to. Some artists say a few hours, others up to a day or more for adhesive film. Wash your hands before removing it.
Then wash the tattoo gently with lukewarm, not hot, water and a mild, fragrance-free soap. Don't scrub. Pat dry with a clean paper towel rather than a used bath towel (Cleveland Clinic).
The first two weeks: clean, thin layer, repeat
Wash gently about twice a day, or as your artist advises, and apply a thin layer of moisturiser after each wash once the skin is dry. Dermatologists at Cleveland Clinic suggest a simple moisturiser twice a day. Mayo Clinic says a mild moisturiser several times a day (Mayo Clinic). Wear loose, breathable clothing over the tattoo so nothing sticks or rubs.
Weeks two to four: itching and flaking
Some itching, flaking and light scabbing is normal as the skin settles. Don't pick, scratch or peel. Let flakes fall off by themselves. Many tattoos take around three to four weeks to heal on the surface. Larger pieces and areas that move a lot can take longer (Danish Environmental Protection Agency).
How to apply Tattoo Butter
- Check with your artist that a moisturising butter fits their aftercare plan for your tattoo.
- Wash your hands and make sure the tattoo is clean and dry.
- Use very little. Take a tiny amount with a clean fingertip or a clean spatula. For a palm-sized tattoo, think the size of a grain of rice to a small pea.
- Warm it between your fingertips until it melts.
- Smooth on a thin layer. The skin should look slightly satin, not shiny and wet. Too much product can keep the skin overly moist and trap dirt.
- Blot any excess with a clean paper towel.
How often? Our product page suggests a thin layer about three times a day during healing. If your artist recommends a different routine, follow theirs, and cut back if the skin looks greasy or soggy.
Patch test first if you have sensitive skin or allergies. Any ingredient, natural or not, can cause a reaction in some people. Stop using it if you notice a rash, increased redness or itching after applying.
What to avoid while your tattoo heals
- Soaking. No baths, swimming pools, lakes, the sea, hot tubs or saunas until it has healed. Showering is fine, but keep strong jets of water off the fresh tattoo (Mayo Clinic).
- Sun. Keep the tattoo out of direct sunlight while it heals, and don't put sunscreen on it until it has healed.
- Petroleum jelly. Cleveland Clinic advises avoiding it during healing.
- Picking and scratching, exfoliating and tight clothes that rub.
- Dirty hands. Always wash your hands before touching the tattoo.
When to contact a doctor
Some redness, tenderness and swelling in the first days is expected. Contact a doctor if redness, swelling or pain gets worse instead of better, if you notice bumps filled with pus, or if you develop a fever or chills. These can be signs of infection (Cleveland Clinic). The same applies to an itchy rash on the tattoo. Allergic reactions to tattoo ink can happen even years later (Mayo Clinic).
After it heals: everyday care
Once healed, your tattoo is part of your skin. Keep that skin moisturised when it feels dry. A small amount of Tattoo Butter works as an everyday moisturiser for tattooed skin. Protect the tattoo from the sun with a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen, because UV light can fade some inks (American Academy of Dermatology).
Got a beard as well? Our Beard Butter is made for beard hair and the skin underneath. Read beard butter vs beard oil to see how it compares, or browse our Tattoo Butter collection.
FAQ
Can I use Tattoo Butter on a fresh tattoo?
Ask your artist. Many artists recommend a thin layer of moisturiser from the first wash, while others want you to use a specific product for the first days. Their instructions come first.
How much Tattoo Butter should I use?
Very little: a thin layer that leaves the skin satin, not shiny. Blot off any excess.
Does Tattoo Butter make a tattoo heal faster?
No product can promise that. Tattoo Butter keeps the skin moisturised. Healing depends on your skin, the tattoo and good aftercare.
Can I use it on old tattoos?
Yes. On healed tattoos it works as a simple moisturiser. Combine it with sun protection to keep the ink looking its best.
Sources
- Cleveland Clinic: Tattoo aftercare tips from a dermatologist
- Cleveland Clinic: Tattoo infection
- Mayo Clinic: Tattoos: understand risks and precautions
- American Academy of Dermatology: Caring for tattooed skin
- Danish Environmental Protection Agency (Miljøstyrelsen): After your tattoo (Danish)
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