Chances are you’re here because you have just gotten a new tattoo or are about to get one! In this post I will give you a recipe for a balm for tattoos that contains only natural ingredients to accelerate the healing process as well as nourish and restoring older tattoos. This tattoo balm is an easy recipe that will thoroughly relieve dry skin and can be used anywhere that needs a little TLC.
I’m not a tattoo expert but I do have a few tattoos and a couple I just recently had done. In typical Jenni Raincloud style, I come up with recipes as I personally need them which is also true with my saline solution for ear piercing post. I’m on a piercing/tattooing kick (could be a mid-life crisis) so of course I have to share my new recipe for a natural tattoo balm. Fresh tattoos leave you with sensitive skin and proper tattoo care is a must for several weeks after. Applying a thin layer of a protective barrier will help preserve the vibrancy of your tattoo.
Using natural oils is a great way to take care of your ink. This is an incredibly simple tattoo balm recipe. I thought about making a calendula infused tattoo balm but I was in need of a quick product and decided most people seeking a DIY tattoo balm probably are too. However, infusing oils is super fun and relatively easy and there are wonderful healing properties in calendula not to mention many different DIY recipes you could use the left over oil in. If you’d like to make an infused oil for this DIY I recommend infusing sweet almond oil with calendula and replacing the shea butter with your infused oil and switching the 1 tsp. of sweet almond oil to 1 tsp. of shea butter.
Why Use a Tattoo Balm?
When you get a tattoo you are left with an open wound that needs to heal. The aftermath of a tattoo can sometimes be unpleasant to deal with. From itchiness, scabbing, peeling and even infection, using a soothing, nourishing anti-inflammatory balm will not only act as a barrier of protection, it will also work to immediately soothe skin and accelerate healing. A tattoo balm is a must, trust me.
Why Make Your Own Tattoo Balm:
I typically ask this question any time I share a recipe of a product that can easily be bought rather than made.With a typical tattoo cream or balm, from my research, you are usually getting a pretty clean, natural product.
I looked into Mad Rabbit products which is the tattoo aftercare company that has the most buzz. They have a great product in their Tattoo Balm that is similar to what we’re making in this post. They have 2 versions of their balm, one using essential oils and one that contains fragrance. It’s always best to avoid synthetic fragrance wherever possible. They do not indicate their ingredients are organic. Their balm is $19 for 1.7 oz. which is semi-reasonable. This balm contains only vegan ingredients.
I also looked into Badger Tattoo Balm. I love Badger products, especially their cute tins and have remade their Sleep Balm in the past. They contain organic ingredients and a 2 ounce tin is only $10 and you can find it on Amazon with 1 day shipping.
As you can see, there are many natural options so this DIY is really for those of us that just want to DIY. Whether I can buy something affordably and with ease or not, I almost always just prefer to make it myself. There’s just something about making skin wellness products with my own hands at home.
Tattoo Aftercare Tips:
Whether it’s your first time or 50th, properly caring for your tattoo is necessary to preserve the longevity of your tattoo. It is vital to take care of your tattoo. Your new ink can be fragile and you must remember your skin is an open wound and needs proper attention.
- Keep the bandage the tattoo artist puts over your tattoo on as long as they recommend. It’s so tempting to rip that bandage off since a freshly done tattoo looks so good but it could put you at risk of extra irritation, infection and even ink discoloration.
- Do not rebandage the tattoo. It needs to breath.
- Avoid wearing tight fitting clothes over a new tattoo.
- Always use clean hands when touching your tattoo.
- Clean your tattoo with a gentle cleanser that does not contain alcohol or harsh cleansing agents.
- Thoroughly moisturize your new body art.
- Avoid sun exposure.
- Avoid bodies of water for several weeks after getting tattooed.
- Never pick flaking skin or scabs and resist the urge to itch!!
- Avoid hot showers as well as saunas or excessive sweating. These activities will open the pores and could cause ink to leak out.
Related Post: Homemade Neosporin Balm
What You’ll Need to Make DIY Tattoo Balm:
- 1 TBSP. Unrefined Coconut Oil (find it HERE)
- 1 TBSP. Shea Butter (find it HERE)
- 1 tsp. Sweet Almond Oil (find it HERE)
- 2 tsp. Vitamin E Oil (find it HERE)
- 1 TBSP. Beeswax (find it HERE)
- 2 ounce push up container or 2 ounce glass jar
- Medium sized pot
- Glass Pyrex measuring cup
- Stir stick/spoon
This recipe makes 2 ounces and has a shelf life is about 6 months to 1 year. Since we are only using oil based products, no preservative is needed.
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DIY Tattoo Balm
Chances are you're here because you have just gotten a new tattoo or are about to get one! In this post I will give you a recipe for a balm for tattoos that contains only natural ingredients to accelerate the healing process as well as nourish and restoring older tattoos. This tattoo balm is an easy recipe that will thoroughly relieve dry skin and can be used anywhere that needs a little TLC.
Materials
- 1 TBSP. Unrefined Coconut Oil
- 1 TBSP. Shea Butter
- 1 tsp. Sweet Almond Oil
- 2 tsp. Vitamin E Oil
- 1 TBSP. Beeswax
Tools
- 2 ounce container
- Mid-Size Pot
- Glass Pyrex Measuring Cup
- Stir Stick/Spoon
Instructions
- Prepare a double boiler by filling a medium sized pot half way full with water. Place a glass Pyrex measuring cup in the pot and turn the stove top on medium.
- Add all ingredients to the glass cup and allow to thoroughly melt.
- Once ingredients are melted, remove from heat and pour into a glass jar.
- Allow to cool.
Notes
- This recipe makes 2 ounces and has a shelf life is about 6 months to 1 year. Since we are only using oil based products, no preservative is needed.
How to Use:
For best results use once a day the first week after a tattoo. Multiple daily use is definitely recommended for ultimate skin nourishment. Apply a thin layer of tattoo balm in circular motions. If you store your balm in a jar and are using your fingers to distribute, make sure to use clean hands.
Ingredient Substitutions:
Unrefined Coconut oil is 100% necessary in order to reap the healing benefits. Coconut oil is so incredibly healing. It’s not as moisturizing as other oils but the healing properties are so effective.
Shea butter is a soft butter that can be replaced by cocoa butter. Cocoa butter is quite a bit harder which will make a harder balm but that won’t affect how nourishing the balm is.
Beeswax is what makes the balm solid so some kind of wax is necessary. If you’d like to make a DIY vegan tattoo balm you can replace beeswax with candelilla wax or carnauba wax. Keep in mind that vegan waxes make a balm a bit hard than beeswax would.
If you’d like to replace sweet almond oil you can use olive oil, jojoba oil, avocado oil or even rosehip seed oil. Carrier oils contain essential fatty acids which help to replenish damaged skin.
Vitamin E isn’t vital but it does add to the nourishment and is a powerful antioxidant that helps fight tattoo damaging free radicals. I do recommend you keep the proportions the same so be sure you add 2 tsp. of another oil if you skip Vitamin E. You could add more sweet almond or coconut or any other oil you have on hand.
I did not add essential oils to this recipe but you could add a very small amount for added scent and added healing. Essential oils are great at reducing inflammation as well. If you’d like to add an essential oil I would recommend you add 5 drops of lavender oil and/or frankincense oil. Avoid citrus oils.
Clean ingredients go a long way when it comes to nurturing a fresh tattoo. Whether it’s your first tattoo or you’re a tattoo pro, a tattoo balm is 100% a must. This balm works fantastic on older tattoos as well and will bring back a little life and color vibrancy to them. My easy recipe gives you an incredible natural product that doesn’t have to be isolated for use on a tattoo, it can also be used anywhere your skin needs a boost of moisture!
I hope you’ve enjoyed this easy DIY tattoo balm recipe. In case you’re curious, you can see the 2 stars I got on my wrist that represent my 2 daughters. I also got a small butterfly on the other wrist and a heart on my ring finger. It’s very true what is said about how addictive tattoos can be. I’ve got a list of a few more I’d like! I’m definitely prepared with plenty of tattoo balm!
xx, Jenni
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