Antibacterial soap for tattoos is essential for proper and healthy skin cleansing. Avoid tattoo infections and complications with our reviews below.
Anything can be preserved with great quality for a long time if you take proper care of it, even early on. This rule is especially valid for tattoos and caring for them. But, it is quite confusing these days with so much information everywhere around us. Every source tells different things, and you feel lost whether certain products are better than others for tattoo aftercare.
Best overall
Premium Pick
Runner Up
This is the least you need when you have a freshly done tattoo! So, this is where we’d like to help with a few of our suggestions. We did some research and confirmed that proper tattoo hygiene is key for proper healing. So, in all of the sections below, we will discuss in detail choosing the best antibacterial soap for tattoos. The earlier you start, the better the healing will be!
These were the top 3 soaps for tattoos covered in all sections below. We will speak about their features, usages, formulas, and try to help you make the best choice for your tattoo and skin.
Read also: Best Lotion for Tattoo Aftercare
Why do You Need an Antibacterial Soap for Your Tattoo
If you want your freshly-inked tattoos to look vibrant, but foremost to be healthy, you need to have soap for tattoos. Healthy skin means that the ink will heal nicely too, but for this, you have to take good care of the hygiene of the inked skin after the session.
The soap for tattoos is for both tattooed and non-tattooed people. Of course, the major benefit goes to those with freshly done tattoos, because that skin is more irritated and in need of cleansing and soothing with approved and safe antibacterial soaps for tattoos.
The Best Antibacterial Soaps for Tattoos in 2022
1. Tattoo Goo Deep Cleansing Soap
Best overall
Tattoo Goo Deep Cleansing Soap for Tattoos
If you like to get a soap for tattoos that smells nice, and offers deep cleansing, but leaves the skin supple (not dry), this is your pick. It will give you the nice ‘squeaky’ clean skin, but also leave it supple too.
We start with the best overall pick we made, the Tattoo Goo brand, and their soap. This product is lush with ingredients, such as essential oils. It is a good product for piercings as well, not just tattoos. Its effect is mild and gentle for sensitive tattooed skin. Even more importantly, it removes any risk of microbes, germs, or bacteria (it’s antibacterial and antimicrobial).
Package dimensions are 5.3 x 3.1 x 2.7 inches, with a total weight of 2.75 ounces.
Pros
- Skin-protection (antibacterial/antimicrobial)
- Doesn’t dry out the skin
- Deep cleansing
- Protective ‘layer’ after rinsing
- Approved by dermatologists
Cons
- The tube opening must be handled with care (to avoid pouring too much)
- Better precaution prior shipping could be required (to avoid leaking)
2. Billy Jealousy Complete Tattoo Care Kit
Premium Pick
Billy Jealousy Complete Tattoo Care Kit
This is a perfect choice for you if you like to take your cosmetics everywhere you go, and you like variety! In this kit, you get 3 products that smell gorgeously, so in case you prefer nice scents too, this is it.
As our premium pick, we continue with the brand Billy Jealousy and this interesting offer of a full kit to take care of your tattoos! This product is soothing for the skin because it contains a cucumber extract that provides chilling freshness. This is good for both old and new tattoos that need refreshing. The package includes small sizes of tattoo salve, a wash, and a lotion too. It is like a double benefit – both for old ink reviving, and new ink healing! It is rosemary-scented, vegan, and dermatologist-approved too.
The package dimensions are 5 x 1.75 x 9 inches. The wash is 3 oz., the lotion is also 3 oz., and the salve is 2 oz.
Pros
- 3 products at once
- Nice scent
- Vegan
- Dermatologist-approved
- Fit for old and new tattoos
- Travel-size practicality
Cons
- It could dry out the very sensitive skin (for some)
- Needs some time to absorb
3. Blue Green Foam Soap for Tattoos
Runner Up
If you like your soap for tattoos to be unscented and without messy foams, you can choose this one. It will soothe the skin’s redness, reduce the lymph excreting, and keep the skin safe from bacteria too.
As our runner-up pick, we chose the H2Ocean brand with their foam soap cleanser. It’s skin-friendly and made with purified water, and has no parabens to harm the skin barrier. It also kills any bacteria on the skin (antibacterial) and is vegan too.it works smoothly by helping the skin heal better, removes irritation, and won’t add to the sensitivity. It has no fragrance, so it’s neat and simple if you dislike scented soaps for tattoos.
Package dimensions are 1.38 x 1.38 x 5.13 inches, with a total weight of 4.23 ounces.
Pros
- Foamy soap formula
- Contains purified water
- No parabens and harsh chemicals
- Antibacterial
- Promotes healing and soothes irritation
- No scent
- Vegan
Cons
- The lid could be sealed better before shipping
- Almost no lather is noticed (if you are keen on lots of foam)
4. Cosco Pure Liquid Green Soap
This product is especially a good pick for you if you are a tattoo artist and you don’t have much time for different products and choosing. This soap for tattoos is practical for you as a prep-soap, for the stencils, and for cleansing the customer’s skin after the session too.
Next, we continue with the brand CoscoProducts by Pirate Face Tattoo and their multi-use soap for tattoos. This is a cleanser formula that works like a wonder on crusted blood or lymph fluid, or even protein residues like those on the head scalp, or scabbed skin. It is safe for cleaning of medical/surgical instruments, so it’s safe for tattooed skin as well. It’s incredibly versatile too – for prepping the skin, as well as stencil transfers, or aftercare as well! It has a lavender scent, and it’s eco-friendly too.
Package dimensions are 8 x 2 x 2 inches, with a total weight of 8.78 ounces.
Pros
- Cleanser formula
- Good for dried blood, lymph, residue
- Safe for the skin
- Multi-usage
- Lavender scent
- Eco-friendly product
Cons
- The bottle could be tightened more prior to packing to avoid scent around it
5. Dial Antibacterial Liquid
If you fear testing out new names, this is your pick because it’s a known and trusted brand for a long time back. If you dislike strong scents, this mild one is good enough to cleanse your skin, leaving it fresh and healthy.
From the Dial Store, we single out the liquid hand soap with antibacterial properties for the sensitive tattooed skin. The aroma is incredibly pleasant and ‘fresh’, and the bottle is practical for use with its pump. The formula is skin-friendly and it doesn’t dry out even the sensitive skin. It is delivered on time and packed securely and perfectly.
Package dimensions are 1.62 x 3 x 6.7 inches, and product weight is 7.5 ounces.
Pros
- Good amount in the bottle
- Cleanses gently
- Safe for the skin
- Pump practicality
- No skin drying up
- Mild fresh scent
Cons
- Some labels say antimicrobial, and some antibacterial
- The pump needs to be worked gently to start pumping
6. Green Soap Prep Wash
If you want a soap for tattoos that smells like nothing else, and feels ‘minty fresh’ on the tattooed skin – choose this one. It’s amazing if you like a watery consistency without much cosmetic residue after the rinse.
From the brand Dragon Art, we have a neatly packed soap for tattoos that comes with a practical squeeze bottle. This soap is amazing for both tattoos and piercings. It has a cleanser formula that is suitable for removing greasy residues or protein remains on the skin. The scent is unique – peppermint! And, this is a light formula as well, just 10% green soap, and the rest 90% is water.
Package dimensions are 9.6 x 7.2 x 3.2 inches, with a total weight of 1.33 pounds.
Pros
- Practical bottle
- Effective cleansing
- Medical usage cleaning too
- Nice minty formula
- Both for tattoos and piercings
- Watery light formula
Cons
- Similar to hand soap formula
- Some packages mistakenly omit an extra lid
7. Nat-A-Tat2 Organic and Vegan Foam Cleanser
If you like a light foamy formula to ‘freshen’ your skin and is made of all vegan ingredients, this is your pick. Plus, you won’t have to bother about the application, because it squirts directly foam onto the skin!
The Nat-A-Tat2 brand offers a practical and foam-formula soap for tattoos in the form of a cleanser. This product gently nourishes the skin besides cleaning it, and it’s the perfect gentle concoction for fresh ink. It is made from vegan and organic ingredients, so you know you get a safe mix. The most practical feature is that you pump out foam directly, instead of liquid!
Package dimensions are 1 x 1 x 5 inches, with a total weight of 1.67 ounces.
Pros
- Pump bottle
- Foam pumping instead of liquid
- Vegan
- Soothing on the skin
- No greasy residue
- Pleasant scent
Cons
- Slightly ‘hot’ sensation for extremely sensitive tattooed skin
8. One tattoo World Blue Soap
If you want to save the hassle of constantly purchasing soap for tattoos once it’s gone, you can just get this product and mix it with water to get a large amount of ready to use soap! Plus, it will leave your skin scented as well.
The One Tattoo World brand offers a unique product that smells amazing, and is perfect as soap for tattoos foremost, besides regular hygienic usage. What makes it special is that it is mixed and made with purified water, so you need to dilute it 10-18 times with purified water. The package is hefty 500ml and from that, you could make 1.5 gallons of soap ready to use.
Package dimensions are 7.4 x 2.9 x 1.7 inches, with a total weight of 1.25 pounds.
Pros
- Amazing scent
- Mixed with water to make more of the amount
- Perfect for tattoo aftercare and regular usage too
- Easy cleansing
- Leaves a cooling effect
Cons
- The scent might be strong for some
- Handle the cap gently to avoid cracking it
9. Essential Values Green Soap
If you want a soap for tattoos that are foremost hypoallergenic and safe to try out, this is your pick. If by any chance you are not satisfied with the result, you can get your refund as well.
The next suggestion we have is the soap for tattoos made by the Essential Values brand. They used ingredients that are natural and gentle on the skin. The cleansing is nice, and you won’t get any skin reaction to it. It will kill any bacteria on the skin and disinfect it properly. If you are not satisfied, they even offer a refund as well.
Package dimensions are 2.5 x 2.5 x 2.5 inches, with a total weight of 15.8 ounces.
Pros
- Trusted brand
- Gentle for the skin
- Nice cleansing hypoallergenic
- Antibacterial
- Promotes fast healing
Cons
- The scent is nice but not everyone’s cup of tea
- You might need to use more to cleanse more
10. Ink Oil Tattoo Aftercare Soap
If you like a nice scent on the skin like that from essential oils, pick this product. It will leave your skin hydrated, supple, and cleansed while smelling amazing. But of course, a refund is possible here as well, if you’re still not satisfied.
As a final suggestion on our list, we sum it up with the Ink Oil brand and their soap for tattoos. This one promotes fast healing and it soothes irritated skin that bleeds or is swollen too, and this makes it perfect for tattoos. At the same time, it hydrates the skin and is eco-friendly, cruelty-free too. If not satisfied, they will give refunds as well.
Package dimensions are 6.81 x 1.92 x 1.81 inches, with a total weight of 10.09 ounces.
Pros
- Fast healing
- Soothing irritations
- Hydration
- Cruelty-free
- Eco-friendly
- Refunds are possible
Cons
- A bit slow to dry out on the skin after rinsing (due to the essential oils)
How we picked and tested these antibacterial soaps
For choosing the best antibacterial soap for tattoos, our research covered the following factors:
- Antibacterial/antimicrobial
- Approval by dermatologists
- Scent
- Formula and texture
- Hydrating factor
Antibacterial Soaps Buyer’s Guide
What is better; a scented or unscented antibacterial soap
This is just your personal preference here. If you are highly sensitive to aromas and fragrances, it is better to go for unscented soaps for tattoos. Also, expect that the scented ones could dry out the skin a bit more due to the fragrances and essential oils. If you have naturally very dry skin, still go for unscented soaps or those with a mild aroma.
Are there some possible side effects of using soap for tattoos
A possible side effect is some sort of hypersensitivity to the skin, or in rare cases allergies to the ingredients of the soap. No matter how good some soap is made, there is still a chance that it could suit some people more, and some less, because we all have different skin sensitivity to cleansers or soaps.
What to do if I have an allergic reaction from soap on tattoos
The best thing you can do is to reduce the number of times when you use the soap on your tattoos in one whole day. Notice the skin difference; does it get better if you cleanse it just once a day, instead of more?
Also, in case of a more serious allergy, stop using the soap for tattoos, and address a medical expert. But, of course, in the meantime, it’s of great help to try out home remedies that relieve the soreness at home.
How long can I use antibacterial soap for tattoos
You can use the soap for tattoos preferably as long as the tattoo doesn’t heal fully. After that, you can still use it, but maybe more sparingly to avoid drying out of the skin.
Should I apply something on the skin after cleansing with soap for tattoos
If your tattoo artist recommended some creams or lotions for the aftercare, use those after you cleanse and pat-dry the skin. Otherwise, if you use the soap for regular skincare, just any lotion you usually use is fine.
Conclusion
Now it’s time to conclude our summary of all suggestions we had. As the best antibacterial soap for tattoos, we chose the best overall Tattoo Goo Deep Cleansing Soap that cleanses thoroughly and protects the skin from drying. Then, we had the premium pick Billy Jealousy Marked IV Life Complete Tattoo Care Kit with its fresh effect and pleasant scent. As our runner-up pick, we chose the Blue Green Foam Soap that’s made with purified water and vegan ingredients.
Whatever you choose, just make sure to choose and be prepared for the tattoo aftercare before you even get the tattoo. Fast timing on this will pay off when your tattoo heals nicely. Protect the tattooed skin from pollutants or worse, and avoid ink complications underneath! Good luck!
