Whether you’re a fella into his body art or you’re thinking about getting inked for the first time, looking after your creation in those all-important early days is vital.
When the needle stops buzzing and the ink sets in, the aftercare begins—and if you’re looking to give your tattoos a chance to shine—choosing the right antibacterial soap is the way to go.
The best antibacterial soap for tattoos will help to preserve and protect your tattoo while moisturizing the skin and preventing any nasty infections from rearing their ugly head. Some of them smell awesome, too.
But, with so many products out there promising the Earth on a stick (or rope: remember ‘Soap on a Rope?’), how do you know which antibacterial soaps to trust?
Well, I’m going to tell you right now with my definitive rundown of the best antibacterial soap for tattoos.
Let’s lather up.
Key takeaways
After trying out droves of antibacterial soap for tattoos and researching every corner of the World Wide Web, I settled on my definitive list of five exceptional products that stand out from the crowd.
When it comes to choosing the right soap for tattoos, you should take as much care as you would shopping for lotion or a numbing cream—taking your personal considerations into account.
As a solid all-rounder for every skin type, VI tattoo soap comes out on top. If you’re looking for a liquid lather that seriously reduces itch, Tattoo Goo is the one for you. And, for everyday use, Green Soap is the way to go.
VI Tattoo Soap Hemp Tattoo Hydrating Soap at Amazon
Saniderm Foaming Hand Soap at Amazon
Hustle Butter Tattoo at Amazon
Tattoo Goo Cleansing Soap at Amazon
Green Soap at Amazon
1. Best Overall: VI Tattoo Soap Hemp Tattoo Hydrating Soap
Why it’s brilliant: Made with a wealth of natural ingredients including hemp, this neat, long-lasting, and botanical smelling antibacterial new tattoo soap moisturizes the skin while hydrating your new body ink and helping it heal. It’s an amazingly effective product considering the price and that fact that it’s perfect for all skin types makes this product my official best antibacterial soap for tattoos.
How it feels: This basically feels like a fresh cooling hug for the skin.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: While this soap is pretty darn epic, the organic hemp-like smell might not be for everyone. Oh, and if you’re a fella that likes to lather with a liquid soap, this probably isn’t for you.
Key Ingredients: | Skin Type: All | Type: Bar | Size: 3.5 – 4oz | Scent: Botanical | Special Feature: Reduces irritation and hydrates the skin naturally
2. Best Budget: Saniderm Foaming Hand Soap
Why it’s brilliant: With thousands of four and five star ratings, this foamy soap is easy to use and goes a long way. Infused with prime natural ingredients including sea buckthorn oil as well as lavender essential oil, Saniderm is also perfect for tattoo lovers with sensitive skin. Oh, the price point is pretty friendly, too.
How it feels: This offers a great deal of skin-soothing comfort during the healing process as it offers such soft foamy lather.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: If you have a big tattoo, you will need to buy multiple bottles of this if you want it to go the distance. In that case, going for a bar or a larger liquid soap might be a better option.
Key Ingredients: | Skin Type: Sensitive | Type: Foam | Size: 2oz | Scent: Lavender | Special Feature: Helps sensitive skin heal
3. Best Luxury: Hustle Butter Tattoo
Why it’s brilliant: A bonafide best seller, this lavish vegan antibacterial balm-style soap is fortified with multiple ingredients. Not only does it smell out of this world, but this antibacterial bad boy acts like a lotion to accelerate the healing process while reducing dreaded ink fade.
How it feels: This feels incredibly refreshing and offers soothing relief to irritable or itchy tattoos.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: If you prefer a traditional soap this product will not suit you. But my first recommendation would be adding Hustle Bubbles to the basket, the two products together will make the healing process that much easier.
Key Ingredients: Shea, Mango, Aloe butter, Coconut, Sunflower, Rice Bran oils, Rosemary Oleoresin, Green Tea, Vitamin E Complex, Mint Arvenis Essential Oil | Skin Type: All | Type: Butter | Size: 5oz | Scent: Shea & mango | Special Feature: A sweet smell and a soothing mix of ingredients that prevent fading
4. Best on Amazon: Tattoo Goo Cleansing Soap
Why it’s brilliant: As one of Amazon’s tip-top picks, Tattoo Goo is a disinfectant antibacterial soap for tattoos with a big reputation. Packed full of natural healing oils, this soothing liquid will last the distance and will prevent skin itch. It’s also cruelty-free and designed to keep those new tattoo lines sharp and fresh in equal measure.
How it feels: This thick and decadent soap is mildly cooling and will make your tattoo feel refreshed and revitalized.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: This product is unscented, which may be a disappointment to those who like a little scent with their soap.
Key Ingredients: Premium Olive Oil | Skin Type: All | Type: Liquid / gel | Size: 3oz | Scent: Unscented | Special Feature: Anti-itch
5. Best For New Tattoos: Green Soap
Why it’s brilliant: With a balanced mix of natural as well as medical-grade ingredients, Green Soap is a soothing antibacterial soap that prevents infection, itching, and swelling. A little dollop of this stuff provides an epic lather and as it comes in a big bottle, it offers plenty of
How it feels: This feels much like a standard liquid soap, but it does have soothing medicinal qualities.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: Some fellas might find this soap a little synthetic and garish compared to some of the other more organic options on the list.
Key Ingredients: Glycerin | Skin Type: All | Type: Concentrated Liquid | Size:16.9oz | Scent: Fresh/Green | Special Feature: Sterilizing/removal of buildup
Buying Considerations for Antibacterial Soaps For Tattoos
Ingredients
As a general rule of thumb, you should go for antibacterial tattoos made from mainly natural ingredients. Some of the best products not only contain natural antibacterial ingredients, but they’re also fortified with vitamins (vitamin B, for example, helps to hydrate the skin) that help the healing process.
Each ingredient offers its own set of ink-boosting benefits. So, dig a little deeper into the ingredients list of each soap in your shortlist to discover which one best suits your needs.
Skin Type
Expanding on the last point, when choosing the best antibacterial soap for your needs, you should consider your skin type.
Some soaps are made to offer extra hydration while others are good art soothing sensitive skin. Choose your tattoo soap based on your skin type and you will end up with the ink-boosting lather of your dreams.
Size & Price
Another thing to think about is size and price. Before you start shopping for tattoo soap, you should set your budget as doing so will allow you to make a solid shortlist with ease.
Once you have your shortlist, you should think about how big your tattoo is and choose a soap size that is likely to last up to six weeks within your budget.
Type
Some fellas prefer a classic bar of soap while others like something a little more foamy or shower gel-like. Choose your soap type depending on your preferences and you’ll enjoy your daily tattoo lather all the more.
Why you should trust us
I’m a men’s hygiene, skincare, and grooming writer here at FashionBeans. I try, test, and research just about everything you can wear, manscape with or wear on your skin. I’ve over 12 years of professional experience in this area and for this particular mission, I studied 40 potential products before whittling it down to five based on a number of quality factors. Ultimately, I want people to find the best antibacterial soap for tattoos.
Final Verdict
With an awesome mix of natural skin healing ingredients, a striking botanical scent, and a lather than goes the extra mile, VI Tattoo Soap Hemp Tattoo Hydrating Soap is my pick for the best antibacterial soap for your tattoos. It’s a real allrounder and will keep your tattoos looking as well as feeling funky fresh at all times.
But, while this may be the case, every single product on this list has its own set of unique qualities to suit specific budgets, tattoo sizes, and skin types. Consider your personal needs, work your way back through the list, and take your pick.
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Is antibacterial soap OK for tattoos?
In a word, yes. Antibacterial soap for tattoos is perfect for fresh ink or general ink maintenance as it speeds up the healing process while preventing any nasty infections. Antibacterial soap for tattoos also creates a protective barrier that preserves the ink while soothing and hydrating the skin.
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How long do you use antibacterial soap after a tattoo?
As a general rule of thumb, you should gently wash your tattoo with the right soap around two to three times per day until it has healed. Typically, it takes a tattoo between two and six weeks to heal—so keep lathering up your new inky creation until the time is right.
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