Help · Aftercare · Pricing
This is the InkLube tattoo aftercare FAQ — everything we get asked, in one place. Aftercare schedule, formula deep-dives, shipping, wholesale. Can’t find your answer? Email contact@inklube.com — we read every one.
01 · Aftercare Basics
Twice a day for the first 14 days, then once a day for the next two weeks. Always wash your hands first. A pea-sized dab covers a tattoo about the size of your palm — less is more.
Day 3, after the initial wrap is off and the tattoo has been gently washed twice. Days 1-2 are for unscented soap and air-drying only — no cream yet.
Two to four weeks active aftercare. After that, InkLube doubles as everyday skin food for old work — apply whenever the ink looks thirsty.
Yes. The formula is identical for both. Old work just gets fewer daily applications.
Itching is normal around days 4-7 as the top layer flakes. Don’t scratch. A thin layer of InkLube cools it down. If itching is paired with redness spreading outward, see a doctor.
02 · Product & Formula
13 ingredients, all listed on the jar: Mango Seed Butter, Sweet Almond Oil, Vitamin E, Beeswax, Jojoba Oil, Tea Tree Oil, Lavender Oil, Sea Buckthorn Oil, Rosemary Extract, Calendula, Chamomile, Aloe, and Shea Butter. No petrolatum, no lanolin, no fragrance.
No — beeswax is in the formula. We’ve tested vegan substitutes and nothing matched the seal/breathability. We’re not pretending it’s vegan to capture the market.
Yes. No animal testing, ever. Tested on tattoo artists and their willing clients.
Small batches, USA. Every jar has a batch code on the bottom and a 24-month shelf life from the manufacture date.
We use plant oils and no synthetic fragrance, but tea tree and lavender are still essential oils. If you have known reactions, do a patch test on the inside of your wrist 48 hours before applying to a tattoo.
Yes. The formula doesn’t pull color or fade pigment. Many of the shops on our roster use it specifically for vibrant color work.
03 · Buying & Subscriptions
Free over $50. Standard USPS otherwise. Most US orders arrive in 3-5 business days.
Currently US only. International coming once we sort out customs paperwork — sign up for the newsletter to be first to know.
Yes — refill subscriptions ship every 30, 60, or 90 days at 15% off. Cancel anytime from your account.
Unused, unopened jars: full refund within 30 days. Opened jars: store credit if you’re not happy. Damaged in shipping: replaced free, no return needed.
Check the Find a Shop page for the 23 (and counting) tattoo studios that carry it. If your shop doesn’t, ask them — we ship wholesale within 48 hours of approval.
04 · Pros & Wholesale
Apply on the Wholesale page. We approve most shops within 48 hours and send your full price sheet on approval. Cases of 12 to start.
We send sample packs to working artists with a public portfolio. Email contact@inklube.com with your shop and IG and we’ll set you up.
Once you carry InkLube — yes, automatically. Every wholesale account gets a page on inklube.com/shops/[city]/[shop-name] with LocalBusiness schema for free SEO.
Standard wholesale tier shared on approval, along with the full price sheet. Volume tiers available — ask in your application.
Still Stuck?
A real person reads every email and writes back inside one business day. No tickets, no chatbots.

Most of what people ask lands in one of the sections above, and the tattoo aftercare FAQ gets updated whenever the same question turns up three times. If your question is not answered anywhere in this tattoo aftercare FAQ, three places usually have it. The Journal goes deeper on healing stages, ingredients and how InkLube compares to the drugstore standbys — start with why we leave petroleum, lanolin and fragrance out or the first 24 hours guide. The shop lists what is in each jar and which size suits which piece. And if it is genuinely specific to your skin or your tattoo, email us — a person answers, usually the same day.
One thing worth saying plainly: this tattoo aftercare FAQ is not medical advice. If a tattoo is hot to the touch, weeping after the first couple of days, spreading redness, or you are running a fever, stop reading aftercare pages and see a doctor. The FDA fact sheet on tattoos and permanent makeup covers the reactions worth taking seriously.