Cory James was frustrated with questions like, “Is vaseline good for tattoo aftercare?” because the answer is NO, but he didn’t have a good alternative to offer. Other tattoo aftercare options were dissatisfying and not worth recommending.
Nothing he found contained the pain-relieving and restorative qualities his clients demanded. So he created his own tattoo aftercare brand by combining his deep understanding of healing ink tattoos with his brother’s expertise in herbology and outdoorsmanship.
Together, they founded Black Market Aftercare and created one of the most powerful tattoo balms available.
Black Market organic tattoo balm is a truly all-natural aftercare salve that’s hand-crafted in small batches for the highest-grade of purity and potency.
There are no chemical additives, no artificial preservatives, and no-frills. Just simple, certified-organic ingredients that provide fast results.
It’s petroleum-free and the base is made with beeswax and olive oil that’s anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-itch. It hydrates and moisturizes your skin to minimize discomfort and irritation.
Then it’s infused with the healing herbs yarrow and comfrey to promote cell growth, stop any bleeding, and speed up the healing process.
The result is a superior tattoo balm that doesn’t discolor, distort, or fade your body art.
Every Lost Edge client leaves our tattoo parlor with their own supply of Black Market tattoo aftercare balm.
By using this balm and following the steps below, you’ll have a vibrant, crisp tattoo that you’ll be able to enjoy for a lifetime.
The first few weeks are critical for any ink tattoo, especially one as richly detailed and boldly crafted as the piece you receive at Lost Edge.
We want you to walk out of our tattoo studio with the confidence that your tattoo will heal properly and look incredible afterward.
Follow these guidelines to properly care for your new tattoo:
Use paper towels to wash your tattoo with unscented, antibacterial soap.
Pat the tattoo dry with a clean paper towel.
Repeat 2x a day for 1 week
Don’t scratch or pick your tattoo and avoid contact with other objects.
When your artist finishes the tattoo and covers it with a Black Market aftercare bandage, it will look almost the same as when it’s fully healed, but a bit brighter. Despite how rich it may look, the tattoo is still an open wound that must be closely guarded against infection during the first week.
It will begin leaking blood, plasma, and even tiny spots of ink. This is a normal part of the healing process and will continue for a few days.
By day 2, you may notice your tattoo giving off “heat” - this is natural inflammation and is part of your body’s immune response to heal the wound. You may also notice bruising around the site of your tattoo.
Stick to the steps we laid out in the last section, like making sure your skin is well-moisturized with Black Market aftercare balm, and this first week will go by smoothly.
After about 7 days, your tattoo will no longer be moist or leaking any fluids. The skin will begin scabbing, flaking, and peeling as the wound continues healing.
At this stage, your tattoo is less susceptible to infection, but you still have to take all necessary precautions to keep it free of bacteria. How you treat your tattoo during this time can have a dramatic effect on the final results.
The biggest change you’ll notice is that your tattoo is becoming much itchier. You must NEVER scratch, pick, or scrape your tattoo. It can disrupt ink in your skin, causing dull patchy spots to appear - but worse, the bacteria underneath your fingernails can penetrate your wound and cause a serious infection.
Also, do not pull on the scabs and flakes on your skin. Allow them to fall off naturally. Picking at them will cause you pain and discolor your tattoo.
By following the moisturizing protocol we give you, you will minimize itchiness.
By week 3, heading into week 4, most of the scabs on your tattoo have fallen off and any itchiness you may experience is mild.
Your tattoo will probably look dull and faded, but this effect is caused by temporary scarring of the top layer of skin covering your tattoo. Soon, this layer will heal and you will finally be able to enjoy the sharp, striking features of your new tattoo.
After that, you’ll enter long-term care, which in many ways never ends. Daily moisturization is recommended, along with regular application of sunblock any time your tattoo is exposed. Make a habit of keeping your moisturizer and sunblock on hand so you don’t have to think about it. Perfection isn’t needed, but do your best to hit these recommendations more often than not. If you follow these steps, you’ll have great-looking body art for a lifetime.
We craft high-end tattoos for clients who want one-of-a-kind pieces of fine art executed by artists who will help you heal effectively and enjoy your new masterpiece for life.
Appointment only, no walk-ins
