Tattoo Aftercare Balm XL | 50ml
The healing finish. A rich, fragrance-free balm that soothes fresh ink, speeds healing and locks in colour. The XL 50ml lasts a full heal and then some.
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- Start the day after your tattoo, once the initial wrap is off.
- Step 1: Gently wash the tattoo with lukewarm water and fragrance-free soap. Pat dry with a clean paper towel, never rub or use fabric towels.
- Step 2: With clean hands, warm a small amount of balm between your fingers.
- Step 3: Massage a thin, even layer into the tattoo. Less is more, the skin should look moisturised, not greasy or clogged.
- Step 4: Repeat 2-3 times daily for the first 2-3 weeks, or whenever the skin feels tight or dry.
- Step 5: Once healed, keep using it to keep the skin supple and the colour rich. A little balm before sun exposure helps too (pair with SPF for full protection).
- Thin layers win: Over-applying suffocates healing skin. A thin, even layer that absorbs in is all you need, reapply rather than piling it on.
- Clean hands every time: Always wash your hands before touching a healing tattoo. It is the simplest way to avoid infection in the first two weeks.
- Patch test if sensitive: If you have sensitive skin or allergies, patch test the balm 24 hours before first use.
- Consistency is everything: The first 2 weeks decide how sharp your tattoo heals. Regular light application keeps ink vibrant and skin healthy.
- Skip the gym early on: Heavy sweating and friction can irritate a fresh tattoo. Ease back into workouts for the first week or so.
- Avoid sun exposure: Keep your fresh tattoo out of direct sunlight while healing. Once healed, use SPF to protect your ink long-term.
- No soaking: Avoid baths, swimming pools, and saunas for at least 2-3 weeks. Quick showers are fine.
- Free UK shipping on orders over £50. Add a top-up to qualify.
- Same-day dispatch on orders placed before 2pm (Mon-Fri).
- Next-day delivery available at checkout when you need it fast.
- International shipping available to US, EU, and worldwide.
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Numbing cream + aftercare balm. One session sorted.
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The Full Session Kit
XL cream, rescue spray + aftercare. Full coverage.
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The Marathon Kit
Everything + SPF protection. Numb, heal, protect.
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Every order is entered into our monthly £500 tattoo draw at London's highest-rated studio. Subscribe and earn a fresh entry on every delivery.
FOR HOW IT HEALS
The healing finish every tattoo deserves. If any of these sound like you, this is your balm.
Heal it clean, heal it fast
The first two weeks decide how your tattoo settles. A fragrance-free balm soothes, calms and speeds healing. Protect the work.
Keep the colour sharp
Dry, poorly-healed skin dulls ink. Keeping the tattoo moisturised as it heals is what keeps blacks deep and colours vivid for years.
Kind to healing skin
Fragrance-free and gentle, so it soothes without irritating. The balm you can use on tight, itchy, healing skin without a reaction.
Not just for fresh ink
Great for healing new work, and just as good keeping older tattoos looking their best. The XL 50ml lasts and lasts.
Just got tattooed? Heal it right and it stays sharp for life.
Got Questions?
Everything you need to know about healing your tattoo right.
Use it 2 to 3 times a day for the first 2 to 3 weeks while the tattoo heals. After that, keep applying whenever the skin feels dry to keep older ink looking sharp. The XL 50ml easily lasts a full heal with plenty left over.
Start once your artist says the initial wrap can come off, usually the day after. Wash gently, pat dry, then apply a thin layer. Always follow your artist's specific aftercare advice alongside this.
A little goes a long way. Warm a small amount between clean fingers and massage a thin, even layer into the tattoo, it should look moisturised, not greasy. Over-applying can clog healing skin, so reapply through the day rather than piling it on.
No. Yes. Keeping a healing tattoo properly moisturised is one of the biggest factors in how sharp it settles. Well-hydrated skin heals cleaner, which keeps blacks deep and colours vivid rather than dull and patchy.
Yes. NUMB'D is the official numbing partner of INK'D London, one of the UK's top rated tattoo studios, and is stocked and used in studio. It is trusted by 500+ UK artists who rely on it to keep clients comfortable through long sessions.
Yes, NUMB'D is dermatologically tested and suitable for all skin types. We recommend a patch test 24 hours before if you have sensitive skin or allergies.
UK orders placed before 2pm (Mon to Fri) are dispatched the same day and arrive within 1 to 3 working days, so a session later this week is usually covered. Next-day delivery is available at checkout if you are cutting it fine. International shipping typically takes 5 to 10 working days.
Subscribe and save 10% on the balm (and everything else), delivered on a 90 day cycle so you never run out mid-heal. Kits save 20%. Skip, pause or cancel anytime. No emails, no phone calls, no catch.
Every kit order is automatically entered into our monthly £500 INK'D London tattoo prize draw, no extra step needed. One customer wins £500 toward ink at INK'D London every month. Subscribe to a kit and you earn a fresh entry on every delivery, so staying subscribed means more chances to win.
15,000+ SAT STILL
Real customers, real pieces, real sessions · 4.8/5 on ★ Trustpilot · Read all reviews →
"Six hours on my forearm and I barely felt a thing. My artist was amazed."
"Was skeptical but WOW. Felt almost nothing."
"Had my spine done, one of the most painful spots, and I could actually sit still. My artist wants to stock it now!"
"4 hours and I could actually relax."
"Didn't believe numbing creams worked until I tried this. Foot tattoo was a breeze."
"Low pain threshold. Completely bearable."
"Tried loads of numbing creams before, this is the only one that actually delivers. Lasts the whole session."
"Been getting tattooed for years and wish I'd found this sooner. Doesn't wear off mid-session."
"Matching tattoos with my best friend. Neither of us felt much at all."
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