The Marathon Kit
Multi-day projects and full sleeves, covered start to finish. Go in numb, top up mid-session, heal it right, then shield your ink from the sun.
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- Before your session (start 90 minutes ahead):
- Step 1: Shave the area with a wider margin than the tattoo (5×5cm piece → shave ~7×7cm), then clean thoroughly with alcohol wipes.
- Step 2: Wearing gloves, massage a thin layer of XL cream into the skin.
- Step 3: Dab a thick, even layer on top. Do not rub this layer in. More cream means a longer numb.
- Step 4: Cover immediately with cling film, sealed to lock in moisture, and leave for 90 minutes. Apply at home and arrive already numb.
- Step 5: At the studio, remove the film and wipe every trace of cream away. Stencil on, needle in, nothing felt.
- During your session:
- Step 6: If sensation starts creeping back, ask your artist for a quick break.
- Step 7: Spray Rescue Spray directly onto the area being worked on.
- Step 8: Wait 2-3 minutes for it to activate, then continue the session.
- After your session:
- Step 9: Gently wash your fresh tattoo with lukewarm water and fragrance-free soap, then pat dry with a clean paper towel. Never rub or use fabric towels.
- Step 10: Apply a thin layer of Aftercare Balm. Repeat 2-3 times daily for 2-3 weeks.
- Long-term protection:
- Step 11: Once your tattoo is fully healed, apply Tattoo Shield SPF100 before any sun exposure. UV is the number one cause of ink fading, so shield it every time you are out.
- Apply generously: Don't spread the thick layer thin. A generous dabbed layer under cling film is what drives the actives deep, and the more you apply, the longer the numb.
- Timing matters: The full 90 minutes wrapped is the protocol. Cut it short and you cut the numbing short. Apply at home before you leave.
- Patch test first: Test on a small area 24 hours before your session, especially if you have sensitive skin.
- Don't waste the spray: Save the Rescue Spray for when you actually need it mid-session. You won't need it from the start if the cream went on properly.
- Plan for multi-day work: For big projects across several sittings, one kit covers you. Re-apply the full cream protocol before each session.
- Don't skip aftercare: The first 2 weeks are critical for healing. Consistent balm application keeps ink vibrant and skin healthy.
- Shield it once healed: Sun is what fades ink over the years. Once healed, SPF100 on the tattoo every time you're in the sun keeps the colour sharp for life.
- No alcohol 24hrs before: Drinking before your session reduces the effectiveness of numbing products and increases bleeding.
- No soaking: Avoid baths, swimming pools, and saunas for at least 2-3 weeks. Quick showers are fine.
- Free UK shipping on this kit (orders over £50).
- 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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BUILT FOR THE BIG PROJECT
If your next piece is a big one, or a series of them, this is your kit.
One kit, the whole project
Big work across several sittings needs backup at every stage. XL cream, rescue spray, aftercare and sun protection in one. Covered start to finish.
Outlasts the longest sit
One application keeps you numb for 3-5 hours, and the rescue spray tops you up on broken skin so a marathon sitting stays covered to the end.
Fresh ink, protected from the sun
UV is what fades ink over time. The SPF100 shield in this kit keeps new colour sharp, so a holiday or a summer piece won't cost you the vibrancy. Sit it, heal it, shield it.
Numb, rescue, heal, protect
Every stage of a serious tattoo in one kit, from the first needle to long-term colour protection. The most complete setup we make.
Planning something serious? Numb it, sit it, heal it, and protect it for life.
HOW TO SIT IT NUMB
Real numbing takes preparation. Follow the protocol to go in numb, stay numb through the longest sit, then heal and protect the ink after.
Shave & clean
Shave a wider margin than the tattoo, then wipe the area with alcohol to strip oils. Clean skin lets the actives sink in.
Thin layer, then thick
Massage a thin layer in, then dab a thick, even layer on top. Don't rub the second layer in. The more you apply, the longer the numb.
Cling film, 90 minutes
Seal it under cling film to lock in moisture and drive the numbing deep. Apply at home and arrive already numb.
Wipe, stencil, tattoo
Wipe every trace off, stencil on, needle in, nothing felt. Numb holds for 3-5 hours, depending how much you applied.
Why 90 minutes?
Rub-on-and-go creams don't work, there isn't time for the actives to reach the nerve. NUMB'D is strong enough to need the full wrap, and that's exactly why it holds through a long session.
Got Questions?
Everything you need to know before your next big project.
One application of the XL cream keeps you numb for 3 to 5 hours, depending on how thick you apply it. For sittings that run longer, the Rescue Spray tops you up mid-session once the skin is broken, so even a marathon piece stays covered start to finish.
This is the most complete kit we make. XL cream to go in numb, Rescue Spray for mid-session top-ups on broken skin, Aftercare Balm to heal clean and hold colour, and SPF100 to shield the ink from UV once healed. Numb, rescue, heal, protect, the whole journey in one order.
Shave and clean the area, massage in a thin layer of the XL cream, dab a thick layer on top without rubbing it in, then seal under cling film for 90 minutes. Apply at home before you leave and you arrive already numb. The application guide comes free in every kit.
UV light is the main reason tattoos fade and blur over the years. Once your ink is fully healed, apply Tattoo Shield SPF100 before any sun exposure to block that damage and keep the colour crisp. Reapply through the day if you are out in strong sun.
No. NUMB'D is formulated to be wiped off completely before tattooing begins. It won't interfere with ink absorption, your stencil, or your tattoo's healing process.
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 20% on kits and 10% on everything else, delivered on a 90 day cycle so you are never caught short before a session. Skip, pause or cancel anytime from your account. 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."
Professional Grade
WHY NUMB'D?
"Do these creams actually work?"
This one has a protocol, and it holds.
8 actives driven deep under a 90-minute wrap. You go in numb and stay numb for 3-5 hours, not 40 minutes.
"Is it just another TKTX clone?"
Maximum legal strength, made properly.
The highest lidocaine concentration legally available in the UK, GMP-certified manufacture. No mystery imports.
"Will it mess with my ink or healing?"
Wipes off clean. Ink goes in perfect.
Removed completely before the needle starts. No effect on ink absorption, stencils or healing, which is why artists allow it.
"Do I really need all four?"
Every stage, one kit.
Numb, rescue, heal and protect. For big or multi-day work it is everything you need in one order, and the SPF keeps the colour sharp for years, not just weeks.
Complete Your Setup
EVERYTHING FOR THE CHAIR
Build the full session, top up mid-sit, heal it right. Add what your next piece needs.
