Green Soap for Tatoo Application: A Long History of Natural and Effective Cleaning
Use Green Soap Before, During and After Getting a Tattoo
I know you’re excited. You’ve worked with a tattoo studio artist to make the perfect, most meaningful design and you’re ready for that ink. But wait a second. There are other things to consider before making this permanent decision.
Has your tattoo studio has told you specifically how they will protect you from getting an infection while getting your tattoo and how to keep from getting an infection after you get your tattoo?
Have you watched them work on other clients? Are they using green soap to prepare the skin and keeping the skin clean while applying the tattoo. Are they going over step-by-step how to care for the tattoo after it is applied?
If not, keep shopping for a more professional tattoo studio.
- 8 oz Wash Bottle, A great alternative to a spray bottle.
- 1 pint green soap
- 1 pint green soap mixed with water equals 1 gallon green soap
- Effective detergent/cleaner for removal of dried blood and protein soils from skin...
- Effective for cleaning surgical instruments and surgical apparatus before...
- Tincture of green soap
- Effective detergent/cleaner for removal of dried blood and protein soils from skin...
- Effective for cleaning surgical instruments and surgical apparatus before...
- 16.9 oz Bottle w/ 8 oz Squeeze Bottle
What To Look for Before Getting Your Tattoo
When you are checking out tattoo and piercing studios, look to make sure the artists are wearing clean gloves before starting each procedure. Next, check to make sure the artist is spraying green soap, to clean, moisturize, and sanitize, on the area where they will be working. Finally, after the tattoo is complete, make sure the artist is again cleaning the area and giving thorough after care instructions. Keeping the area where you get your tattoo clean and moisturized and clean is really important for the healing process.
What Is Green Soap? The History
Used by Queens Cleopatra and Zenobia of Syria, green soap has been around for thousands of years. The Crusaders returned from their conquests to the Castile region of Spain with knowledge of how to make soap hence the name “castile” soap. This Castile soap recipe traveled to Syria where laurel and olive oils were added to the recipe and the soap became known as “Aleppo soap.” In this Syrian recipe is the first time the soap is referred to as green soap: the laurel fruit gave the soap a deeper green color. In the Syrian recipe, the laurel oil gives the soap its anti-fungal, antibiotic and anti-itching properties.In this recipe, a concentration of at least 30% laurel oil is required to achieve the antibiotic properties.
…And Green Soap Today
Eventually the soap was imported to America and used in the treatment of eczema and as a home remedy for other skin conditions. Today green soap is made of vegetable oils, glycerol and contains isopropyl alcohol (about 30%, the same amount of laurel oil in in the Aleppo recipe). Green soap as we know it today in the American market contains no animal ingredients, dyes or fillers. Green soap as it is marketed today by the most popular brands is a medical level, vegetable, oil-based, water-soluble, environmentally safe soap. It is good for sensitive skin, as a household cleaner, and can be a body wash as well as a shampoo.
How Is Green Soap Different From Regular Soap?
Green soap is different from regular soap because of its high fat content which actually moisturizes the skin instead of drying the skin like a regular soap. Regular soaps may contain harsh chemicals like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). SLS degreases and washes dirt away and is an effective cleanser but the SLS can have a drying effect on the skin. Green soap does not contain harsh ingredients that lead to dryness.
Most green soap does not contain fragrance. There is a huge market for scented soaps from tropical pineapple and mango scented blends to pine forest and musk choices. These added fragrances may aggravate sensitive skin and especially skin that has been broken when getting fresh ink. Green soap on the other hand contains no fragrance so does not create this irritation.
Green soap is also different from traditional soap because it contains alcohol for added antiseptic quality.
Why is Green Soap Better in a Tattoo Studio
Because it is noncorrosive, tattoo studios use green soap to clean the skin before applying tattoo ink and use green soap on their equipment. Green soap also moistens the area where the artist will be applying the tattoo which makes it easier to shave and shaving the skin makes it easier to the transfer of a stencil to the skin. Tincture of green soap contains glycerin and ethyl alcohol. Because of the ethyl alcohol, green soap is a good skin degreaser.
What Is the Best Brand of Green Soap?
Miracle II Green Soap
- It's a soap ... cleaner ... degreaser ... and deodorizer... all in one
- Miracle II Soap cleanses your skin, your hair, and your home -- including the laundry
- One of the most amazing products that has ever been presented to mankind. Most of...
This soap’s formula includes natural vegetable oils, minerals, and sea salts. The Miracle II products are all natural, non-toxic, and free fragrances and colors. These soaps are widely available online for an affordable price.
One of the more unique aspects of these products is the story of the company’s founder, Clayton Tedeton. Mr. Tedeton says, “It was God who gave me the formula for the amazing Miracle II soap. I awoke one night in July, 1980, to see names of minerals all miraculously flashed on my bedroom wall.”
COSCO Tincture Tattoo Green Soap
- Type/packaging: 1 gal
- Use for stencil application
- Health and personal care
COSCO Tincture Green Soap is available widely online for a reasonable price. COSCO has been manufacturing Green Soap since 1966 and offers its soap in liquid and bar form. COSCO recommends their product for tattoo artists in the studio and for aftercare.
H2Ocean – Blue Green Soap
- Antibacterial
- Vegan friendly
- Paraben free
H2Ocean Blue Green Liquid Soap is an antibacterial soap, free of artificial fragrances and parabens and contains palm seed oil and panthenol to soothe. Widely available online, H2Ocean Blue Green Soap is reasonably priced. H2Ocean Blue Green Soap is also available in a foam. And H2Ocean offers and Extreme Tattoo Care Aftercare Kit for all the stages of your tattoos healing.
Drawbacks of Green Soap
Because Green Soap contains alcohol there are some concerns with its safety on tattoo aftercare. A new tattoo is a wound and drying skin the alcohol in the green soap will dry the skin.
Also alcohol can slow wound healing. The alcohol will damage cells along the wound and cause discomfort by irritating superficial nerve endings. Do not use green soap for tattoo aftercare.
Proper Aftercare
Your tattoo artist will give you detailed instructions on the proper after care but in case you didn’t get the message: aftercare is important!
What can Happen If You Don’t Use Proper Aftercare
If you see red bumps or rashes surrounding or on top of the tattoo it may be that an infection is developing. Or this may be a normal part of the healing process. If you have sensitive skin your new tattoo may take a bit longer to heal.
A tattoo infection may also look like a discoloring. While ink may fade if you expose it to the sun too soon it should not discolor. This is another early sign of infection and your tattoo professional and medical doctor should be contacted.
Ere on the side of caution. If your skin doesn’t look as you expected, or your tattoo artist described, call your doctor and have a trained person check it out. Call your tattoo artist too. They may have other clients with similar infections and can trace the source to an unclean tool of the trade. Even if that’s not the case, they should know about your infection so they can provide more detailed aftercare procedures to their clients in the future and check their equipment for their cleanliness.
What Is Proper Aftercare
During the first few days, while your skin adjusts to the ink, it will need moisture to settle and stretch properly.
Don’t be alarmed though when after your tattoo is applied your skin becomes raised. This is a natural swelling and after a few days will go down. After all getting a tattoo breaks the skin and needs healing time.
While your skin is healing, keep the area moisturized and clean at all times. Also important to proper healing is keeping the area dry and free of soap for the first few days. To keep the area clean, use a warm washcloth and brush gently over the area. As mentioned above, avoid direct sun exposure. Make all movements to and around the tattoo slow and gentle. No abrasive cleansers or ointments and give your skin time to heal.
Many professional tattoo artist recommend Dial antibacterial soap to clean a new tattoo. It is mild and affordable. TattooGoo Deep Cleaning Soap is also recommended as a gentle, cleansing soap to keep fresh ink and piercings clean.
