Banger Tattoo Care

Tattoo aftercare changed four times in 35 years. Petroleum ointments (1990s) gave way to antibacterial liquid soap (2000s), then natural balms (2010s), now microbiome-friendly bar soap (2020s). Each shift happened when new science proved the previous standard was holding back healing. If your artist still recommends Aquaphor or Dial Gold, they're giving you advice from when they trained—not from current science. Here's the complete timeline of what changed and why.