Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions about Banger Tattoo Care products, tattoo healing, PMU aftercare, or ordering? Find answers to the most common questions below. For anything not covered here, contact us directly.
Product & Formula
Banger Bars are cold-process crafted bar soaps built specifically for healing tattooed skin. Most commercial body washes are 60 to 80 percent water with harsh sulfate detergents added to create lather from that low-oil base. Cold-process bar soap goes through traditional saponification at low temperatures, retaining the natural glycerin produced during the process and delivering 3 to 6 times more nourishing oils per wash than liquid soap.
The Day 1 Bar contains 42% natural olive oil and sea buckthorn berry oil with zero synthetic fragrance, zero sulfates, zero antibacterial agents, and zero dyes. It is formulated to support the skin microbiome, preserve beneficial bacteria, and work with the biology of healing rather than against it.
Read the full breakdown: Bar Soap vs Liquid Soap for Tattoos
Day 1 Bar: Formulated for the active healing window of new tattoos and fresh PMU procedures. Sea buckthorn berry oil rich in omega-7 fatty acids supports the skin barrier during the inflammatory and proliferative healing phases. Use twice daily from day one through the full 2 to 3 week surface healing period.
Any Day Bar: Formulated for healed tattoos and daily maintenance. At 57% total oil content with shea butter as the lead ingredient, it delivers deep moisture for long-term tattoo care. The high oil content also makes Saniderm and Tegaderm adhesive bandage removal more comfortable by helping release the adhesive without painful pulling.
Day 50+ Bar: A weekly exfoliating treatment for fully healed tattoos only. Uses pumice and sea salt to gently remove dead skin cell buildup that makes older tattoos look dull and ashy. Use once weekly starting at day 50 or later. Never use on healing skin.
No. Banger Bars contain zero antibacterial agents. The FDA confirmed in 2016 that antibacterial soap provides no infection prevention advantage over plain soap and water. More importantly for tattoo and PMU healing, antibacterial agents disrupt the skin microbiome — the community of beneficial bacteria that actively supports wound healing, maintains pH balance, and protects against harmful organisms.
Banger Bars are microbiome-friendly. They cleanse effectively through the mechanical action of washing while preserving the beneficial bacteria your skin needs to heal correctly.
Yes. All Banger Bars are 100% vegan and cruelty-free. No animal-derived ingredients and no animal testing at any stage. Every bar is handmade in the USA in small batches using plant-based oils including olive oil, coconut oil, shea butter, and sea buckthorn berry oil.
No. All Banger Bars are 100% fragrance-free with zero synthetic fragrance and zero essential oils. Fragrance-free means no fragrance ingredients appear anywhere in the formula — not just no detectable smell. This matters because fresh tattoos and PMU procedures have a compromised skin barrier that makes fragrance penetration and irritation significantly more likely than on intact skin.
You may notice the subtle natural scent of the oils and butters in the formula. That is the smell of the ingredients themselves, not added fragrance.
Read more: Why Fragrance-Free Soap Is Best for Tattoo Healing
Yes. Banger Bars are fragrance-free, sulfate-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free, petroleum-free, and contain no synthetic dyes or antibacterial agents. The formula is dermatologist-reviewed and suitable for all skin types including sensitive, reactive, dry, and fragrance-sensitive skin. If a client has ever had a reaction to standard soap products, Banger Bars are the appropriate choice.
All Banger Bars are handmade in the USA in small batches using cold-process saponification. Cold-process manufacturing retains the natural glycerin produced during saponification that mass-market soap manufacturers remove and sell separately. Small batch production ensures consistent quality and formula integrity across every bar. Dermatologist-reviewed. Ranked Best Cleansing Bar for Tattoos three consecutive years by Byrdie.com.
New Tattoo Aftercare
You can begin using the Day 1 Bar as soon as you remove the initial wrapping, typically the first night or morning after your session. Always follow your tattoo artist's specific instructions first. Use lukewarm water and only your lathered hands to gently wash the area. No washcloths, no loofahs, no scrubbing.
Wash your new tattoo two to three times daily for the first two to three weeks. Morning, after any physical activity, and before bed is a good baseline routine. Avoid fully submerging the tattoo in water such as baths, pools, or open water during the surface healing period. Showers are fine as long as you are not blasting the tattoo with direct high-pressure water for extended periods.
Yes. Itching during tattoo healing is primarily caused by skin dryness as the epidermis regenerates and the surface material tightens. Skin consistently nourished with high-oil fragrance-free soap tends to itch significantly less than skin stripped repeatedly by harsh detergents. The 42% olive oil and sea buckthorn berry oil in the Day 1 Bar maintain moisture levels that reduce the intensity of healing itch without the risk of fragrance irritation that would make it worse.
Most tattoo dullness after healing is not actual fading — it is dead skin cell buildup creating a frosted window effect over the ink. The ink is still vibrant in the dermis. A layer of dead cells on the epidermis is scattering light before it reaches the ink. Weekly gentle exfoliation with the Day 50+ Bar starting at day 50 removes that layer and reveals the color that has been there all along.
Real fading from UV damage or poor ink placement looks different — lines blur and spread, colors are completely missing in patches rather than just muted, and the tattoo looks the same whether skin is wet or dry. That requires a professional touch-up.
Yes. The fragrance-free, sulfate-free formula is gentle enough for all tattoo styles and all colors including fine line, watercolor, black and grey, and full color traditional work. The absence of harsh detergents means the formula cleanses without disrupting the settled pigment or the skin barrier that protects long-term color clarity.
Yes and many collectors do. The Any Day Bar is designed for exactly this — daily maintenance on healed tattoos to preserve color clarity, support skin health, and prevent the gradual barrier disruption that comes from years of washing with harsh fragranced soaps. The Day 50+ Bar adds a weekly exfoliation component that removes dead skin buildup and keeps older ink looking vibrant without a touch-up.
The five categories to avoid are sulfates (SLS and SLES) which strip the skin's protective oil barrier, synthetic fragrance and essential oils which irritate healing skin through the compromised barrier, antibacterial agents which disrupt the skin microbiome, synthetic dyes which serve no function and can trigger reactions, and drying alcohols like denatured alcohol and isopropyl alcohol which cause extreme dryness and can crack healing skin.
Read the full guide: 5 Ingredients to Immediately Avoid in Your Tattoo Soap
The full-size Day 1 Bar and Any Day Bar last approximately 30 to 60 washes depending on how much lather you generate per use. One bar comfortably covers the entire 2 to 3 week healing period plus continued maintenance washing for weeks after. Store on a draining soap dish between uses to extend bar life. Never leave the bar sitting in standing water.
PMU & Cosmetic Tattoo Aftercare
Yes. Microblading deposits pigment into the dermis through thousands of fine incisions, which is identical healing biology to traditional tattooing. The same fragrance-free microbiome-friendly formula that supports tattoo healing supports microblading healing. Many microblading studios are switching from foam cleansers to cold-process bar soap because bar soap delivers 3 to 6 times more nourishing oils per wash than foam products and provides significantly longer contact time during cleansing.
Yes. Lip blush, powder brows, ombre brows, nano brows, and eyeliner tattoo are all forms of cosmetic tattooing with the same healing biology as traditional tattoos. The compromised skin barrier, microbiome sensitivity, and ingredient irritation risks are identical across all these procedures. Banger Bars are fragrance-free, sulfate-free, and contain no antibacterial agents making them appropriate for all PMU procedure aftercare from day one.
Read more: Why Bar Soap Outperforms Foam Cleanser for PMU Healing
Foam cleansers marketed specifically for PMU aftercare typically contain 5 to 10 percent active ingredients with the remainder being water and air. The foam collapses on contact with skin and rinses away within seconds. Cold-process bar soap maintains contact with the skin for 30 to 60 seconds during lathering, delivering nourishing oils throughout that contact window rather than rinsing them away immediately.
PMU procedures create the same compromised skin barrier as traditional tattoos. The ingredient requirements are identical — fragrance-free, sulfate-free, microbiome-friendly, high natural oil content. Most dedicated PMU foam cleansers fail on at least two of those four criteria.
Read more: The Soap Question Nobody in PMU Is Answering Correctly
Yes. The 72-count bulk pack includes individually wrapped 0.4oz bars available in Day 1 Formula, Any Day Formula, or Mixed Formula (36 of each). The 12-pack Certified Banger Kits include a full-size Day 1 Bar, Banger Balm, and printed aftercare instructions in individual client-ready packaging. Both formats are designed for professional studio handoff to clients after every session. PMU studios, microblading professionals, and aesthetic practitioners use both formats.
For Artists & Studios
Yes. This is exactly what the bulk and kit formats are designed for. The 72-count bulk packs give high-volume studios consistent individual bars to include with every client handoff without assembling anything. The 12-pack Certified Banger Kits include soap, balm, and printed aftercare instructions in a single ready-to-hand package. By giving clients a product made specifically for tattooed skin you eliminate post-session questions, standardize the healing experience across your studio, and protect your reputation from bad healing caused by clients using whatever soap they have at home.
Clients who receive professional aftercare products at handoff heal with fewer complications, call back with fewer questions, and require fewer touch-ups. The consistency of giving every client the same correct product eliminates the variable of clients choosing their own soap and making the wrong call. It also positions your studio as professional and thorough — the kind of detail that generates word of mouth and repeat business. Trusted by 1,000 plus artists and studios. Used on 125,000 plus healed tattoos.
Yes. All products in the For Artists collection are priced in bulk for professional use. The 72-count packs offer the best per-bar economics for high-volume studios. The 12-pack Certified Banger Kits are the right entry point for studios wanting a complete client handoff solution with soap, balm, and instructions included. For questions about larger partnerships or custom arrangements contact us directly.
View the For Artists collection · Contact us for partnerships
The Certified Banger Artist program recognizes studios and artists who have adopted Banger Bars as their professional aftercare standard and distribute them to clients consistently. Certified Banger Artists receive program benefits and are recognized across Banger Tattoo Care's platforms. If you are using Banger Bars in your studio and want to be recognized as a Certified Banger Artist, visit the program page or contact us.
Ordering & Shipping
Banger Bars are available directly at bangertattoocare.com and on Amazon with Prime shipping. Buying directly from our site supports the brand directly. Amazon is available for Prime members who prefer that convenience or need fast restocking.
Yes. Free US shipping on all orders over $25. For current shipping rates, timelines, and international shipping information see our shipping policies page.
If you are not satisfied with your order contact us and we will make it right. For full return and refund policy details see our policy page.