As tattoo art has become a ubiquitous form of self expression, a lengthening list of specialist companies have come on the scene to fill the need for tattoo aftercare. This sector encompasses everything from products to heal and comfort the skin just after getting a new tattoo to products that rejuvenate the skin and protect, brighten, and freshen the art long-term.
Celebrities and other collaborators, all closely associated with tattoos, are starting to enter this category with their own tattoo aftercare initiatives. Just this year:
- Mixed martial arts brand UFC—most of whose athletes are tattooed—is working with Suicide Balm in a deal announced this month. The UFC-branded line of premium tattoo care products includes balms, sunscreen, numbing gel, and a lotion formulated for women. A percentage of sales goes to veteran suicide-prevention programs. Both organizations are headquartered in Las Vegas.
- Tattoo artist Katrina Collins, known as Kat Tat, partnered with Branded Legacy in May 2024 for a shea butter-based tattoo cream called Enigma by Kat Tat. Collins owns a tattoo parlor in Beverly Hills and appears on reality TV series including VH1’s Black Ink Crew: Chicago. The healing cream was formulated from scratch, resulting in a more effective product, according to the company.
- Actor and WWE star The Rock’s Papatui skincare brand, which debuted at Target in March 2024, offers a tattoo care collection as part of the assortment. Products include an affordable enhancing tattoo balm and enhancing tattoo stick for on-the-go care, both made of natural products such as mango butter and coconut oil. The full line also comprises 10 other skincare products aimed primarily at men.
- Barker Wellness, a celebrity-driven general skincare brand founded by Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker, added a collection of tattoo aftercare products to the line in March 2024, starting in the Asia Pacific region. The Baker Wellness brand was introduced in 2022. The tattoo products, which include a healing balm and a moisturizing butter to promote long-lasting vibrancy, contain jojoba oil, shea butter, and other ingredients.
While 2024 has seen a burst of licensing and brand-extension activity in this sector, there have been initiatives in this space in the past. For example, globally recognized, L.A.-based celebrity tattoo artist Dr. Woo launched Dr. Woo Skincare back in 2020 with products consisting of bar soap, hand sanitizer, sunscreen, and an aftercare kit of soap and moisturizer, all chemical-free and formulated for tattooed skin but safe and healthy for all. The company, now rebranded as Discover Woo, releases its offerings in regular small batches, which it says allows for continuous product improvement.
The global market for tattoo aftercare products is projected to increase at a compound annual growth rate of 9.6% from 2024 to 2031, according to a Coherent Market Insights report published in January 2024. That would bring the market size from $194.1 million currently to $382.2 million at the end of the period. North America is estimated to account for 43.7% of the total, but the next two largest regions, Asia Pacific and Europe, are predicted to see fast-paced market growth.
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