The Ultimate Guide to Tattoo Aftercare with Tattoo Luv

 Posted on January 8, 2025  (Last modified on October 16, 2025)  |  8 minutes  |  1603 words  |  Momma Bears Creations, Enola PA

Your Tattoo Deserves Better Than Petroleum Jelly

Hey there! Whether you’re a Central PA tattoo artist looking for a superior glide, or someone who just got inked and wants their art to look its best, you’re in the right place.

Getting a new tattoo is exciting—it’s a piece of art you’ll carry with you. But here’s the truth: what happens after you leave the artist’s chair matters just as much as the work itself. Your aftercare choice can make the difference between a vibrant, lasting tattoo and one that fades or scars.

At Momma Bears Creations here in Enola, PA, we created Tattoo Luv specifically for this moment. Not in a lab, not from some corporate formula—we created it with tattoo artists, listening to their real frustrations and needs.

Let us tell you that story first.

How Tattoo Luv Was Born: Artists Told Us What They Needed

Here’s something you should know about us: Stacie (Momma Bear) doesn’t just make products and hope they work. She listens.

When we started talking with tattoo artists in the Harrisburg and Central PA area, we heard the same complaints over and over:

  • “Petroleum-based glides wipe away my stencils”
  • “I want something that doesn’t clog my tubes”
  • “My clients ask me what to use for aftercare—I want to recommend something I actually used during their session”
  • “I need natural ingredients, not mystery chemicals”

So we worked together. We tested. We adjusted. We listened some more.

Mike Mavretic, one of our sponsored artists, puts it perfectly:

“When consulting with this company… they were very attentive to my needs and my customers needs. They listened and formed together what I call ’the luv sauce’. This stuff doesn’t wipe away stencils, clog up tubes, natural… the very first piece I tattooed using this stuff; both the client and I noticed huge difference… I’m hooked…”

That’s the origin story of Tattoo Luv: Real artists. Real needs. Real collaboration. Not some marketing team guessing what tattoo professionals want.

What Makes Tattoo Luv Different? It’s Dual-Purpose.

Most products force you to choose: glide or aftercare. Tattoo Luv does both, seamlessly.

During the Tattoo Session (Artists)

Tattoo Luv works as a superior glide during tattooing:

  • Smooth, non-chalky glide - Reduces friction without being overly greasy
  • Stencil integrity - Doesn’t wipe away your stencils like petroleum products
  • Tube-friendly - Won’t clog up your equipment
  • Natural ingredients - Better for your hands after hours of work
  • Reduced redness appearance - Skin stays calmer during the session

After the Session (Clients)

For your clients (and for you if you’re getting inked!), Tattoo Luv becomes the aftercare product:

  • Seamless transition - Already on the skin, already working
  • Consistent care - Same product from start to finish = better aftercare experience
  • Intense moisturization - Prevents drying and cracking
  • Gentle on skin - Natural ingredients that soothe and condition
  • Protective barrier - Keeps skin moisturized and comfortable

Think about it: Your artist uses Tattoo Luv during your session, you see how it works, you trust it, you take it home. No guesswork. Just consistent, quality care from the first line through aftercare.

The Power of 100% Natural Ingredients (No Petroleum!)

We’re pretty passionate about this: your tattoo is permanent art on your body. Why would you want mystery chemicals or petroleum byproducts involved in that process?

Tattoo Luv uses all-natural ingredients your skin actually recognizes:

  • Shea Butter - Deep hydration and moisture support
  • Cocoa Butter - Skin barrier protection and moisture retention
  • Coconut Oil - Naturally derived, conditions skin
  • Jojoba Oil - Mimics skin’s natural oils, absorbs beautifully
  • Beeswax - Creates protective barrier without suffocating skin
  • Vitamin E - Antioxidant that nourishes and conditions skin
  • Tea Tree Essential Oil - Traditional skincare ingredient with clean scent

No petroleum. No artificial fragrances. No ingredients we can’t pronounce.

Every ingredient has a purpose. Every ingredient is something we’d put on our own family’s skin. Because honestly? That’s our standard.

Your Tattoo Aftercare Timeline (What to Expect)

Let’s walk through what your aftercare journey looks like, and how Tattoo Luv provides moisture support at each stage.

Days 1-3: Fresh Ink, Tender Skin

What’s happening: Your tattoo is essentially an open wound right now. Your body is working hard to protect the area and start healing.

What to do:

  • Keep the bandage/wrap your artist applied on for the recommended time (usually 2-24 hours, follow your artist’s specific instructions!)
  • When you remove it, gently wash with lukewarm water and unscented antibacterial soap
  • Pat dry with a clean paper towel (not a bath towel—bacteria!)
  • Apply a thin layer of Tattoo Luv (think “moisturize,” not “cake it on”)
  • Repeat washing and moisturizing 2-3 times daily

What you’ll notice: Some oozing, redness, tenderness—totally normal. Tattoo Luv helps keep the area calm and protected.

Days 3-14: The Peeling Phase (Don’t Panic!)

What’s happening: Your tattoo will start to peel and flake, kind of like a sunburn. Do NOT pick at it! Let it come off naturally.

What to do:

  • Continue gentle washing 2-3 times daily
  • Keep applying Tattoo Luv in thin layers to prevent excessive dryness
  • If it itches (and it probably will), apply more Tattoo Luv—don’t scratch!
  • Wear loose clothing over the tattoo

What you’ll notice: Flaking skin, possible itching, colors may look dull under the peeling layer (they’ll come back!)

Weeks 2-4: Later Aftercare

What’s happening: The surface looks better, but deeper skin layers are still repairing. Your tattoo might look a little cloudy or dull—this is the “silver skin” phase.

What to do:

  • Continue moisturizing with Tattoo Luv regularly (1-2 times daily)
  • Avoid swimming pools, hot tubs, and soaking baths
  • Stay out of direct sunlight or use high SPF sunscreen
  • Be gentle with the area

Months 1-3: Final Settling

What’s happening: The deeper layers finish their natural process. Colors settle into their final vibrancy.

What to do:

  • Keep moisturizing with Tattoo Luv to maintain vibrancy
  • Protect from sun exposure (UV rays are tattoo enemies!)
  • Show off your beautiful art!

Why Your Artist’s Instructions Matter More Than the Internet

Here’s something important: Always follow your specific artist’s aftercare instructions. Every artist has their preferred method based on their experience, technique, and the specifics of your tattoo.

What we’re sharing here is general guidance. Your artist knows:

  • The depth of your tattoo
  • How your specific skin reacted
  • Any special considerations for your piece

Tattoo Luv works beautifully within virtually any aftercare routine, but your artist’s instructions come first.

That said, many Central PA artists specifically recommend Tattoo Luv because they used it during your session and trust it for aftercare. If your artist is one of them, you’re in great hands!

Long-Term Tattoo Care: Keep That Art Looking Fresh

Your tattoo looks beautiful—congrats! But the care doesn’t stop there. Think of your tattoo like any other art: it needs maintenance to stay vibrant.

How to keep your tattoo looking amazing:

  • Moisturize regularly - Dry skin = faded tattoo. Keep using Tattoo Luv to nourish the area
  • Protect from sun - UV rays are the #1 enemy of tattoo vibrancy. Use high SPF sunscreen on your ink
  • Stay hydrated - Healthy skin from the inside out makes your tattoo look better
  • Refresh older tattoos - Use Tattoo Luv on older tattoos to bring back some life and vibrancy

We’ve had customers tell us their 5+ year old tattoos look noticeably better after consistently using Tattoo Luv. We love hearing that!

For Tattoo Artists: Join the Momma Bears Family

If you’re a tattoo artist reading this and thinking, “I want to try this stuff,” we’d love to work with you!

We offer a Sponsored Artist Program for professional tattoo artists in Central PA and beyond:

  • Discounted product pricing for your studio
  • Featured artist spotlight on our website and social media
  • Promotional materials to share with your clients
  • Direct communication with us (seriously, we’re real people who actually respond!)

We’re especially looking for passionate artists in the Harrisburg, Carlisle, Lebanon, York, and Central PA region who value natural products and client care.

Interested? Check out our Sponsored Artist Program page or reach out via Facebook or our Contact page.

Where to Get Tattoo Luv

For Clients:

For Artists:

The Bottom Line: Your Tattoo Is Art. Treat It That Way.

Whether you’re an artist creating beautiful work or a client wearing it proudly, your tattoo deserves care that matches its value.

Tattoo Luv was created by listening to artists, with natural ingredients we trust, and made right here in Enola, PA by our family. It’s not mass-produced in some factory—Stacie and Maddi make every batch by hand in small quantities.

When you use Tattoo Luv, you’re getting:

  • A product created with real artist input
  • 100% natural ingredients
  • A family business that actually cares
  • Dual-purpose glide and aftercare in one
  • A product trusted by professionals and their clients

Your ink is forever. Make sure your aftercare matches that commitment.

Have questions about Tattoo Luv or tattoo aftercare? We’re here to help! Reach out on Facebook, check out more on our Tattoo Luv product page, or stop by Carlisle Creative Vibes and talk to the team there.

— Stacie, Maddi & Scott (Momma Bears Creations, Enola, PA)

P.S. - To Mike and all our sponsored artists: Thank you for trusting us with your craft and your clients. You inspire us to keep making the best product we possibly can.

Tattoo Aftercare  Tattoo Luv  Aftercare Process  Skin Protection  Tattoo Application  Harrisburg PA  tattoo artist 

See also

Find Momma Bears Creations Locally:

Carlisle Creative Vibes
152 N Hanover St, Carlisle, PA 17013

Momma Bears Creations | Enola, PA