Numbing cream for tattoos & Numbing Products & Long Tattoo Sessions

Numbing cream for tattoos: 

My Exact Protocol (Tattoo Numbing Cream Co)

I’ve used this on myself and 90+ clients for insane pain relief.

Premium Pre-Procedure Creams (If a Client Really Wants One)

If someone insists on a full numbing cream applied before we start, I point them toward reputable brands rather than random cheap online options:

• Tattoo Numbing Cream Co. – A mainstream option that many UK and Australian studios accept. It gives decent surface numbing, and its consistency usually doesn’t cause stencils to bleed or wipe off easily.

  
  

How to apply for maximum effect:

1.    Night before or morning of: spot-test inside forearm.

2.    2 hours before session: wash + lightly exfoliate area (shave now, not the night before and more than the area of the tattoo).

3.    Apply on the area and rub in, it will absorb, then apply 2–3 mm thick layer – you must still see white cream sitting on the surface.

4.    Rub in for 20 seconds, then add another layer on top if absorbed again.

5.    Wrap tightly with cling film.

6.    Leave on exactly 90 minutes (set a timer). NO LESS!

7.    Bring the spray for long sessions, if you have purchased the combo.

Warning: 

No alcohol 24 hours before or after – it drastically reduces effectiveness.

Ink Allergy / Rejection (Rare but Real)

Usually shows within first 24–48 hours (red raised rash, intense itching).

Red ink / Navy is the most common culprit.

Contact your artist immediately – likely they will document the batch and discard it.

Your aftercare effort is 100 % your responsibility - Click the link below for the after care advise blog.

I do not use liquid numbing sprays before the needle starts. They are a rescue method only — used once the skin is already open and a client starts struggling halfway through a long session. Because the barrier is broken, these sprays absorb quickly and can deaden the nerves in about 2–3 minutes.

Mid-Session Numbing Sprays (Broken Skin Only)

• Vasocaine / Bactine Max-style formulas

  These high-grade lidocaine + epinephrine mixes are still considered the gold standard by many of us. The epinephrine acts as a vasoconstrictor — it temporarily tightens blood vessels, which reduces swelling and bleeding while extending the numbing effect. Useful when we’re packing solid colour or working a sensitive area for hours.

  
  

• NUMB’D Rescue Numb Spray

  A solid UK-available option that a lot of studios keep on hand. Applied during a short pause, it restores comfort without messing with ink saturation or what’s left of the stencil.

Professional Process Glides (My Preferred Everyday Approach)

Many experienced artists (myself included) are cautious with standard lidocaine creams because they can make the skin rubbery, pale, or harder to pack dense colour into. Instead, I prefer process glides that contain natural numbing agents.

• Biotat Numbing Tattoo Glide

  This is one of the most respected products currently used in UK studios. It relies on high-grade clove oil (eugenol) to naturally dull sensation. I use it in place of standard petroleum jelly throughout the session, so the skin stays continuously calmed without changing its texture. Especially helpful on big colour pieces where we’re working the same area over multiple hours or sessions.

  
  

• Unistar Nebula Anaesthetic Process Butter

  Widely available through UK trade suppliers. It works as a lubricant while giving mild calming and numbing properties. Clean, professional, and reliable.

Important Safety Rules I Stick To

• Liquid sprays with epinephrine or high-strength lidocaine are for open skin only. Spraying them on intact skin before the needle starts does almost nothing.

• Never turn up to a session with cream already applied without telling me or your artists first. It changes how the skin behaves and I may have to adjust (or in some cases decline) the work. I will decline the work if you have used an ebay cream, TKMY, or EMLA as these have created hyper sensitivity in clients in the past.

• Always talk to me (and ideally your doctor) before using any topical anaesthetic, especially on larger areas. Lidocaine can be absorbed systemically — dosage matters.

  
  

As a colour artist, I do work with numbing products when they genuinely help a client get through a long colour session more comfortably.

If you’re booking a large colour piece and want to discuss options for your specific placement or session length, just message me and we’ll sort it out properly.

This is shared from my experience as a working artist for information only. It is not medical advice. Always check with a qualified professional regarding any numbing products.

Allergic Reactions & Irritation 

Numbing Cream + Aftercare Products

(Extremely rare, but when it happens it’s dramatic – know the signs and how to shut it down fast)

True allergies to modern tattoo products are uncommon (<1 %), but certain people are wired for trouble:

• Redheads / fair Celtic skin (MC1R gene)

• History of multiple allergies (especially lanolin, fragrances, nickel, or essential oils)

• Previous reactions to medical creams or anaesthetics

  
  

The usual culprits:

• Lidocaine / tetracaine / benzocaine in numbing creams

• Lanolin or fragrances in some aftercare ointments

• Red and navy-blue pigments (historically higher nickel/metal content – much less common with 2025 REACH-compliant inks)

  
  

Immediate Signs of a Reaction (within minutes to 48 hours)

• Intense burning or stinging that gets worse, not better

• Raised, angry red welts beyond the tattoo border

• Hives or tiny blisters

• Excessive heat and throbbing

• Itch that feels like fire ants

If this happens → act fast. Emergency Response Protocol

1. Stop everything. Remove any remaining numbing cream or aftercare product immediately.

2. Wash the area thoroughly with lukewarm water and fragrance-free soap for at least 2 minutes.

3. Pat dry with clean paper towel.

4. Cool it down – wrap an ice pack or frozen peas in a clean, damp tea towel (never apply ice directly – you’ll add frostbite to your problems). Apply 10 minutes on / 10 minutes off.

5. Take an oral antihistamine (e.g., cetirizine/Zyrtec, loratadine/Claratyne) if you have no contraindications.

6. If swelling spreads, breathing feels tight, or you feel faint → go straight to emergency.

7. Photograph the reaction and message your artist immediately.

If You Suspect the Aftercare Ointment

• Switch instantly to a known hypoallergenic alternative:– Plain Bepanthen (white tube – original nappy rash cream, zero fragrance)– Aquaphor (USA)– Pure refined coconut oil (only if you’re 100 % sure you’re not allergic)– Or just keep it clean and dry – some people heal large pieces with nothing but gentle washing.

If You Suspect the Numbing Cream

• Reactions are almost always from the “-caine” anaesthetics, not the ink.

• Stop using any numbing product for future tattoos.

• Let your artist know – we keep records, so you’re never exposed again.

99.9 % of people sail through with zero drama, but if you’re that 0.1 %, speed is everything.

Message the shop the second something feels wrong – They will likely talk you through it.

Better to over-react and be safe than ignore it and end up with scarring or pigment loss.

Legal & Professional Protection

Make an aftercare sheet like this, your official shop protocol:

1. Customise it with your studio name, logo, contact details, and any specific product preferences.

2. Print it (laminated or on quality card) and hand it to every client at the end of their session.

3. Upload the exact same document as a downloadable PDF on your website (e.g., yourdomain.com/aftercare).

These three actions (signed/handed sheet + website PDF + business card link) create an unbreakable paper trail proving you provided clear, written aftercare instructions.

If anyone ever claims, “I wasn’t told how to look after it,” you simply produce the signed copy, the website timestamp, and the card they were given. Case closed. Courts, councils, and insurers love this level of documentation – it protects you 100 %.

DISCLAIMER

By downloading, printing, or using this form from Erika Armstrong (or any related site

resource), you acknowledge and agree to the following: This is a free, generic global information intended only as a starting point. It must be customized to comply with the specific tattoo laws, health regulations, and insurance requirements in your jurisdiction, which vary worldwide. Erika Armstrong does not guarantee that this form is legally sufficient, compliant, or suitable for use in your city, state, province, or country. By downloading or using this form, you fully release Erika Armstrong, and all affiliated parties from any liability, claims, damages, or lawsuits arising from its use or customization. Use at your own risk and always have your final version reviewed by a qualified local attorney.