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If you have ever wondered what tattoo artists use to wipe ink off of their hands, the answer is simple. They use soap! Green soap to be specific.
Tattoo artists need to remove the ink from their skin in order to change colors and move on to different designs, so using green soap is the best way to do this. However, with green soap being more expensive than its competitors, you might want to change it up every once in a while to avoid breaking the bank. Here are a few great options for tattoo artists’ soap that will not only help to get ink off of your hands but also keep it from getting on other surfaces during long tattoo sessions.
What is Green Soap?
Green soap is a gentle, all natural blend of extra virgin olive oil and pure distilled water with a whole bunch of essential oils. These include cedarwood, lime, tangerine, lavender, lemongrass and more! It’s not only an amazing tattoo artist soap that will cut through the ink on your skin like nothing else but it is also a great household soap that you can use for just about anything.
Tattoo artists prefer to buy green soap over regular body wash or any other product because it is gentle, has no fragrances and does not have harsh chemicals. It is all-natural so the ingredients are actually good for your skin.
What Can I Use Instead of Green Soap for Tattooing?
Iodine
Iodine is a traditional ink remover that tattoo artists often have in their cupboards. Iodine helps remove ink by actually eating away at the top layer of skin. This helps to loosen the tattoo ink so that it can be wiped away with a paper towel or sponge.
After applying iodine, you will need to wash it off with soap and water. Some people get a burning sensation when they use this product but it does get the job done, so if you have ink that is particularly stubborn then perhaps this is an option for you.
It also has other uses, such as disinfecting cuts, sterilizing tools and injecting equipment being used to stop heavy bleeding on small wounds and can even help to remove splinters! However, it does come with some risks associated with it. It can cause chemical burns on the skin if it is applied too long or with too much pressure, so be careful with this product!
Hydrogen Peroxide
Another product that tattoo artists use to remove tattoos is hydrogen peroxide, which also helps remove ink from the skin. This comes in a spray bottle and can be applied directly to the skin. Hydrogen peroxide works by opening up the pores on your skin, which allows the ink to be more easily wiped off of your skin.
It can also help slow down how fast tattoos heal if they are applied directly after a fresh tattoo. This is because it keeps oxygen bubbles from getting inside of the skin and forming scars that often appear when you get a brand new tattoo. However, it is important to test a small patch of your skin first or have someone else do it for you just to make sure that you are not allergic to it or that your skin does not become irritated after applying it.
Acetone
Acetone is an ingredient in most nail polish removers and also helps break down the ink on your skin. Acetone can be dangerous though, so it is not recommended that you use this on your own unless you really know what you are doing, or else there might be some unpleasant side effects.
It works by removing the top layer of your skin, which will allow the ink to come off with the help of a paper towel or sponge. If you choose to use this product then ensure that your skin is not broken at all because it can cause chemical burns on open cuts or sores. It also dries out the skin so after you are done using acetone it’s best to apply some lotion to the skin afterwards.
Distilled Water
Distilled water is basically water that has been purified to remove any chemicals, minerals, bacteria or other elements. It will not irritate your skin like most other products and it doesn’t have an odor either! Distilled water can be used as a compress (a cold compress or warm compress) for tattoo aftercare. When you put distilled water on the skin, it will draw out the excess ink.
You can use a paper towel or sponge to help wipe away any excess ink after applying distilled water to the skin. However, you may need to repeat this process over and over again until all of the ink has been removed from your skin. This method will work for temporary tattoos, but it will not work for tattoos that have been in place for a long period of time.
Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol works just like hydrogen peroxide, by opening up the pores on your skin. In order to wipe away the ink from your skin you will have to apply rubbing alcohol to a paper towel or sponge and then use it to wipe away the excess ink from your skin. It works very similar to hydrogen peroxide, but it is a little bit less harsh on your skin.
However, there are some drawbacks to using this product as well, such as the smell and the fact that it can irritate the skin. It might also take several tries before all of the ink has been wiped away from your skin. Rubbing alcohol can dry out your skin, so afterwards you should apply some lotion to the skin to help it feel better.
Lemon Juice
Using lemon juice is another natural way of removing tattoos, although it can cause irritation if you rub too hard. Lemon juice works similarly to apple cider vinegar because they are both acidic in nature, which makes them perfect for removing tattoos or any other stains on the skin. Lemon juice will start to burn the skin on your tattoo if it is left on the skin for too long, so this method should be used with caution.
You can apply lemon juice on your skin using a paper towel or sponge and then wipe it away after about two minutes. Lemon juice is a product that can help fade a tattoo, but it might take several weeks to actually see the effects of using lemon juice on your skin. Lemon juice works by lightening up the pigment in the tattoo when it mixes with the citric acid from lemons. It will not remove tattoos from your skin obviously.
Conclusion
There are some other products out there that can be used to wipe away ink, but these are the most effective options. When you’re using any of these solutions, it’s important to try them out on a small spot of skin first in order to ensure that there’s no bad reaction.
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