Coconut oil isn't bad for tattoos, but it isn't the best choice for everyone either. It does moisturize: in a small trial, it worked as well as mineral oil on dry skin. Healthline says you can use it at any stage of a tattoo's life and that it won't make a tattoo fade faster. The catch is that it can clog pores. A Cleveland Clinic dermatologist says it can cause breakouts, especially on oily or acne-prone skin and on the shoulders, chest and back. If you try it, patch test first, use a thin layer and follow your artist's advice.
Does coconut oil work as a moisturizer?
Yes. In a 2004 randomized trial, 34 people with dry skin on their legs used either virgin coconut oil or mineral oil twice a day for two weeks. Both improved skin hydration about the same, and nobody had a reaction. That study was on dry skin, not on tattoos, but it shows coconut oil does the basic job of a moisturizer.
Cleveland Clinic dermatologist Jane Wu, MD, says coconut oil can help dry skin hold on to water, and that it works best as a body moisturizer.
Is coconut oil bad for tattoos?
Not bad, but it has downsides worth knowing:
- It can clog pores. Dr. Wu says it can cause breakouts, blackheads and whiteheads, especially if your skin is oily. If you're prone to acne, she says to keep it off your shoulders, chest and back. If your tattoo is there, keep that in mind.
- It can cause milia, tiny white bumps from clogged pores, mostly where skin is thin.
- Some people react to it. Healthline (medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, PhD, RN) says the risk is small, but a red, itchy rash around the tattoo means stop.
- It's solid at room temperature, so a jar means scooping it out with your fingers.
Why I stopped using coconut oil
When I first fell down this skincare rabbit hole, I couldn't find anything truly natural. Coconut oil was my only option, so I bought organic, unrefined coconut oil and used it on my skin. It absorbed a little, but it always left my skin feeling icky, and it gets a certain smell to it. Coconut oil is great for a lot of things. From my own experience, I just don't think it's a good skin moisturizer. When I found sesame, it felt amazing on my skin, and that's why I built Kiwi Glow on it. The rest of that story is in the Kiwi Glow story.
Coconut oil on a new tattoo
Healthline says coconut oil is gentle enough for a new tattoo. Many artists have their own favorite aftercare, so ask yours first. If you go ahead:
- Patch test first. Healthline suggests a small amount on the inside of your forearm, covered for 24 hours. No redness or itching means it's likely fine.
- Wash new ink gently with mild unscented soap and warm water, pat dry, and let it air dry before anything goes on.
- Use a thin layer. Too much of any product can leave a healing tattoo soggy. See waterlogged tattoo for what that looks like.
- Stop if you see bumps, a rash or more redness than before.
Does coconut oil fade tattoos?
Healthline says no: tattoos fade over time, but coconut oil won't speed that up. The sun is the bigger worry for fading. See tattoo sun protection.
Coconut oil on a healed tattoo
Once a tattoo has healed, it's just skin, so coconut oil is a body moisturizer like any other. If it suits your skin, it's fine. If you get breakouts where you use it, try something lighter.
A sesame oil option: Kavai
I made Kavai with sesame oil because of how it feels on skin. It has three ingredients: organic cold-pressed sesame oil, vetiver essential oil and a small amount of steam-distilled citrus oil. It stays liquid, absorbs fast and isn't greasy. No water, no preservatives and no petroleum.
Kavai doesn't clog pores. That's what I've seen in over 20 years of blending, and what my reviews say, including from customers with acne-prone skin. A 2018 review in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences (Lin et al.) describes sesame oil's anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects and a possible effect on skin barrier repair.
For a new tattoo, use 1 to 2 pumps, 3 to 4 times a day while it heals, or whenever the skin feels tight. Once it's healed, use it daily or as needed, on dry skin or after a shower.
Elle Wright, a tattoo artist at Empowered Tattoo in Asheville, NC, has used Kavai as the only aftercare for every client she tattoos for over three years.
Kavai is vegan, and Kiwi Glow is Leaping Bunny certified cruelty-free.
It comes in an airless pump. Air and fingers never touch the oil inside, so it stays fresh and clean from the first pump to the last, and every press gives the same small amount. No scooping out of tubs and jars.
Sesame is one of the FDA's major food allergens. If you're allergic to sesame or citrus, don't use Kavai. If you're not sure, patch test on a small area of healed skin first.
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See the full guide: Tattoo aftercare guide: the best oil for tattoos and how to heal well
Coconut oil and tattoos FAQ
Can you put coconut oil on a tattoo?
Yes. Healthline says it can be used on new and healed tattoos. Patch test first, use a thin layer and check with your artist.
Is coconut oil bad for tattoos?
No, but it can clog pores and cause breakouts, especially on oily or acne-prone skin. If that happens, switch to something lighter.
Does coconut oil fade tattoos?
Healthline says it won't speed up fading. Sun exposure is the bigger cause of faded ink.
How soon can I put coconut oil on my tattoo?
Healthline says it's gentle enough for a new tattoo, but follow your artist's instructions for the first days, especially if you have a second-skin bandage on. Patch test before you start.
What can I use instead of coconut oil on a tattoo?
A lighter oil that stays liquid and soaks in. Kavai is organic cold-pressed sesame oil with vetiver and a small amount of steam-distilled citrus oil: 1 to 2 pumps, 3 to 4 times a day while the tattoo heals.
Is sesame oil or coconut oil better for tattoos?
Both moisturize. Coconut oil is solid at room temperature and, according to a Cleveland Clinic dermatologist, can clog pores and cause breakouts, especially on oily or acne-prone skin. Sesame oil stays liquid and soaks in. A 2018 review describes sesame oil's anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects and a possible effect on skin barrier repair. I tried coconut oil first, and sesame is what felt right on my skin, so it's what I built Kavai on.
Is coconut oil better than Vaseline for a tattoo?
They're very different. Coconut oil is a plant oil, and Vaseline is 100% petroleum jelly. More on Vaseline in Vaseline on a tattoo.