Instructions & FAQ

Pain free tattoo numbing cream by Bondi Tattoo Care has been carefully formulated using the latest in tattoo numbing technology.

Our creams are sustainable, ethically sourced, vegan friendly, and most importantly will take the pain out of your next tattoo experience!

On this page you will find some frequently asked questions and simple steps on how to use the numbing cream for the best results. 

We care for the environment so do not provide excessive or unnecessary packaging or printed instructions. If you would like a copy of these instructions, please download / print this webpage.

💉 How does the cream work? 💉 One of the most common questions we receive is how our tattoo numbing cream works. 

Although it may seem like magic, there is strong science behind our tattoo numbing cream. Numbing creams have actually been around in various forms for a long time, since the 1950's, for short term applications such as piercings, waxing, laser hair removal, injections.

Most numbing creams until now have been designed for short term applications for procedures that are done within 30 minutes, so they only provide short term numbing. Tattooing however is different, it is often a lengthy process over multiple hours, not a quick piercing or needle.

By modifying these existing short term numbing formulas, we have been able to lengthen the numbing effect, and create a product designed specifically to take the pain out of long tattoo sessions.

One of the key improvements in our product that makes it suitable for tattooing is the numbing ingredients. Our specially formulated cream has been purposefully created for the tattooing process where an extended numbing effect is desirable and it will keep you pain free at your next tattoo session.

Another key difference to our numbing cream, is that it has been designed so the skin does not feel slippery or different to the artist when they are working on your tattoo, and there is no oily barrier, so the ink is absorbed normally like any other tattoo. This is because our numbing cream uses a water-based formulation, not a glycerin or oil based formula like many other products.

💉 How long does the numbing effect last? 💉 Our tattoo numbing cream is class leading in effectiveness and purposefully designed for the requirements of long tattoo sessions.

Everyone is slightly different though most people experience good numbing for approximately 4-hours before further application. 

💉 Will my skin feel different to the artist? 💉 No, our formula has been purposefully designed for tattooing and body art. Importantly, our product is water-based, not glycerin or oil based. 

Tattoo artists world-wide stock our products and use them daily. 

It is true that some artists don't like numbing cream. This is largely because previously, people have previously used glycerin or oil based products that are not designed for tattooing that can make the skin feel slippery for the artist and cause the ink not to absorb correctly. 

Our product addresses those issues which is why so many artists love working with our numbing cream! We have changed the mind of tattoo artists world wide once they have worked with our products, and a big part of the process is on educating tattoo artists on why they haven't liked working with other products.

💉 Can the cream be re-applied mid-session? 💉 For longer sessions beyond 4-hours you can reapply the numbing cream during the session or you can apply the numbing cream on the next part of your art that your tattooist will be working on.

On re-application, the numbing cream can be applied to broken skin that the tattooist has already been working on, and it will only take 20 minutes for the full numbing to take effect and give you another 4-hours of pain free tattooing. The cream should not be applied on broken skin for longer than 20 minutes.

💉 Is the cream safe to use? 💉 The tattoo numbing cream is safe to use and has been purposefully designed for work with tattoos, ink and body art. The cream is class leading in strength and this ensures that our numbing cream will last through your sessions. 

Whilst strong and long lasting, "Numb" by Bondi Tattoo Care is easy on sensitive skin and sensitive areas of the body. Our numbing cream is vegan, cruelty free, kind to the earth, and good to your skin to ensure the best outcomes for your next tattoo!

As with any product you put on your skin, you should always test that you do not have any unforeseen reactions. We recommend spot testing the numbing cream a few days prior to your tattoo appointment to ensure you will have no problems with the cream. 

Mild reactions may include tingling, paleness or redness, slight puffiness, initial burning or itching or temporary change in skin colour. These are uncommon.

If you have a reaction and it seems more severe, seek medical attention as you may have an allergy to one of the ingredients.

If you have any known skin allergies, issues with your blood pressure, or underlying health issues then you must speak with your medical professional before using our products. 

Other notes: 

Store above 0°C and below 30°C
Use tube within 14 days of opening
For external use only
Avoid cream into eyes
Keep out of reach children
Do not put this product into rectum
Cap tube tightly when not in use

Not suitable for people who have heart disease, high blood pressure, pregnant and / or breast feeding, known allergies to any ingredient, thyroid disease, diabetes, depression, or have difficulty urinating due to enlargement of the prostate gland.

Do not use if pregnant or breastfeeding.

Do not use any product after its expiry date.

 💉 What should I do in case of reaction or overdose 💉  If you have a reaction or overdose, seek urgent medical attention. 

 💉 My tattoo artist cleans and rubs my skin with alcohol before working 💉Yes, this is a normal process. On first application, our numbing cream is applied 90-120 minutes before your tattoo session and wiped off prior to your artist working on the area. The skin remains numb for around 4-hours after the cream has been rubbed off.

💉 Does the cream react to ink💉 Our numbing cream has been specifically designed for tattooing. The cream is safe to use with ink and will not effect the quality of the tattoo ink. The most important factor for a good quality tattoo is for you to be comfortable and calm so your artist can focus on doing their work.

💉 Isn't pain a part of the tattooing process💉 This is a common misconception about tattooing. 

The art of tattooing can be traced back to 3017 BC with the reason for tattooing being
 traced to artistic and tribal meaning, and nothing to do with pain. In these good ol' days tattoos were created by puncturing the skin using a mallet and piercing tool, ouch! 

A lot has changed since then with a constant trend towards embracing and developing technology to help reduce the pain of tattoos and improve the environment for the client and tattooist. Ultimately, the less pain, and the more comfortable the client and the tattooist, the better the artistic outcomes. 

The first tattoo machine was developed in 1891, and over the decades that have followed, improvements in pain reduction have come largely through physical improvements with developments in machine and needle technology, as well as better healing products post tattoo. Despite all of the developments in machine and needle technology tattoos still hurt!

Our cream takes a different approach to achieve what the industry has been trying to achieve for a long time and reduces pain through the application of a cream which provides superior long lasting numbing results. 

 💉 What is the size of the tube and how far does it go? 💉 A tube of "Numb" contains 10g of our long-lasting tattoo numbing cream. It may not sound like a lot, though our numbing cream is strong. Each tube is enough to cover roughly 8 inches x 8 inches (20cm x 20cm).

For larger works use multiple tubes and apply the cream in advance of when your artist works on the next area. You should not use more than 3 x tubes in a single daily session.

💉 Do you make bigger tubes💉 No, we only make one size. For larger works and multiple sessions use multiple tubes.

The reason we do not make bigger tubes is that once opened, the formula will lose its effectiveness over a number of weeks as the ingredients react to oxygen. So if we sold larger tubes it is likely that the cream would lose its effectiveness by the time you got to the end of it. It is best to use each tube within a few weeks of opening to ensure you get the best results.

💉 Do not consume alcohol within 24-hours of using the cream 💉 Consuming alcohol within 24-hours of using the cream can negate the numbing effect of the cream. Consumption of alcohol within 24-hours prior to using the cream is likely to reduce the effectiveness for the numbing effect in terms of both pain reduction and period of time that the numb lasts for.

💉 Instructions on using pain free tattoo cream 💉 These creams have been used by tens of thousands of people around the world for the ultimate pain free tattoo experience.

Numb by Bondi Tattoo Care is safe and simple to use - just follow these easy instructions and join the pain free tattoo revolution!

Most people experience around 4-hours of numbing effect. The cream can be reapplied for longer sessions.

Step 1 - Prepare your skin

Thoroughly clean your skin by washing and exfoliating the area for your new body art and then dry using a towel. This will create the ideal surface to apply the cream. The hair on the skin should be shaved if necessary. 

Step 2 - Apply the cream

Numb by Bondi Tattoo Care should then be applied to the area that will be tattooed. About 2-3mm thickness to the area is perfect. Then rub the cream into your skin. 

Step 3 - Insulate the cream

The skin where the cream has been applied should then be covered and wrapped either using "Wrap" by Bondi Tattoo Care or plastic film (cling or saran).

The plastic film creates an insulating barrier that will retain your natural body heat. This natural process will keep the cream moist and facilitate an ideal environment for the numbing cream to take effect. The wrap or film can be held in place with medical tape.

Step 4 - Wait

The insulating wrap should be left on your skin for 1.5 - 2 hours before starting on your new body art. This will give you the best results for long-lasting pain free tattooing.

Step 5 - Remove the wrap and ready for your pain free session

At the time when you are ready for your body art procedure to begin, unwrap the cling film, wipe away any excess cream, and you are ready for your artwork to begin. Your tattoo artist will then prepare your skin following their standard procedures.

It's simple and pain free! 

💉 READY FOR PAIN FREE TATTOOS? 💉 Get your long lasting pain free tattoo cream here and enjoy pain free tattooing! 

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💉 HOW TO USE OUR TATTOO NUMBING CREAM 💉 

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