5 Best Tanning Lotions for Tattoos to Protect Your Ink 2024

Finding the best tanning lotion for tattoos can be a bit of a hassle, but it’s absolutely essential.

You winced, writhed (and maybe even screamed) while getting your tats, so you can’t let all that work go to waste!

You want to make sure your precious ink isn’t damaged due to harmful ingredients in some tanning bronzer, and I’m here to help you do just that!

Let’s start with a quick look at my top picks, then keep reading for all the glorious details.

READ MORE: 5 Best Indoor Tanning Lotion for Sensitive Skin

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Best Tanning Lotion for Tattoos Top Picks at a Glance

Check the table below for a side-by-side comparison of our favorites!

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5 Best Tanning Lotion for Tattoos (Review)

When it comes to tanning, I love products that make the tanning process look easy breezy.

Products that are made with natural extract and provide instant color while giving my tats good color fade protection are my number one choice.

Keeping that in mind, I have curated the top 5 best tanning lotions for tattoos.

close-up shot of a lady's face and shoulder with colorful tattoos

In case you were in the market for the best outdoor tanning lotion, make sure to check that out too. Consider your search for the best lotions for tattoos officially over. 

1. Ed Hardy Coconut Kisses Golden Tanning Lotion (Overall Winner) 

If you’re looking for a dark tanning lotion that will have your pale skin go from zero to a hundred in a few tanning sessions, look no further than the Ed Hardy Coconut Kisses Golden Tanning Lotion.

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Features

The product is specially formulated for tattooed skin.

It is infused with the goodness of coconut oil, an excellent moisturizer that has gained a cult following due to its healing properties.

Other ingredients include coconut milk and cocoa butter for further skin hydration. 

Tanning pigments prolong the life of your tattoo while delivering all the coconut goodness.

Ingredients such as quad tyrosine blend and MelanoBronze increase and stimulate melanin production in the skin to further accelerate your tan.

Nouritan, another active ingredient, stimulates tyrosine activity and helps prolong the life of your tan.

It is also infused with botanicals fit to reduce the appearance of cellulite and help your body look tight and tan! 

If that weren’t enough, I love how the product smells: like a day in paradise where you’re sitting by the beach drinking Pina Coladas.

Benefits & Drawbacks of Ed Hardy Coconut Kisses Golden Tanning Lotion

BenefitsDrawbacks
Infused with the goodness of coconut oil, coconut milk, and cocoa butter. Can cause breakouts in some users
Leaves your skin looking tan and hydrated. Packaging is not sturdy and can leak.
Helps protect your tattoo from fading. 
Ingredients that help prolong the life of your tan. 
BodyFit helps make cellulite less noticeable. 

How it compares to other products and why?

The tanning lotion contains both fade and color-protecting formula that takes good care of your tattoos while you get your golden glow on.

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Check: Best Tanning Bed Bulbs

2. Ed Hardy Black XXX Instant Dark Color Tanning Lotion (Best Tattoo Protective Ingredients)

Up next is the Ed Hardy Black XXX Instant Dark Color Tanning Lotion.

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Features

This product is power-packed with tattoo color protectors that will not change or alter the appearance of tattoos on your skin.

The triple black bronzing formula provides dark and deep bronzed skin that lasts a long time.

It has four dark tan activators and is infused with natural oils and extracts to penetrate the skin layer and provide much-needed hydration.

Blue Tansy in this sunless tanning lotion counteracts orange tones, so you get a natural skin tone, only bronzer and gorgeous!

Benefits & Drawbacks of Ed Hardy Black XXX Instant Dark Color Tanning Lotion

BenefitsDrawbacks
Triple black bronzing formula Can cause staining in hands and clothes.
Infused with tattoo color shield Tan fades away quickly
Comes with odor shield technology with skin freshening ingredients. 

How it compares to other products and why?

With its triple black bronzing formula, the product will not turn your skin orange (Thank goodness) and works on all types of skin. Melanin formation never looked and felt so good. 

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3. Devoted Creations Camo Queen Bronzing Lotion (Best Formula With Ink Protectors) 

I am a big fan of instant bronzers by Devoted Creations. In fact, everyone here at Those Graces has used dark bronzers by this brand at one time or another.

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Features

As with all its tanning products line, this one is a high-quality tanning lotion that helps protect your tattoo while adding instant color to your skin.

The product is infused with dark DHA, a natural bronzer that adds time-released color to pale skin.

Other ingredients such as Vitamin C and green coffee extract help to fight free radical damage. And the smell is absolutely to die for! 

Benefits & Drawbacks of Devoted Creations Camo Queen Bronzing Lotion

BenefitsDrawbacks
Infused with tanning accelerators to stimulate the production of melanin. Can stain hands and clothes.
Body fit formula to reduce the appearance of cellulite. Will leave streaks if you’re not careful upon application.
Green coffee extract and Vitamin C to fight free radical damage. 

How it compares to other products and why?

It is power-packed with revita fit and advanced matrixyl synthe that helps the body look fit and tan and reduces the appearance of cellulite.

Not only that, but it will also help fight dark spots on the skin. 

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4. Australian Gold Jwoww Shore Nights After Hours Deluxe Dark Bronzer Tanning Lotion (Infused With Body Moisturizers) 

Here’s a product that will give you intense color in just one tanning session.

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Features

The Confident Skin complex hydrates and tones the skin for a luminous tan all day.

It is infused with silicone softening technology that is quickly absorbed by the skin leaving behind an irresistibly smooth feel that may make you (or anyone else) want to keep touching your skin. 

The Ink Drink complex of beeswax shea butter, and raspberry act as a tattoo protector for your body ink.

Black walnut, erythrulose, and DHA work simultaneously to bronze you up, which only deepens with time.

Other ingredients include avocado, fruits, caffeine, and yogurt to nourish the skin. 

Benefits & Drawbacks of Australian Gold Jwoww Shore Nights After Hours Deluxe Dark Bronzer Tanning Lotion

BenefitsDrawbacks
Gives instant color to fair skin. Tan can fade unevenly.
Keeps skin hydrated with fruit extracts. Does not give a dark tan.
Will not affect your tattoo color. 

How it compares to other products and why?

Thanks to its key ingredients, you get a gorgeous golden tan that works even after the club has closed, and everyone has gone home after the party is over.

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5. Supre Tattoo Hot Bronzer Tanning Lotion (Best Budget-Friendly Option) 

Finishing my list of the best tattoo fade protection tanners is the Supre Tattoo tanning lotion with bronzer that I absolutely love.

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Features

This one is a tingle tanning bronzer lotion with both DHA and natural tan, which gives you incredible color.

It is infused with algae and aloe that provide moisture to the skin and help maintain the color.

The Incredible moisture blend includes sunflower oil, cocoa butter, and olive oil that further rejuvenate and nourishes the skin. 

Benefits & Drawbacks of Supre Tattoo Hot Bronzer Tanning Lotion

BenefitsDrawbacks
Tingle bronzer that accelerates tanning effects. Tingling may be too much for sensitive skin.
Infused with natural pigments and link protectors. Can make your skin oilier than usual.
Aloe and algae extract for hydration and nourishment. 

How it compares to other products and why?

The Supre Tattoo Hot Bronzer Tanning Lotion transforms your skin into a bronzed work of art with its dark tan maximizers. Tan lasts up to 8 days after application.

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How to Choose the Suitable Tanning Lotion

Find products with color shield technology

Several products offer protection to your beloved body ink. Why risk the color of your tattoos with a regular tanner when you can find several that offer protection to your art? 

Look for formulas with DHA

DHA is a natural pigment that works as a dye to help bronze the skin. It helps give instant tan to the skin that only increases the tan degree over time. 

Look for skin-friendly ingredients 

Products with toxic chemicals may provide instant tan but can be harmful to your skin health over time. It is best to look for products with essential vitamins and natural plant extracts to do the job instead. 

Check this video for more tips:

CHECK: Can I Get a Tattoo if I’m Wearing Fake Tan?

FAQs About Tattoo Tanning Lotions

Can you use tanning lotion on tattoos? 

Yes, you can use tanners that provide tattoo care to your colorful tattoos. However, it is best to find intense bronzers that provide extra protection to tattoos instead of going for regular tanning lotions. We love the Ed Hardy lotions. 

How do you protect your tattoo when tanning? 

It is best to protect your tattoos with SPF sunscreen, even if you are not tanning outdoors. It may be best to use a Q-tip to apply the sunscreen around your tattoo to avoid getting a white ring around the art.  

How long should you wait to go tanning after getting a tattoo? 

Aestheticians recommend that you wait for at least one to two months before tanning after getting a fresh tattoo. It depends on how your tattoo is healing as well. If you must tan, you may want to cover your art complete with a bandage to protect it from harmful rays. 

Can I get a tattoo with fake tan on? 

Tattoo artists work with a moderate tan sometimes, but they can’t tell how the color will look on your normal skin. It is best to get ink on your body when it is free of a tan. 

When you use a tanner with tattoo colorshield technology, you can rest assured that your body art stays precisely the way it is.

Whoever said tattoos and tans don’t go hand in hand are being proved wrong every day, and we love it! 

Final Recommendation

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close-up shot of a legs with tattoo

Which do you think is the best tanning lotion for tattoos on the above list? Please share your thoughts below!

References

  • https://www.facebook.com/nevena.nenak. 2021. “This Is How to Prevent Tattoos from Fading (6 Basic Tips) – BelleTag.†BelleTag. July 23, 2021. https://www.belletag.com/beauty/tattoos/how-to-prevent-tattoos-from-fading.
  • Sun, Veranda. 2014. “Have Tattoos? Learn How to Protect Them When Tanning with UV | Veranda Sun Boulder Tanning Salon.†Veranda Sun Boulder Tanning Salon. September 5, 2014. http://verandasuntanning.com/have-tattoos-learn-how-to-protect-them-when-tanning-with-uv/.
About Edith Russo

Edith is a self-made entrepreneur with a keen business sense that others admire and a total “can-do” attitude. She’s always coming up with new ideas to anticipate her readers’ needs and help solve all their toughest beauty and skincare problems. READ HER LATEST ARTICLES. FOLLOW HER on Linkedin and Twitter. Learn more about her HERE.