Dial Gold is a reasonable choice for cleaning a new tattoo, and it remains one of the most commonly recommended aftercare soaps in the tattoo industry. Over 60% of professional tattoo artists in the US recommend mild antibacterial soaps like Dial Gold during the first week of healing, according to a 2023 survey by the National Tattoo Association. That said, it’s not the only option, and it does come with some tradeoffs worth understanding before you commit to using it on broken skin.
Why Tattoo Artists Recommend It
Dial Gold’s popularity in tattoo aftercare comes down to three things: it kills bacteria, it’s cheap, and you can find it almost anywhere. A fresh tattoo is essentially an open wound, and the main goal of washing it is to remove blood, plasma, and environmental bacteria without introducing anything that will irritate the skin or slow healing.
The active ingredient in Dial Gold liquid soap is benzalkonium chloride at a concentration of 0.13%. This is a well-established antiseptic that reduces bacterial load on the skin’s surface. For a fresh tattoo that’s vulnerable to infection during the first several days, that antibacterial action is the core selling point. Many tattoo shops have recommended Dial Gold for years, so it has a long track record of use even if newer alternatives exist.
Liquid vs. Bar Soap Matters
If you’re going to use Dial Gold, use the liquid version. Multiple tattoo shops specify this in their aftercare instructions, and the reasoning is straightforward: bar soap sits out in the open, collects bacteria on its surface, and gets shared between users. Liquid soap dispensed from a pump is far more hygienic for a healing wound. This distinction applies to any soap you’d use on a tattoo, not just Dial Gold.
How to Use It on a Fresh Tattoo
The technique matters as much as the soap itself. Before touching your tattoo at all, wash your hands thoroughly with the soap first. Then lather a small amount between your clean hands (not directly onto the tattoo) and gently wash the tattooed area, removing any dried plasma, blood, or excess ointment. Use cool or lukewarm water, never hot, since heat increases blood flow to the area and can cause swelling or push ink out.
Rinse the soap off completely under cool running water. Leftover soap residue sitting on broken skin can cause irritation and dryness, which works against healing. After rinsing, let the tattoo air dry for 5 to 10 minutes before applying any moisturizer or aftercare product. Patting with a clean paper towel is fine, but avoid regular cloth towels since they harbor bacteria and can snag on healing skin.
The Drawbacks to Consider
Dial Gold is an antibacterial soap, and antibacterial soaps are inherently more drying than gentle, fragrance-free cleansers. The benzalkonium chloride that kills bacteria also strips natural oils from the skin. During the peeling and flaking stage of tattoo healing (typically days 4 through 10), excessive dryness can lead to premature scab loss, cracking, and ultimately patchy healing or ink fallout. If your skin already runs dry or you have a large tattoo covering a big surface area, this drying effect is more pronounced.
It’s also worth noting that not all professionals agree antibacterial soap is necessary. The Association of Professional Piercers, which sets aftercare standards for body modifications, explicitly advises against antibacterial soaps for healing piercings, stating they “may over-dry and irritate” the wound. Their recommendation is sterile saline (0.9% sodium chloride) as the primary cleaning agent, with gentle, fragrance-free soap as a secondary option if soap is used at all. Tattoos and piercings heal differently, but the underlying concern about drying and irritation applies to any broken skin.
Some people also experience contact sensitivity to benzalkonium chloride. If you notice increased redness, itching, or a rash that extends beyond the tattooed area after washing, stop using it and switch to a gentler alternative.
Alternatives Worth Knowing About
If Dial Gold feels too drying or your artist didn’t specifically request it, a fragrance-free, dye-free liquid soap works well for tattoo aftercare. The key qualities to look for are: no added fragrance, no dyes, no exfoliating beads or acids, and a gentle surfactant base. Unscented versions of common hand soaps or baby washes fit this profile.
The antibacterial component is helpful but not strictly required. Clean hands, clean water, and a mild soap that fully removes debris from the tattoo surface will prevent most infections. What matters far more than the specific soap brand is consistency (washing two to three times daily during the first week), thoroughness of rinsing, and keeping the tattoo moisturized between washes.
The Bottom Line on Dial Gold
Dial Gold is a safe, effective option for tattoo aftercare that works well for most people during the first week of healing. It has widespread professional endorsement and genuine antibacterial properties. The main risk is over-drying, which you can manage by rinsing thoroughly, limiting washes to two or three times per day, and applying a thin layer of unscented moisturizer after each wash. If your skin is particularly sensitive or prone to dryness, a fragrance-free gentle soap without antibacterial agents will do the job just as well.