This past week I’ve been working in West Hollywood and just so happen to be working in the same building as the casting company for TLC’s hit TV show, LA Ink.  While you can’t just walk in and be on the hit TV show (you’ve got to have a cool story, be unique and be selected), you can however walk-in to their ‘real’ tattoo shop High Voltage Tattoo and get one anytime (though it won’t be on camera).  Though I didn’t venture in the shop (there was a long line), I did drive past the yellow building with big red letters (complete with casting crew in headsets outside on the sidewalk) and snapped some pics.

If you’re interested in ‘greening’ your after tattoo care routine (yes, you’ve got to take care of it - afterall it is a wound), look no further than your local health food store (and I found a great one near LA Ink called Erewhon - right next to The Grove).  The keys to keeping your tattoo healthy and healing well are two-fold: 1). Keep it clean and 2). Moisturize.  For both steps, you want to think “simple, gentle and effective”.  To clean, you could do what Eminem does and wash with Dr. Bronner’s Liquid Castile Soap (the ‘Unscented‘ version would be best for this purpose) and to moisturize you could slather on pure Organic Coconut Oil or the first USDA Certified Organic line designed by tattoo artists, specifically for after tattoo care, called Rose Tattoo Aftercare serum created by tattoo artists:

Rose After Tattoo Care Liquid Serum is USDA Certified Organic and comes in a spray bottle for easy and sanitary application, is 100% vegan and 99.5% organic.

Rose Tattoo After Care Body Balm is USDA Certified Organic, 100% vegan and 97% organic; designed to heal, moisturize and brighten tattoos.  Available in Rose (girly) or Lavender (manly).