Behind the Brand: Mad Rabbit Co-Founder Oliver Zak Shares Top Tattoo Care Tips
If you have tattoos, what are you doing to keep them looking their best? Is tattoo care part of your skincare routine?
Friends Oliver Zak and Selom Agbitor wanted to offer a clean solution to tattoo care, so in 2019 they launched Mad Rabbit to help keep tattoos healthy and vibrant. The brand even caught the attention of Shark Tank’s Mark Cuban, winning an investment from the Shark.
Mad Rabbit’s products offer clean and natural skincare solutions to aid the healing of tattoos and their aftercare. Formulated to eliminate the processed and unnatural ingredients found in the majority of traditional tattoo aftercare products, Mad Rabbit’s products support holistic healing to help tattoos withstand aging and remain vivid. We chatted with Mad Rabbit Co-Founder Oliver Zak to learn about the journey to launching the brand and his top tattoo care tips.
Mad Rabbit’s latest launch, Balm Stick
Can you share a little about your background and what inspired you and Selom Agbitor to launch Mad Rabbit?
As two friends with a passion for ink, we saw an opportunity to reinvent the tattoo aftercare and tattoo skincare space to help improve the healing process and preserve tattoos. After our own experience with the lack of efficacious products in the market, Mad Rabbit was born.
Mad Rabbit’s “no nonsense” approach values clean ingredients so consumers don’t have to worry about unnecessary toxins. Our focus encompasses a full cycle tattoo skincare routine from preventative + post aftercare to daily tattoo skincare solutions.
Our simple formulations, made with clean and effective ingredients, allow tattoos to remain vivid, withstand aging, and maintain their original vibrancy. We celebrate, promote and empower individuality, artistry, adventure, and anything badass. Let’s preserve these through our ink.
Anything we should know about the name?
Mad Rabbit was inspired by the mythological jackelope from American folklore. We wanted the name to be ambiguous, evoke Made-in-America, and represent natural and animal-friendly ingredients. Plus it’s more catchy than something passe like “InkBooster” or “Tattooify.”
What was it like going on Shark Tank and getting a deal with Mark Cuban?
I grew up watching Shark Tank every week with my family since I was 10 years old. I’ve watched hundreds of entrepreneurs shoot their shot for a decade and never once imagined myself on that stage. I have nothing but admiration and appreciation for the Sharks and Mark Cuban specifically for inspiring people to chase their dreams. Mark Cuban has been a valuable partner and advisor to our business.
Mad Rabbit Tattoo Balm
What product are you best known for and can you tell us about it?
Mad Rabbit is best known for our tattoo enhancing balm. Comprised of a handful of all-natural ingredients, our tattoo balm locks in moisture, and makes tattoos pop immediately upon application.
What do you want people to know when it comes to tattoo care? What are some of the most important things that people may not be aware of?
Many of the existing recommendations for tattoo care are incorrect. For example, petroleum jelly (Aquaphor, Vaseline, etc) is too thick for tattoo healing, and doesn’t allow constant flow of oxygen to the skin. This results in worse scabbing, and therefore worse ink loss.
Vitamin-E rich moisturizers can work against the appearance of tattoos over time, as the purifying ingredient targets ink as an impurity in your skin.
Body washes can contain chemical ingredients that strip the skin and harm tattoo appearance over time.
What are some of the things that people with tattoos should look for when purchasing skincare products?
We recommend using as clean of products as possible —no parabens, phthalates, or petroleum products, as well as minimal or at least natural fragrances/essences that won’t strip or irritate your ink. We also recommend using products that don’t contain additional heavy occlusives especially during the healing process. When it comes to cleansers try to choose products that are gentle and not heavy in abrasive alcohols, etc. Lastly try to choose moisturizers that don’t contain a lot of vitamin E. While this is great for people with tattoos, it eliminates impurities from the skin, which also can include ink, causing tattoos to fade at a much faster rate.
How does exposure to sun affect tattoos and is there anything you want people to know about protecting tattoos when in the sun?
UV rays blast the ink particles in your skin, making them so small that your skin is able to absorb and dispose of them. As this occurs, your ink will be less confined to its original position in the dermis, leading to blurring and fading.
Any do’s/don’ts for keeping tattoos vibrant?
Exfoliate regularly to keep skin and ink more vibrant, wear protective clothing and products outside- SPF!
Avoid smoking (or just don’t do it at all).
Moisturize your skin regularly, and hydrate!
Mad Rabbit Balm Stick
Any product launches we should watch out for next?
After our latest launch, Balm Stick launched on June 27th. Some things to watch out for next include:
Soaps to support healing and exfoliation
Numbing Cream
Artist related products to support full funnel tattoo skincare approach
Where can people purchase Mad Rabbit?
Madrabbit.com, Amazon.com, Select Urban Outfitters, Vitaminshoppe.com.
A University of Michigan graduate, Lizzy Sherman is an award-winning digital content writer/editor. Her work has appeared in publications including Beauty Launchpad, Nailpro, DAYSPA, CNET, Entertainment Tonight, and more. She has been a featured guest speaker at Cal State University Northridge, Digital LA, and The National Association of Audience Marketing Professionals. When she's not writing, Lizzy enjoys yoga and playing guitar. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter: @zillizy, @zillizy16