Cover Up Tattoos

What is a cover-up tattoo?
A cover-up tattoo is a new design created over an old tattoo, a scar, or a skin mark, with the goal of partially or completely hiding it. The idea is to conceal an unwanted or outdated tattoo with a new piece that looks better or holds more personal meaning.
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Main Characteristics:
• Size and shape: The new design is usually larger than the old one to ensure full coverage.
• Use of dark colors: Dark inks like black, navy blue, or deep tones are used to effectively hide the lines and colors of the original tattoo.
• Advanced technique: This process requires an experienced artist in cover-ups, as it is not the same as starting a tattoo from scratch.
• Sometimes laser is needed beforehand: In some cases, it’s recommended to lighten the original tattoo with laser sessions before covering it—especially if it’s very dark or saturated.
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Advantages:
• Allows you to hide poorly done, outdated, or unwanted tattoos, or those with lost meaning.
• Less expensive and less painful than full tattoo removal by laser.
• Gives you a new opportunity to express your identity with a better design.
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Disadvantages:
• The new tattoo must adapt to what’s already there, which can limit design options.
• It’s usually larger and darker than a fresh tattoo.
• Not all tattoo artists are trained or skilled enough to do a quality cover-up.
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Final Tip:
If you’re thinking about getting a cover-up, choose an artist who specializes in this kind of work. Make sure they show you examples of previous cover-ups and are honest about what can realistically be done with your current tattoo.
If you’d like, you can send me a photo of the tattoo you want to cover, and I can suggest design ideas that would work for you.