Coverup
Today, tattoo culture — and tattoos themselves as an art form — are at the height of popularity. You can see it on the streets: countless different tattoos, but unfortunately, some are just painful to look at.
At first glance, the solution seems simple: everyone knows a tattoo can be covered with a new design. Unfortunately, it’s not that easy. Covering an old tattoo is a very delicate and individual matter, and the quality of the result depends on many factors. Good cover-ups are probably one of the most challenging aspects of the tattoo world. Here are a few key points to consider when planning your cover-up.
Key rules:
A new tattoo should be darker than or in the same tone as the old one.
Usually, the new tattoo needs to be larger.
Not every style or design is suitable for covering.
In almost all cases, the new tattoo should be dense and colorful (gray counts as a color, too).
If the old tattoo is heavily damaged, with raised scars — it cannot be completely covered. You can mask it, change the color, or arrange it compositionally, but the scars themselves won’t disappear. In the case of deep scars, their texture will still be visible under the new tattoo.
White and skin-tone colors will never cover a darker tattoo. In the first few days, you might be pleased with the result, but after healing, the pigment under the skin will mix, and everything will go “back to its place.”
Be prepared that almost every cover-up is a compromise. The quality of a tattoo on fresh, unaltered skin is almost always higher than that of a cover.
For the best results, an in-person consultation is highly recommended. Photos often do not capture all the nuances, which are crucial in this type of work.
Laser fading/removal is not a cure-all. It won’t help in every case, and in most, it can make things worse. A pre-procedure consultation is mandatory, and sometimes it doesn’t make sense to invest in it at all.
If you decide to go with laser, make sure you understand the quality and specifications of the equipment. The wrong laser can only worsen the situation. Currently, pico‑second technology provides the best results.
The best way to cover something is with blackwork. You might not like it, but it is often the only viable option.
The second most effective, though less popular, option is a blastover. This is a tattoo that doesn’t try to directly cover the old work, but distracts and can completely change how your tattoo is perceived, giving it a second chance.
Cases where a cover-up succeeds in a single session are very rare. Usually, 2–3 sessions are needed for good quality.
Covering, for example, a postpartum scar with a small design will only draw even more attention to that area.
Very important:
A cover-up is the most challenging and demanding type of tattoo — both for the tattoo artist and for your body. Take it seriously. On the first day after the session, you may experience heavy discharge and discomfort. We recommend taking the day off and spending it at home.