Cover-up is English for hide and thus describes well what a cover up tattoo is. The artist tattoos a new design over the old one, making the original invisible. Below we tell you more about cover-ups, and share practical cover up tattoo tips to help you make the right choice.
Reasons for A Cover Up
When you get a tattoo it is wise to think about it beforehand and to consider that it is a permanent decoration of the body. Yet it can always happen that you are no longer satisfied with your tattoo. There can be several reasons for this:
- The tattoo used to suit you, but now it doesn’t; you’ve changed your tastes
- The tattoo is not beautiful anymore, or in worse cases was never beautiful at all
- You have tattooed the name of someone you no longer like, for example an ex-lover
- You have a standard tattoo, but want something more unique
- You no longer stand behind the symbolic meaning of the tattoo
Cover Up Tattoo Tips: How It Works
Tattooing a cover-up is not as easy as simply tattooing a new tattoo over the old one. That’s why following the right cover up tattoo tips is essential to hide old ink effectively. It can be compared to an existing drawing that you want to draw over. Without the proper techniques, you will not get a good result and will continue to see the original drawing.
For background on how tattoo ink interacts with skin, see Tattoo Ink – Wikipedia
A cover-up tattoo does not work much differently. The shapes and colors of the original image must be taken into account. A tattoo with many light colors is easier to hide than one with many dark colors. In any case, the new tattoo will always be larger.
Tattoo Cover-Up Advice Before You Start
If you have decided to hide your old tattoo under a new one, there are a few things to keep in mind. As mentioned earlier in this article, the cover-up gets bigger, but simply picking a bigger tattoo won’t get you there. There is no eraser that can be used to polish away the old lines, so to speak. The tattoo artist will have to take the original tattoo into account. The artist can use a darker color or incorporate the old shapes into the new design. For a successful result, keep in mind these tattoo cover-up advice points when you talk with your artist.
The possibilities for this new design differ depending on the original tattoo and the wishes for the new one. We strongly recommend staying open to ideas, and not to go to the tattoo shop with a fixed plan. Of course you can already have a rough idea of your new tattoo, but for the best result you should give the professional tattoo artist the freedom to make a suitable design. You can also explore our guide on Bali tattoo prices to understand how cover-ups are priced in Bali. For a cover-up, a good discussion with the artist is perhaps even more important than for a regular tattoo.
The American Academy of Dermatology also shares helpful guidance on tattoo safety.
What Can & Can Not Be Done
A good cover-up can completely eliminate the tattoo, and with the right design, artists can achieve almost anything. Organic shapes such as feathers, birds and flowers are especially good to incorporate into the new tattoo. Portraits, on the other hand, are less suitable and in many cases even impossible. It is possible if a portrait is tattooed over a portrait, but the new portrait will inevitably have more color.
For the new tattoo, color is very important. A black-and-grey tattoo can go well over an original black-and-grey, but not over a colorful oldschool tattoo. Again, the comparison with the drawing can be made. You can color a coloring page, but you can’t color it out, as it were. For this reason, a cover-up often contains more color than the original.
It is important that the new tattoo design fits over the old tattoo(s) and that the old tattoo is not too dark.
In this article, we’ll share practical cover up tattoo tips and advice to help you make the best decision.
Ready to transform your old tattoo into something new? Book your session with our artists at Secret Arts Tattoo Studio today.
FAQ
Q1. Can any tattoo be covered up with a new design?
Not all tattoos can be fully covered. Dark, large, or heavily saturated tattoos are more difficult. In many cases, the new design must be larger, darker, and more colorful. A consultation with an experienced artist is the best way to know your options.
Q2. How much does a cover-up tattoo cost in Bali?
Cover-up tattoos usually cost more than regular tattoos because they require more planning, skill, and time. Prices vary by size and complexity. For details, see our guide on Bali tattoo prices.
Q3. What are the best designs for cover-up tattoos?
Organic designs with flowing shapes, such as flowers, birds, or feathers, often work best for hiding old tattoos. Portraits and highly detailed designs are more challenging, but skilled artists may adapt them if the old tattoo allows.
