Tips for Choosing a Cover-Up Tattoo

We get it. Everyone makes mistakes, and sometimes those mistakes take the form of a permanent tattoo on your skin. Sometimes, it’s not even a mistake – simply put, life changes, and you change and things you loved and identified with change too! Tattoos are a bit like that. There’s no shame in changing your mind about it.

Fortunately, there are options for eliminating that mistake, one of which is getting a cover-up tattoo that you like better. There are some things you need to do to get the best cover-up result, including fading a tattoo before cover-up, but the tattoo you choose as your cover-up matters as well. Here are some tips for choosing a cover-up tattoo.

Consider Size

The size of the tattoo you’re covering up is a major determination of what your cover-up tattoo is going to be. This sounds simple, and the concept definitely is, but you’d be surprised by how many people pick a design that is nowhere big enough to cover up an old tattoo. They want a tiny rose to cover up a lower back piece, which just isn’t going to happen. This is similar to choosing a small design, like an eyebrow tattoo in Sydney, to cover something much larger—it simply won’t work without the right size and planning.

Just keep in mind that your new tattoo is probably going to be bigger than the one you’re covering up to make sure all the edges of the design are incorporated into the new artwork. So, if you have a full sleeve that you want to be covered, you’ll be getting an entirely new sleeve but with more details. 

Consider Color

Some colors show through new tattoos even with the best efforts of the best artists. Black is notoriously hard to cover up, as are reds and dark blues, especially if the previous artist used a heavy hand when applying the ink. This doesn’t mean they are impossible to cover up. It just means you need a skilled artist who knows how to blend the colors of the old tattoo into the new design.

Additionally, getting the tattoo partially removed can help with covering up colors. A faded tattoo or one that has been partially removed is much easier to cover up than one that is still fully present in the skin. An experienced tattoo artist will be able to blend faded colors into new, vibrant colors when they’re applying the new design.

Consider Design

Simple line tattoos are much easier to cover up than extremely detailed tattoos, and if you have a current tattoo with lots of details, you’ll probably need a new one with lots of details to hide the old design. This is where it’s important to consult closely with your tattoo artist to pick the cover-up design and placement. You might have some ideas that you think are great but just don’t translate well to the skin or at least to cover up your current tattoo.

In fact, before you make your tattoo appointment, ask to talk to your artist about their suggestions for a cover-up tattoo. They know how to choose a design that can incorporate certain lines of your current tattoo so that the cover-up looks natural. Otherwise, you might end up with a tattoo that is very clearly a cover-up, and that’s probably not what you want.

Conclusion

Covering up an unwanted tattoo is a multi-step process that you shouldn’t rush. Luckily, we now have great options for those who have changed their mind about an old tat.

Otherwise, you could end up with yet another unwanted tattoo and look for a cover-up for cover-up. Take your time and choose a design that you love and that fully covers up your old tattoo.

While tattoos are reversible, you should still aim for long term satisfaction.