Cover-up tattoos

We look at the old piece first, then draw a new design that hides it instead of sitting on top of it.

Maybe it’s a name you’d rather not carry, a design that faded or blurred, or work from a studio that didn’t get it right. You won’t be the first person to walk in with one, and nobody here will make you feel awkward about it.

A cover-up starts with the design. New ink can’t lighten old ink, so the new piece has to use darker areas, texture and shape to hide the old lines. That’s why we always start by looking at the tattoo in person.

How we assess an old tattoo

How dark it is. Light, faded work is far easier to cover than solid black
How big it is. The new piece almost always needs to be larger than the old one
Where the darkest lines fall. We place shadows, foliage, feathers or texture over them
What you want instead. Some ideas suit cover-ups naturally, others don't; we'll be straight with you

When laser comes first

If an old tattoo is very dark or you want something light and delicate on top, a session or two of laser lightening can fade it enough to give you real choice in the new design.

Reworks

Not every old tattoo needs hiding. Sometimes a faded piece just needs fresh lines, deeper shading and a few new elements to bring it back. We’ll tell you if a rework will get you there.

Questions about this

Can any tattoo be covered?

Most can, but not with every design. Very dark, solid black tattoos limit the options unless they’re lightened first with laser. We’ll tell you what’s realistic.

Will the cover-up need to be bigger?

Usually, yes. The new design needs extra room to hide the old lines inside its darker areas and texture.

Do I need to bring the old tattoo in?

Yes, a photo is a good start, but we need to see it in person to judge how dark it is and how the skin has healed.

Have an idea? Let's draw it.

Send a reference and the placement on WhatsApp, or book a consultation at the studio. Either way, nothing is inked until you’ve approved the drawing.