Cover Up Tattoos are a specialized area of tattooing, focused on transforming existing, unwanted tattoos into new, beautiful pieces of art. As a tattoo artist with extensive experience in cover ups at tattooat.com, I understand the unique challenges and considerations involved in these projects. Due to their complexity, successful cover ups require a collaborative approach and a degree of creative freedom for the artist to ensure the best possible outcome. While your ideas are always valued, understanding the principles behind effective cover up work is crucial. This guide will walk you through key aspects to consider when thinking about a cover up tattoo.
When it comes to subject matter, certain styles lend themselves particularly well to cover up work. Designs that incorporate a lot of texture and dramatic lighting are ideal. The interplay of light and shadow, especially heavy shadows, is incredibly effective at diverting the eye and camouflaging older ink. Think about underwater scenes teeming with life, where the movement of water and varied textures naturally distract the eye. Floral designs, with their intricate petals and leaves, also offer excellent coverage potential thanks to their organic shapes and overlapping elements. Organic imagery in general, from flowing nature scenes to Japanese-inspired motifs with dragons and waves, provides ample opportunity to integrate and disguise an existing tattoo. Even skull designs, often rendered with detailed textures and shading, can be masterfully employed in cover up scenarios. Biomechanical designs, with their blend of organic and mechanical elements, also offer a visually rich and textured style suitable for disguising older tattoos.
Color plays a vital role in effective cover up tattoos. At my studio, I exclusively perform cover ups in full color. While black and grey tattoos are classic and versatile on fresh skin, they generally fall short when it comes to concealing existing tattoos. The softer tones and washes of grey ink are often not dense enough to effectively block out the darker pigments of an older tattoo. Color inks, especially when layered and combined with strategic shading, provide a much more powerful tool for obscuring unwanted ink. The density and vibrancy of color pigments offer a superior camouflage effect.
Size is another critical factor in cover up success. A common guideline is to plan for your cover up tattoo to be approximately three times larger than the tattoo you wish to conceal. It’s rarely feasible to achieve a successful cover up at the same size as the original tattoo. The principle here is not just about directly covering the old ink, but about creating a larger, more visually dominant design that effectively distracts the eye and strategically camouflages the area underneath. Think of it as misdirection – the new, larger design becomes the focal point, minimizing the visibility of the older tattoo beneath.
It’s important to have realistic expectations about the process. Not all tattoos are equally easy to cover up. Some older tattoos, depending on their ink density, colors, and linework, may be more challenging to work with than others. While occasionally a cover up can be completed in a single session, it’s more common for these projects to require two to three sessions. Multiple sessions allow for layering colors and building up opacity to achieve optimal coverage and visual depth in the new design. This layering process is key to effectively concealing the old tattoo and ensuring the new artwork stands out.
Cover up tattoos are also a long-term commitment in terms of maintenance. They typically require touch-ups more frequently than tattoos applied on untouched skin. This is due to the interaction between the new color pigments and the existing black ink from the original tattoo. Black ink, being carbon-based, is exceptionally durable and tends to persist in the skin over time. As your skin naturally regenerates and heals, there’s a possibility that some of the black ink from the original tattoo may begin to subtly show through the colored layers of the cover up. Regular touch-up sessions, involving re-layering of color, are essential to maintain the vibrancy and concealment of your cover up tattoo over the years.
Even with the best techniques, it’s important to understand that cover up tattoos often don’t achieve 100% opaque coverage. You might experience “peekers,” where faint traces of the old tattoo, particularly the original linework, may still be slightly visible. While touch-ups can minimize this, the primary goal of a cover up is not necessarily to completely erase the old tattoo, but rather to skillfully disguise it within the new design. The focus is on creating a new, compelling piece of art that effectively overshadows and integrates the older ink.
For those seeking maximum creative freedom and the most seamless cover up results, laser tattoo removal can be a valuable preliminary step. Depending on the darkness and density of your existing tattoo, complete removal may not be necessary. Even lightening the old tattoo through laser sessions can significantly improve the canvas for a cover up, providing the artist with more flexibility in design and color choices. However, it’s crucial to allow the laser-treated skin to fully heal before tattooing. This healing process typically takes a minimum of six months, and often closer to a year, to ensure the skin is healthy and receptive to new ink.
It’s important to note that touch-up sessions for cover up tattoos are part of the ongoing maintenance and are not complimentary. They are charged at the standard hourly rate, reflecting the time, skill, and materials required to maintain the quality and appearance of your tattoo. Ultimately, the results of any cover up tattoo can vary depending on individual skin type, the nature of the original tattoo, and the complexity of the new design. Open communication and realistic expectations are key to a successful and satisfying cover up experience.
