A cover up is a new design that is done over an existing tattoo.
This may be done for many reasons. The idea is to cover up an old tattoo that is no longer wanted. The tattoo may not have aged well, the meaning of the design may have changed or you may just want a new design in that area.
Sometimes people want a rework of an existing tattoo, as tattoos can fade with over exposure to the sun. A rework is designed to make an existing tattoo more visible and is different from a cover up.
Size is a factor when wanting a cover up. A small tattoo can often be covered with another small tattoo. However, if you’re trying to cover up a larger tattoo, you may need to get a larger tattoo in order to fully conceal the original design.
Please note that black ink is very dense and has a large particle so it tends to hold pigment better than other colours. It can be difficult to cover however, it is possible and depends on the design.
Depending on the design it may be recommended when covering a black tattoo to choose a colour that will contrast well with the black ink. Lighter colours such as white, yellow, or light green will stand out against the darkness of the black ink. Darker colours, such as dark green or blue, can also work well for covering up a black tattoo.
You may want to blackout the existing design to cover it up completely, the artist will advise if this will work. In some cases, the old tattoo maybe slightly raised and the shape of the existing tattoo could still be visible.
It is important to have realistic expectations about the results of the cover up. The old tattoo may still be visible, but may be less noticeable.
On occasions we may advise to remove the tattoo completely with laser tattoo removal. We may recommend to fade the tattoo with a couple of sessions of laser tattoo removal. We want you to love the new tattoo and if we feel the cover up won’t be perfect and meet your expectations then we will let you know when a cover up is not possible.
We recommend a cover up consultation so we can see the existing tattoo and talk about what you would ideally like to cover it with. We will advise how long would be required and then be able to give you a quote.