Cover-Up Tattoos

About Cover-Up Tattoos

A cover-up transforms an old, faded or unwanted tattoo into something new you're proud of. It's one of the hardest things an artist can do — and one of the most rewarding for the client closing the book on a regret.

• Ink doesn't fully hide ink — a good cover-up works with the old piece, not against it
• Needs density and dark values in the right places, plus flow to disguise the old outline
• Black & grey and nature/ornamental designs are common workhorses for the saturation
• A few sessions of laser lightening beforehand can dramatically expand the options
• Expect the new piece to be larger, and often darker, than a fresh design would be
• Choose a specialist who's honest about limits and shows healed cover-ups with before photos

Last updated June 2026