What Tattoo Artists Want You To Know About Cover Ups

Photo by Fernando Venzano

Let me start by saying that this is a long-overdue topic! 9 out of 10 clients that come in to discuss a cover-up are completely unprepared for the conversation, but don't even know it. It's understandable! If you haven't been there before, how can you know? That's exactly why I want to "cover" this subject and give you a few things to consider if you're looking at covering up a tattoo in the future.

Have Some Ideas Prepared
For a lot of people, the thought is so overwhelming that they sort of freeze up. It's not uncommon for someone to say "I don't know what will work. What should I get?" It's okay to be unsure of what will work, but asking an artist to pick your tattoo for you is a good way to end up with another piece that you're not crazy about. Think of how varied the general population is with the clothes they prefer, cars, home decor. Another person's idea of beautiful may be incredibly different from your own. When I find myself in this situation, I usually ask the client to take a few days to reflect on things that interest them. I ask them to provide me with a list of what they come up with, even if they seem like odd topics for a tattoo. Do you like sports? What is your favorite vacation spot? Is there a book or movie that had a profound effect on you? Are there any hobbies that are near and dear to your heart? If you really think about it, there's a lot that makes each of us unique and special, and that's the formula for a tattoo that you'll love.

It's Okay To Get Ideas From The Internet (Within Reason)
I don't necessarily discourage clients from looking at the internet when it comes to getting some ideas. Often with cover ups, people don't know what we're capable of. There's the fear that the only thing that will work is solid black tribal and, actually, tribal isn't all that great of a go-to. Tattooing is advancing every day and there's a lot out there that can give you hope if you're nervous about covering a tattoo. Be warned, though, there's a lot that can scare you. The internet is full of horror stories and it can give you as much apprehension as it can inspiration. Also, keep in mind that we often make the mistake of seeing something done one way and thinking that's the only way to do it. Perhaps you had a rose tattoo in mind, but the images you're seeing on Google just aren't doing it for you. That doesn't mean things can't be done differently. Keep an open mind and don't become too overly influenced by what you see.

Be Prepared To Go Bigger
This one is something that a lot of clients aren't always ready to hear. Some tattoos can be covered easily and not require much additional space. However, the majority do need to be bigger than the original tattoo. This all depends on the existing tattoo, where it is on the body and what will be used as the cover up. For example, say you have a tribal on your lower back that was pretty sweet in 1995, but by 2018 it's lost it's appeal. You've got your heart set on a gorgeous mermaid overlooking the ocean. We certainly can't have black splotches cutting through this mermaid's delicate skin tones, so our most likely option is to hide the tribal in some rocks that the mermaid is perched on. By the time we reach the top of the mermaid's head, this lower back tattoo now probably reaches the mid-back. Sometimes, in order to get the image you want and cover the existing tattoo in the most effective way, sacrifices like this must be made. If you're not comfortable with a larger tattoo, don't feel the pressure to take that plunge! No one is holding a gun to your head, so if you have a tattoo that you're unhappy with, don't just repeat the process. Go home, think about it and get a second opinion. Laser removal is also an option, but that in itself is a big plunge that I'll cover in a future article. 

Find The Right Artist
This should be the case in every tattoo that you seek to get, but it's especially important when you need a cover up. Just because someone has been tattooing for 10, 15 or 20 years doesn't mean that they do cover ups well. I've seen artists that have less than 5 years under their belt knock a cover up right out of the park. Always look at portfolios and, even better, talk to people that have been tattooed by this person and see how their experience was. Don't be deterred if the artist has a long wait list. This tells you that other people want to be tattooed by this person, and that's a good thing! Don't be afraid to travel as well. Scan around for major tattoo conventions and make plans to see some sights while you're at it. A lot of top artists travel for conventions, so while you may pay a convention price, sometimes it beats a trip across the country. Also, don't choose your artist based on who gives you the best price. You have a bad tattoo and you're now looking to upgrade, so wait, save a little and end up with a piece that you'll be proud of. 

What You Want Might Not Work
Sometimes you can do everything right, but there's no force in this universe that will make delicate pink cherry blossoms cover up a solid black raven. I've had people ask several times if a flesh colored ink would cover up their black tattoo. I'm sorry, but it won't. Imagine you've drawn a picture with a black Sharpie and you're taking a peach colored crayon over it. It's just not going to happen. There are a lot of colors that disguise black, such as blues and purples, so don't feel like if you have a black tattoo that it needs to be an all black cover up. What works best to disguise is a lot of texture and detail like feathers, hair, rocks, foliage, tree bark, shadows and so on. If you're working with a good artist, they'll do their best to be honest with you but also meet you where they can. Perhaps we can't do cherry blossoms, but roses offer a lot of texture and often work well for cover ups. 

I hope this gives you a few things to consider if you feel like you're facing the challenge of covering a tattoo. It's typically not an easy process for anyone, but no one should have to carry a bad tattoo around for years and years. If you're truly still lost on how to approach the process after reading this article, set up a consult with the artist of your choice. Most of us understand that it's intimidating and we'll be glad to work with you and give you advice on how to move forward. 

Cover up by Summer Hamrick

Cover up by Summer Hamrick