THE ART OF THE COVERUP

When it comes to cover-up tattoos, it's crucial to put some extra thought and creativity into it. You don't want to end up with something you don't like or want, right? So, my suggestion is to start thinking about what you want in that spot as if the old tattoo wasn't there. Focus on what you really like and want, instead of what you think will work.

Cover-up tattoos do require a little more creativity. There is no point in covering an old tattoo with something that you don't like or want.  Because of this I generally ask you what you would have in that place if you didn't need to cover an old tattoo?

But here's the thing - I'll need a bit of creative freedom to incorporate the old tattoo into the new design. It's not possible to remove old ink by tattooing over it, so the new design should use some parts of the old tattoo to conceal it. When we chat about your preferences, I'll explain the compromises that may be necessary based on your individual tattoo.

I have some general tips that might be helpful to keep in mind. For example, 

• if you have a colour tattoo or one with repeating patterns and shapes, a tattoo with a lot of skin showing through, like black and grey realism,tribal or knotwork, may not be the best option for a cover-up. 
• If you're covering up an old colour tattoo, you'll likely need to use colour again. In fact, generally colour works better to cover an old tattoo than black and grey alone.
• If your old tattoo is a tribal design or has a lot of black work, a bold and colourful tattoo is likely to work well.

Also, keep in mind that non-symmetrical tattoos in central areas of the body, like the centre line, top or bottom of the back, or the under-breast area, generally cannot be covered with symmetrical designs. Similarly there is no easy way to cover an old line of text with mandalas or splashy watercolour without is showing through, so anything with dark straight lines will need a little more compromise.

Remember, these are just guidelines, and it's important to speak with your tattoo artist about your specific cover-up ideas.

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