Cover-Up Tattoos: Complete Before & After Guide

I've done hundreds of cover-ups at House of Pain Tattoos. Bad ex's name? Check. Regrettable tribal from 2005? Done it. Faded stick-and-poke from high school? Transformed it. Cover-ups are one of my specialties, and I'm going to tell you exactly how it works.

What IS a Cover-Up Tattoo?

A cover-up is a new tattoo designed to completely hide an existing one. The old tattoo doesn't get removed—we design something new that masks it so well, you'd never know it was there.

Key point: Cover-ups require more ink, darker colors, and strategic design to work properly. You can't just slap any design over an old tattoo and expect it to disappear.

Can MY Tattoo Be Covered?

Honest answer: 99% of tattoos can be covered. But some are harder than others.

Easy to Cover:

• Small tattoos – More design options
• Faded tattoos – Less visible through new ink
• Light colors – Yellow, pink, light blue disappear easily
• Simple designs – Text, basic shapes, small symbols

Challenging (But Doable):

• Large tattoos – Need equally large or larger designs
• Dark, solid black – Requires creative darkness/contrast
• Bold lines – Need to be incorporated or hidden
• Fresh tattoos – Must wait 6-12 months minimum

The Cover-Up Design Strategy

Here's what I do when a client comes in with a cover-up request:

Step 1: Assess the Old Tattoo

I look at:

• Size and placement
• Color saturation (how dark it is)
• Line thickness
• Age (older = more faded = easier)
• What the client wants to hide it with

Step 2: Design Rules

Cover-ups follow these rules:

• Go bigger – Usually 2-3x the size of original
• Use dark elements – Shadows, blacks, deep colors
• Strategic placement – Darkest parts of new design cover darkest parts of old
• Busy > simple – Complex designs hide better than minimalist

Step 3: Choose the Right Style

Popular Cover-Up Designs

These are my go-to cover-up designs that work on 90% of old tattoos:

• Floral sleeves – Roses, peonies, leaves create natural dark areas
• Skulls – Dark eye sockets and shadows perfect for hiding
• Animals – Bears, wolves, lions with dark fur
• Mandalas – Complex patterns distract the eye
• Japanese waves – Dark blue/black water covers beautifully
• Phoenix/dragons – Large, dark, detailed

How Much Do Cover-Ups Cost?

Straight talk: Cover-ups cost 1.5-2x more than a regular tattoo of the same size.

Why?

• More design time (custom work required)
• More ink needed (layering over existing tattoo)
• Takes longer to complete
• Requires more expertise

Ballpark prices at House of Pain Tattoos:

• Small cover-up (3-4"): $200-400
• Medium (6-8"): $500-800
• Large (full arm section): $1,000-2,000+

Remember: Quality cover-ups are an investment. Cheap cover-ups often fail, leaving you with TWO bad tattoos.

Healing & Touch-Ups

Cover-ups heal exactly like regular tattoos, but there are some differences:

• More ink = longer healing – Expect 3-4 weeks instead of 2-3
• Touch-ups common – Often need a second session for full coverage
• Color may settle differently – Over old ink, colors can shift slightly

I always tell clients: Plan for at least one touch-up session. It's normal, it's expected, and it's usually free or heavily discounted.

Laser Removal vs. Cover-Up

Should you get laser first? Here's my honest take:

Laser + cover-up gives the best result, but direct cover-up still works great in most cases.

Real Talk: Cover-Up Expectations

I'm going to be brutally honest with you:

• The old tattoo will NOT disappear completely – It'll be hidden, but it's still there under new ink
• You'll have less design flexibility – Can't get exactly what you want in some cases
• It'll be bigger – Almost always larger than the original
• It'll be darker – Cover-ups require strategic darkness

But here's the good news: A well-done cover-up transforms regret into something you'll be proud to show off. I've seen clients cry tears of joy when they see their new ink.

— Mike Kuntz, Owner of House of Pain Tattoos, Moose Jaw, SK