Cover-Up Tattoos That Erase the Past
Names, old designs, badly done ink, replaced with work you're proud of.
I've covered up names, old designs and badly done tattoos, and reworked others that didn't need full covering, just rebuilding. Cover-up tattoos are work I actively want more of. Bio-organic, my specialty, is one of the strongest styles for it: the deep values and organic flow can absorb almost anything underneath.
What your cover-up can become depends on what we're starting from: how well-put the old tattoo is, and what kind of ink was used. Some blacks are harder to cover than others. I try not to turn anyone away; you're coming to me for a specific reason. But honesty comes first: sometimes the only way to truly bury an old tattoo is to go really dark, and if that's what yours needs, you'll know before we start.
Plan for a cover-up to run one or two sessions more than the same piece on clean skin. The total depends on the size and what we put over it. Coming from out of state? The session math is on the traveling page.
Selected Cover-Ups & Reworks
Each pair shows the original tattoo and the finished result. See more transformations on Instagram or book a consultation to review options for your tattoo.
How I approach a cover-up
Honest assessment
How well-put the old tattoo is and what ink was used decide the plan. Some blacks are harder to cover than others. I tell you what's realistic at the consult, before any design work.
Designed around the old ink
A cover-up isn't stamped on top. The new design is built around the existing tattoo: placement, flow and density planned so the old ink disappears into it.
Dark when it has to be
Over the years I've learned that some pieces can only be fully buried by going really dark. If that's your tattoo, I say so up front.
Cover-Up Tattoos FAQ
Can any tattoo be covered up?
Most can. What decides it is how well-put the old tattoo is and what kind of ink was used. Some blacks are harder to cover than others. I try not to turn people away: I look at what's on your skin and tell you honestly what it needs.
What kinds of tattoos can you cover up?
Names, old designs, badly done tattoos: I've covered them all. And when a tattoo doesn't need full covering, a rework can rebuild it instead.
Do cover-up tattoos have to be dark?
Sometimes. Over the years I've learned that some old tattoos can only be fully buried by going really dark. If that's true for your piece, I tell you before we start, not after.
Do cover-ups take more sessions than a fresh tattoo?
Usually one to two sessions more than the same piece on clean skin. The total depends on the size of the cover-up and what we put over it.
What's the difference between a cover-up and a rework?
A cover-up hides the old tattoo completely under a new design. A rework keeps a tattoo you mostly like and rebuilds it: sharpening lines, adding shading or color. I do both.
What's the best style for covering an old tattoo?
Bio-organic is one of the strongest: the deep values and organic flow can absorb almost anything underneath. See my bio-organic page for how that style handles cover-ups.
More styles by Carlos
Ready to cover or rework an old tattoo?
Bring a clear photo of your existing tattoo to a free consultation, in person or remote. Based at Koi Dragon Tattoos in Murray, Utah, booking clients worldwide. Coming from out of town? How traveling for a tattoo works.