We all have regrets in life, and if yours happens to be inked on your skin, you may be considering your options for removing it. Tattoos are a form of self expression and are true pieces of art. However, this doesn’t mean that they’re never poorly done or that what’s meaningful to us doesn’t change. Maybe you got a quote tattoo that doesn’t resonate with you anymore, or you got something that was trendy at the time, but now has you wondering exactly what you were thinking. If you’re ready for a tattoo upgrade, here are 6 beautiful cover-up tattoo ideas for women.
Cover-Up Tattoo vs. Tattoo Removal: What’s the Difference?
A tattoo cover up consists of a new tattoo design overtop of an existing tattoo so that the old tattoo is no longer visible or is part of the new design. Generally, the cover up is significantly larger than the original tattoo and requires a great deal of creativity and technological skill. They can be less painful and less expensive than a tattoo removal, and can often be done in 1-2 sessions, depending on the tattoo design. Healing may take longer than the original tattoo due to the tattoo’s complexity and extra ink used.
Laser tattoo removal is a longer, more pricey option, but can partially or completely remove your tattoo. A certified technician will use a laser to target the pigment in your tattoo, breaking down the ink particles into smaller pieces that the body’s immune system can then clear away. After each session you may experience minor discomfort like scabbing or itching. It can take anywhere around 8-12 sessions to remove a tattoo completely, depending on its size, colour, age, and location.
A third option is to partially remove your tattoo and then cover it up without the added size or concentration of pigment.
6 Reasons to Opt for a Cover-Up Tattoo
- Preserve sentimental value of original tattoo
- New design can be incorporated with old design
- Change a regrettable tattoo into something more meaningful
- Less expensive than a removal
- Can often be done in 1-2 sessions (less time consuming)
- Often less painful than laser tattoo removal
How Do Cover-Up Tattoos Work?
Cover-up tattoos aren’t exactly what they sound like. The name suggests that new ink is inserted above the old ink, completely hiding it from view. However, it’s important to know that the pigment in the new ink doesn’t go on top of the old ink’s pigment. The two colours combine to make a new colour, although the stronger or darker coloured ink becomes dominant in the mixture. For example, blue and yellow combine to make green. A skilled tattoo artist will blend colour, shading, detailing, and depth of colour to create a new design that integrates and covers up the old ink seamlessly.
4 Things to Consider Before Getting a Cover-Up Tattoo
- Do you want to incorporate your old tattoo?
Think about whether you want to cover up your old tattoo completely or if you want to incorporate parts of the old tattoo into the new one. This will take a very skilled artist, so it’s essential to do your research and find someone you trust. - Size of tattoo
Cover-up tattoos will generally be two to three sizes bigger than the original tattoo. It’s important that it’s big enough to cover the old tattoo, but you also have to consider where it is and whether it will look out of proportion on your body. You may consider removing part of the old tattoo (either partially or completely) before covering it up. - It’s possible you’ll still see some of the old tattoo
Talented tattoo artists can work magic. However, there’s still a chance you might see remnants of your old tattoo once the cover-up is done. This will depend on the new design you’ve chosen as well as the colours in the design. - Maintenance
Your cover-up tattoo will need touch ups sooner and more frequently than a tattoo that has been done on unmarked skin. To help your ink last as long as possible without a touch up, drink plenty of water, avoid sun exposure, and keep your skin well moisturized.
6 Cover-Up Tattoo Ideas
1. Flowers
Flowers are a really popular cover-up tattoo design and there’s no question as to why. Flower tattoos are incredibly beautiful and with the addition of vines and leaves, there’s a lot going on, which is helpful when you want to cover up an old tattoo. The great thing about flower cover-up tattoos is they can pretty much be done anywhere, from your back to your arm, foot, shoulder, or hand. Opt for a single flower for a smaller tattoo or get a whole garden of flowers like the tattoo pictured above to cover up a larger design.
2. Ocean Scene
Ocean scenes are filled with organic shapes, texture, and intricacies that will make you forget all about your old tattoo. They’re ideal for the arm, especially if you want to cover-up a larger arm tattoo or series of arm tattoos. Your artist can help you find the right colours to use, as well as elements that will either incorporate or fully cover up your old design.
3. Large Artwork
If you have the space for it (your back is a great canvas), your tattoo artist can design a new piece that’s much larger than your original tattoo. They’ll take the existing design into consideration and see how they can create a whole new piece. All the detailing and colouring in the piece above could easily hide an old design.
4. Feather
If you want to cover a word/script tattoo, a feather can be a great option. They’re the perfect shape to cover up the lettering and can be made as big as you need to cover up your old tattoo. Feathers look beautiful on the arm, hand, or collarbone, which are popular placements for script tattoos. You can opt for a black or coloured feather depending on the colour of your script tattoo.
5. Animals
Animals such as owls, elephants, horses and tigers can all be used to cover up previous tattoo designs. They can all be created with thick, dark colours, shading, and plenty of fine details, which are all key for a good cover-up tattoo. If there’s an animal that has significance in your life, work with your artist to create a meaningful design. Animal tattoos can work for most parts of the body, from your arms to your upper thigh, legs, or back.
6. Galaxy
Similar to ocean scenes, galaxy tattoos offer lots of intricacies and detail needed to cover up an old tattoo. They’re perfect for an arm sleeve if you want to cover up one or multiple arm tattoos, and would also work well for any area of the back, the upper thigh, or the calf. Choose what outer space elements you want to include and watch it come to lief.
If you have a tattoo you regret, consider one of these beautiful cover-up ideas to replace your old tattoo.
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