Complete Guide to Tattoo Cover Ups—Cover up tattoo ideas

In this article, we'll walk you through designing a successful cover-up tattoo, essential techniques for effective coverage, and creative ideas to transform or erase the past—plus recommended tools, offering a comprehensive guide to help you navigate the process!

What You Need to Know About Tattoo Cover-Ups

Personalization is the Key

Simply slapping a larger, generic design over the old one won’t cut it—such tattoos often age poorly. Instead, focus on blending the client’s vision with the original tattoo to create something new. 

Define Your Goals

Does your client want the old tattoo completely hidden? Should the size stay similar to the original? If the old tattoo has deep color, large size, or hard-to-cover colors (like bright reds or yellows), you can ask if they consider laser removal to lighten it.

 Here are two common cover-up approaches:

• Full Coverage
  Full coverage means designing a new tattoo with colors, size, and details that completely cover up the old tattoo. A classic example: using bold, realistic flower in rich colors to cover up an old tattoo. This technique is favored by Craig Hicks, a 14-year veteran and expert in cover-ups.

• Redesign with Added Elements
  This way builds on the existing tattoo rather than hiding it, you can transform the old design into new. For example, Mario Espolaor of New York masterfully blended Japanese traditional art into a skull tattoo, turning an outdated piece into a stunning tattoo.

How to Design a Cover-Up Tattoo?

Common Techniques:

Animal Tattoo Cover-Ups Ideas

Animals—especially lions, wolves, eagles, or leopards—are top picks. Their detailed fur, shadows, and dark eyes can mask old tattoo perfectly. 

Flower Tattoo Cover-Ups Ideas

Roses are classics. For female tattoo cover-up clients, try leafy vines, forest scenes, or botanical motifs.

LA artist Vickie Chiang, known for her nature-inspired designs, has stunning examples.

Neo-traditional Cover-Ups Ideas

Neo-traditional style is also ideal for tattoo cover-ups. The large-scale designs can effectively conceal almost any existing tattoos, making it particularly suitable for male clients. 

Small Cover-Up Tattoos Ideas

If minimal coverage area is preferred, tattoo artists need to exercise greater creativity—skillfully integrating the original tattoo into the new design for a seamless aesthetic.

A Note on Black/Grey Ink!

Traditional black/grey (diluted with water) has limits—its low pigment density often fails to fully hide old tattoos. If you must use it, layer at least three shades of black/grey to create depth. 

This is a failed case—the after-photo clearly shows residual traces of the original tattoo beneath the new design.

Geometric Abstract Cover-Ups Ideas

Tattoo artists can skillfully use "splattered" dark ink dots, bold color blocks, and flowing lines to cleverly cover old tattoos—resulting in a natural, artistic effect that blends seamlessly.

Scar Cover-Ups Ideas

Scarred skin heals differently—we need to wait until it’s fully healed (Scarred skin tone close to common skin tone) and choose an artist experienced in scar cover-ups. 

Scars absorb ink unevenly, but a pro will adjust for this. Check their portfolio first, Strong portfolio examples significantly increase your chances of achieving a satisfying new tattoo.

Heavy blackwork tattoo

Some seasoned tattoo enthusiasts, all their arms, backs, and etc. are completely covered in tattoos, so some tattooists specialize in full-arm black work coverage, where they first coat the entire area with a specialized high-pigment blackout ink (such as Intenze's Shadow Black series).

These professional-grade inks contain added micro-particles (note: distinctly different from standard black inks mentioned earlier), creating a matte-finish effect that seamlessly blends with the skin’s natural tone.

Recommended tools

Ink

Always use organic tattoo ink! After all, this pigment will remain in the skin for years. For instance, the well-known ink brand Intenze is a good choice.

https://intenzetattooink.com/

Preview the final cover up tattoo effect

Before getting a tattoo, have thorough communication with the client to design the artwork and preview the effect—this ensures maximum satisfaction. Here are some recommended tools:

• Procreate

         No need to elaborate.

• Specialized apps

         Simulate the size, placement, and final look of the tattoo on the body, such             as eztattoo APP.

• InkHunter AR

         Just point your phone at the body part, and the design will automatically                 scan and overlay onto existing tattoos.

Hope this article helps you with your tattoo cover-up journey!