Cover-Up Tattoos: How to Turn an Old Tattoo Into New Art
Can your old tattoo be covered? How cover-ups work, which styles hide old ink best, when to laser-fade first, Seattle costs and how to pick an artist.
Key takeaways
- A cover-up hides old ink inside darker, denser parts of a new design, so expect it to be bigger and darker than the original.
- A few laser sessions to fade dark ink can open up more design choices. In Washington, laser treatment is a medical procedure done under a physician's authority.
- Japanese work, dark florals, blackwork and textured animals are among the most effective cover-up approaches.
- Choose an artist with healed cover-up examples, and expect them to adjust your original idea.
- Regret is common: in a 2023 Pew survey, 24% of tattooed U.S. adults said they regretted at least one tattoo.
Tattoo regret is common. In a 2023 Pew Research Center survey, 24% of tattooed U.S. adults said they regretted at least one of their tattoos. The good news is that an experienced cover-up artist can turn most unwanted tattoos into something you'll be glad to wear, as long as you go in with realistic expectations about size, darkness and design.
Can your tattoo be covered?
Almost certainly, but these factors decide how much freedom you'll have:
- How dark it is. Faded, light or patchy tattoos are the easiest to cover. Solid black, like 1990s tribal, is the hardest, because only something equally dark will hide it.
- How big it is. The cover-up has to extend past the old tattoo to break up its outline, so a large tattoo means an even larger cover-up.
- Where it is. A tattoo on a roomy spot like the upper arm or back is easier to cover than one on an ankle or wrist, where there's little room to grow.
- The colors. Old color can sometimes be worked into a new design. Dark blues and blacks need dark coverage.
- Your flexibility. The more open you are to style, size and subject, the better the result.
How does the cover-up process work?
- Consultation. Bring clear, well-lit photos of the tattoo from several angles, or show it in person. Expect the artist to assess its darkness and suggest a size, style and possibly laser fading first.
- Design. The artist builds the new design around the old one, hiding its darkest lines inside shadows, dense color or texture, and adding new focal points that draw the eye elsewhere. Expect a revision or two, and some compromise on your first idea.
- Tattooing. Covering old ink often takes more passes than fresh work, and larger pieces take several sessions.
- Healing and follow-up. Once it has healed, the artist checks whether any old lines show through. A follow-up session to reinforce coverage is common.
Which styles cover old tattoos best?
Some styles have dark, dense areas built in, which is exactly what a cover-up needs:
| Style | Why it works for cover-ups |
|---|---|
| Japanese | Dense backgrounds of waves, wind bars and clouds can absorb old work |
| Neo-traditional florals | Deep shading in petals and leaves hides old lines naturally |
| Blackwork | Solid black covers almost anything, at the cost of a darker result |
| Dark realism and animals | Fur, feathers and strong shadows create texture that breaks up old shapes |
| Black and grey with heavy shading | Works for medium tattoos that have already faded |
Delicate fine line and light watercolor generally can't hide old ink without laser fading first. See our cover-up style guide for more.
When should you fade a tattoo with a laser first?
Laser fading breaks up old pigment so it lightens. It doesn't have to vanish completely to help. Fading is worth considering when the old tattoo is very dark, when you want the new piece to stay small, or when you want light colors or fine line work in the cover-up.
What to know before you book:
- It takes multiple sessions. The American Academy of Dermatology notes that a laser can't safely break down all the ink in one session. Fading for a cover-up usually takes fewer sessions than full removal. Your provider can estimate after seeing the tattoo.
- Colors behave differently. The FDA says green, red and yellow are the hardest colors to remove, while dark blue and black are the easiest.
- It's a medical procedure in Washington. Under WAC 246-919-605, using a prescription laser on skin is the practice of medicine. A physician must examine you and authorize treatment, even if a trained, licensed professional performs it.
- Cost. Published Seattle prices start at about $99 per area at one First Hill practice and $249 per treatment for small tattoos at a West Seattle clinic. Larger tattoos cost more. See our price guide for sources.
Ask the laser provider and your tattoo artist to coordinate on how light the tattoo needs to be. Skip at-home removal creams: the FDA says it hasn't approved any tattoo removal ointments, creams or do-it-yourself kits.
What are common cover-up scenarios?
- Names. Lettering can disappear into florals, animals or a larger script piece. Very bold or large letters may need fading first.
- 1990s tribal bands. Solid black needs a darker, larger design, such as Japanese wind bars and waves, heavy blackwork or dense florals. Another option is to rework it into a bigger blackwork piece.
- Small old tattoos. These are usually the easiest. They can become one part of a larger new design, often in a single session.
- Amateur or stick-and-poke work. Lighter, uneven saturation is often easier to cover than professional solid black.
- Hate symbols and scars. Some artists offer free cover-ups for hate symbols and similar cases. A decorative tattoo over a scar is also an option, but ask about scar tissue first.
Laser removal or cover-up?
| Cover-up | Full laser removal | |
|---|---|---|
| Result | A new tattoo in the same spot | Clear or mostly clear skin |
| Sessions | Usually one to a few tattoo sessions | Many sessions spaced weeks apart |
| Pain | Similar to getting tattooed | The FDA compares it to a thin rubber band snapping against the skin |
| Limitations | Must be larger and darker | Some colors resist removal, complete removal isn't always possible, and the FDA lists possible scarring, infection and lighter skin |
| Best for | Wanting new art there anyway | Visible areas, or wanting a clean slate |
How much does a cover-up cost in Seattle?
Cover-ups cost more than fresh tattoos of the same size, because they need more planning, often more size and more passes. Based on the $175 to $250 hourly rates most Seattle studios publish:
| Project | Typical time | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| Small old tattoo covered by a palm-sized piece | 2.5–4 hours | About $450–$1,000 |
| Larger cover-up (6 to 10 inches) | 5–8 hours, often in two sessions | About $875–$2,000 |
| Sleeve-scale rework | Many sessions | Billed hourly, often several thousand dollars |
Laser fading is billed separately by the clinic. Add Seattle's 10.55% sales tax and a tip to the tattoo price.
How do you pick the right cover-up artist?
Questions to ask:
- How many cover-ups have you done? Can I see healed examples?
- Would you recommend laser fading first?
- How big will the new piece need to be, and how dark?
- How many sessions do you expect?
- What happens if old lines show through after healing?
Red flags include an artist who promises that anything can be covered easily, a portfolio with no cover-up work, promises of single-session coverage for a large black tattoo, and reluctance to talk honestly about limits. As always, check the artist's license on the Department of Licensing lookup (how-to here).
What should you expect?
- You'll always know it's there. Others usually won't, but you'll remember where the old tattoo sits.
- It will be darker than a fresh tattoo would have been, because the old ink is still underneath.
- It will be bigger. Fighting the size limits the result.
- It takes time. Complex cover-ups take multiple sessions and good healing in between. Follow our aftercare guide closely, since good healing gives the best coverage.
Approached with patience and the right artist, a cover-up gives you something better than a clean slate: a tattoo you chose with experience.
Frequently asked questions
Can any tattoo be covered up?
Most can, but not always with the design you have in mind. Very dark, dense or large tattoos limit you to bigger, darker cover-ups, and some need laser fading first. A consultation with an experienced cover-up artist, with clear photos of the old tattoo, is the only way to know your real options.
How much bigger does a cover-up need to be?
Usually noticeably bigger than the original. The new design has to bury the old lines inside its darkest areas and break up the old shape, which takes extra space. How much bigger depends on how dark the old tattoo is and the style you choose. A few laser fading sessions can keep a cover-up smaller.
Should I get laser removal or a cover-up?
Choose a cover-up if you want a new tattoo in the same spot. It's usually cheaper and less painful than full removal. Choose laser removal if you want clear skin or a small cover-up later. Full removal takes many sessions, and the FDA notes that green, red and yellow inks are the hardest to remove.
How much does a cover-up tattoo cost in Seattle?
Covering a small tattoo with a palm-sized piece typically costs about $450 to $1,000 in Seattle, based on 2.5 to 4 hours at the $175 to $250 hourly rates most studios publish. Large cover-ups are billed hourly across several sessions. Laser fading, if needed, is billed separately by the clinic.
Sources
- 132% of Americans have a tattoo, including 22% who have more than one — Pew Research Center
- 2Tattoo Removal: Options and Results — U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- 3Laser tattoo removal — American Academy of Dermatology
- 4WAC 246-919-605: Use of laser, light, radiofrequency, and plasma devices as applied to the skin — Washington State Legislature