Palm-size in Seattle
$450–$1000
Covering a small old tattoo with a palm-sized piece takes about 2.5–4 hours. Laser fading, if needed, is billed separately.
Ages well
3/5
Cover-ups are one of the two main ways to deal with an unwanted tattoo. The other is laser removal, and a cover-up is usually cheaper and less painful. People cover old names, faded or blurry work, 1990s tribal, amateur tattoos and scars. Some artists specialize in cover-ups, and some offer free cover-ups for hate symbols and similar cases.
The artist designs around the old tattoo's darkest areas, hiding them inside heavy shading, black or deep color, and adds new focal points that pull the eye away. Common approaches include Japanese work with dense backgrounds, dark florals, blackwork and textured animals. A rework, which refreshes and redraws an old tattoo, or a blast-over, a bold new design over a faded one, are alternatives. If the old ink is very dark, a few laser fading sessions first can make a smaller, lighter cover-up possible. Bring clear photos to a consultation, and expect the artist to change your initial idea.
We give cover-ups an aging score of 3 out of 5, though the final result depends on the style chosen. Dark, dense cover-ups age as well as any bold tattoo. The risk specific to cover-ups is that faint traces of the old design can show through as the new ink settles over the years, so many artists plan a follow-up session to reinforce coverage.
12 studios in Washington list cover-up work, 2 of them in Seattle. Always check an artist's portfolio — style is about the artist, not the shop. See the 38 artists who list it.
Photo: Cleopatra InkDowntown, Seattle
Featured: Seattle Tattoo and Cleopatra Ink Seattle share ownership. How featuring works
Cleopatra Ink Seattle is a tattoo and piercing studio at 1523 6th Ave in Seattle. The studio offers custom tattoo artistry, piercings, and a free design consultation.
Downtown, Seattle
1512 4th Ave
Showing all 10 studios
Photo: studio websiteTacoma, WA
Absolute Body Art is a tattoo and piercing studio in Tacoma, Washington. The studio offers tattoo styles including traditional, realism, black-and-grey, color, and fine-line, and welcomes walk-ins.
Ellensburg, WA
The Roost Tattoo Studio is in Ellensburg, Washington. The studio offers tattooing, and its artists accept tattoo requests.
Photo: studio websiteVancouver, WA
Sacred Yeti Tattoos is a tattoo shop in Vancouver, Washington, offering custom tattoos and cosmetic tattoo makeup services. Its listed services include photo-realistic, botanical, color, floral, tribal, cover-up, and sleeve tattoos.
Photo: studio websiteAirway Heights, WA
No Surrender Tattoo is a tattoo studio in Airway Heights, Washington. The studio offers American traditional, Japanese, black-and-grey, and cover-up tattooing, with custom designs and walk-ins; appointments are required to hold time.
Battle Ground, WA
Five Star Tattoo Co. is a tattoo studio in Battle Ground, Washington, that has served the area since 2002. The studio offers tattooing and piercing, and its artists describe styles and interests including black and grey, photo realism, Japanese traditional, and fine-line illustration.
Tacoma, WA
Tattoo Asylum is a tattoo studio with artists who specialize in several tattoo styles. One artist seeks clients interested in creating custom, one-of-a-kind pieces.
Snohomish, WA
Stray Cat Tattoo is a tattoo studio in Snohomish that offers tattooing and piercing. The studio lists custom, realism, Japanese, traditional, neo-traditional, cover-up, and fine-line work.
Tacoma, WA
Cleopatra Ink is a tattoo and piercing studio inside Tacoma Mall in Tacoma, Washington. It offers custom tattoos, piercings, and free design consultations, with artists working in styles including realism, watercolor, and geometric designs.
Vancouver, WA
Arboretum Studios is a tattoo studio at 401 W 13th St. in Vancouver, Washington. The studio says it takes appointments and walk-ins, and its artists describe work including nature-themed tattoos, ornamental designs, anime, watercolor, and neotraditional tattoos.
Wenatchee, WA
Kristina Louise Tattoos is a private tattoo studio in downtown Wenatchee, Washington. The site describes tattoo styles including illustrative, realism, Japanese, traditional, fine line, and black and grey, and says appointments are required.
Artists
Tattoo artist at Finer Things Tattoo
South Lake Union, Seattle
Dzul Ink Lounge · Belltown
Hidden Hand Tattoo · Fremont
Cleopatra Ink Seattle · Downtown
Rabid Hands Tattoo · Ballard
Ink DaVinci Tattoo Shop · Downtown
Hidden Hand Tattoo · Fremont
Tattoo Pizzazz · West Seattle
Art Never Dies · South Lake Union
Sacred Soul Tattoo · Renton
Steam & Ink Tattoo · Woodland
TygerWolf Tattoo · Tacoma
Stray Cat Tattoo · Snohomish
Sorry Mom Ink Tattoos and Piercings · Lacey
Auralite Art Collective · Spokane
Tattoo by James · Tacoma
Ohana Ink · Everett
Kintyre Ink tattoo · Spokane
Tattoo Asylum · Tacoma
The Roost · Ellensburg
Cleopatra Ink · Tacoma
Skye Tattoo · Arlington
Kristina Louise Tattoos · Wenatchee
The Hiding Spot · Bellingham
Pink Peony Club · Bremerton
Kintyre Ink tattoo · Spokane
Cleopatra Ink · Tacoma
Old School Tattoo & Piercing · Bellingham
Pronoia Ink Studio · Tacoma
Five Star Tattoo Co · Battle Ground
Tattoos By UZI · Lacey
Names, roles, styles and photos come from each studio’s own website, and every profile links to its source. Professional information only. How artist profiles work
Most can, but not always with the design you have in mind. Dark, dense or very large tattoos limit your options to bigger, darker cover-ups. A few laser fading sessions often open up more choices. An honest artist will tell you at the consultation what's realistic, and may suggest fading first.
Usually. Full laser removal takes many sessions spaced weeks apart, while a cover-up is typically one to a few tattoo sessions. If the old tattoo is very dark, though, budget for both: a few laser fading sessions plus the cover-up. In Washington, laser treatment must be done under a physician's authority.