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Everything You Need To Know About Covering Up A Tattoo

Samantha Sasso Oct 26, 2018 3:00 PM

Even when we want things to last forever — from marriage to a Drake-approved $1,000 Canada Goose jacket — not everything lasts the test of time. Even things that have been historically considered permanent, like tattoos, are being removed with relative ease in 2018. That is, for those who can afford multiple laser treatments and manage the pain that comes with them. But for those who can't, there's another option: covering it.

Masking a tattoo you hate could mean waking up every day to smooth Dermablend over the ink (props to you if you have the patience), but for many, it means covering it with a fresh tattoo. Turns out, this is a popular option — whether it's an ex-lover's initials or a poorly drawn bowl of fruit.

Roberto Castillo, tattoo artist at New York's Sacred Tattoo, and Curt Montgomery, a Canadian tattoo artist who works with stars like Halsey and Sophie Turner confirm that the cover-up method is legit and quite popular, but often requires a lot more planning and money than someone might think. So, if you find yourself in a similar situation as Pete Davidson, or are simply interested in learning more about covering up an old tattoo, keep clicking.

This might sound like common sense, but before you book your cover-up consultation, do one thing: Look at your tattoo. Examine exactly how big it is, how thick the lines are, if certain colors (if it's not just black) are faded, and try to remember just how long you've had it. These are all questions and observations an artist will need to make before they attempt to cover your tattoo.

"Removing a tattoo with color is harder than something that's just black with gray shading," says Castillo. "I think the most difficult part is covering the really dark spots, like thicker lines, which could even depend on how old the tattoo is and how faded it's gotten." If any of these characteristics seem like massive obstacles for your artist to take, they might recommend you leave, book a laser removal appointment, and come back once the ink is faded — if not totally gone.

Tip: If you've had multiple cover-ups on the same area of the body before, you might want to consider visiting a dermatologist to verify with a MD that your skin is healthy enough to withstand a laser treatment or additional tattooing. Your health should always come first.

Cover-up work is an art form all its own and a lot of artists simply don't do it, so Montgomery recommends that you do as much research on the artists in your location who can cover your tattoo as you did on the artist who gave you your first. Look at their Instagram, get a read on their aesthetic and the scale they typically work on, and better yet, make sure you start with a consultation — not a tattoo appointment. "See what somebody can do for you before you book an appointment," he explains.

Sure, not every appointment (think: a tiny finger tattoo you want to tweak) requires a consultation, but most certainly do. Montgomery adds that you should look at it as a strategic process, because the artist certainly will. "Sometimes it's not as simple as it seems," he explains. "You don't want to rush something like that or you'll find yourself making another appointment in a couple weeks for a third cover-up."

Montgomery says a lot of people tend to go for flowers or trees because all the details help hide trickier lines, but it's best to chat with an artist in-person about feasible options that will actually cover the old tattoo. This also begs the question of why you're covering it. Is it because it was poorly done, the lines are so old that the details are fuzzy, or are you're hoping to forget you ever got it in the first place? The answer matters because not all tattoos need to be completely covered to look great again. "Sometimes it's just a matter of tidying up the linework or darkening the black bits of a tattoo to make it look new again," he explains.

Montgomery says that if a touch-up isn't a viable option, then consider a technique called blast over. "I'll put lines over the existing tattoo, so the new ink is darker and richer than the old," Montgomery explains. "The definition from the old tattoo is definitely still there and looks kind of like an under-glow from beneath the new ink."

Castillo adds that if it's simply a bad tattoo, there's the possibility of incorporating the old lines into a new tattoo. It's a matter of playing with the highlights, the shading, and the color of your existing tattoo to evolve what it is into a whole other design. Still, Castillo says this means you have to allow your tattoo artist the surface area to work. For example, if you have a tattoo that covers the entirety of your thigh, then you'll need to permit the artist to move the ink even further up or down your leg. However, Castillo does say that, personally, cover-ups are easier only because, no matter how hard you try, it's a challenge to get in the head of the original artist to ensure both designs (the old and the new) are cohesive.

Although tattoo pricing varies from artist to artist, most will charge by an hourly rate. Castillo confirms that for larger tattoos, most cover-ups take more than several hours and multiple appointments. His longest was a chest tattoo that took 35 hours across five sessions (seven hours each).

Not only will the price go up depending on the how long the artist expects to spend with you, but so will the healing time between sessions. The more appointments you have, the more time you'll need to give your body to scab, peel, and be free of potential infections for another round of tattooing. Castillo says this can take up to a month, depending on the tattoo and your after-care routine.

Not to be a Debbie Downer, but going over an old tattoo with more ink can be a pain to plan, pay for, and finish. Plus, you might end up in the same position years down the road if you end up hating its replacement. Our point? Take time to really think about your options before you commit.

Castillo reiterates that it's not just the name of an ex that tattoo artists are asked to cover. "Sometimes people just change their mind and don't like the work anymore, or it doesn't fit their personality," he explains. This doesn't mean he hasn't seen his fair share of relationship tattoos gone wrong. "Yes, I've seen people after a break-up or a divorce many times," he laughs. Now, whenever someone comes into the studio and they request their girlfriend's name on their forearm, Castillo asks if they're sure. Relationships don't last forever, but regrettable tattoos certainly can — at least, if you don't have the money or time to cover it up.

How To Cover Up A Tattoo After A Break Up

Beauty • Body • Celebrity Beauty • News • Skin Care • Tattoos • The Latest

written by Samantha Sasso

Photographed by Beth Sacca.

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