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Cover-Up Tattoos- All You Need To Know!
Cover-up tattoos are a good way to deal with undesired tattoos or the tattoos that haven’t come as you expected them to come. Seeing your tattoos fall off your expectations is incredibly disappointing in the beginning but once you come with some good cover-up tattoos, it becomes a relief and fun. When you are disappointed, you may not have a great idea about how to completely get rid of unattractive tattoos. The waste of money, time, and effort becomes useless and you keep thinking about how to compromise with the situation.
Accepting an old-fashioned and unattractive tattoo can indeed be a tough nut to crack. Mostly because it was meant to be flawless and flaunted not hide away instantly. It becomes even more disappointing when it is your first tattoo.
Well, you will be absolutely delighted to find cover-up tattoos for your situation to cover that pretty messed-up tattoo of yours. The process of getting cover-up tattoos will be totally based on the design, amount of network needed, and expertise of the artists.
This article tells you everything about cover-up tattoos with some ideas you can use for reference.
What are cover-up tattoos?
Cover-up tattoos involve a procedure used to replace your previous unwanted tattoos with a new one. In most cases, it can be easily done without coating much or breaking your bank balance. If the old design doesn’t seem good or fading, you can go for cover-up tattoos.
Using dark inks, the light or faded type of tattoos can be easily replaced. You are only required to pick a great idea and schedule your appointment with the tattoo artist of your choice. These tattoo artists will guide you further on all things you must know.
Moreover, the design you chose to cover up the previous tattoos plays a significant role in deciding the difference between time and cost. It is also possible that few designs cannot fix your tattoos in the best way so you might have limited options sometimes.
1. How cover-up works
When you visit a tattoo artist to get your tattoo done, the ink will be deposited nearly one millimeter beneath the skin surface inside alter called dermis. This layer is slightly below your skin also called the epidermis. In the process used to cover up tattoos, the tattoo ink is again deposited in the same skin level- dermis whether the ink from your previous tattoos is also present.
The pigment of new ink used this time does not overlayer the pigment of the previous tattoos but both the inks combine to form a new color. There are good chances of fark ink dominating the lighter one in the mixture beneath the epidermis. For example, red and blue beneath the skin when mixed form a purple end product in your tattoo.
Most tattoo artists recommend using black color or ink as it is the most effective color to cover up tattoos how much ever old they are. Many people do not like the idea of black tattoos all over but they still find the new one better than their daunting old tattoos.
When the tattoo artists work on concealing the tattoo, their main focus is on the color of previous tattoos and how it can be incorporated into the new ink used. Certified tattoo artists work after chalking a strategy to replace the old tattoo with a new design and color with caution on the previous tattoo. Not to forget, the cover-up tattoos allow you to flaunt or showcase your new tattoo in public which you always like (the most of us, at least).
2. Different colors used for concealing the tattoos
Coming to the colors used, you can expect black to be common. Although redoing your old unwanted tattoos can be a slight pain, still, if you suffer from horrible tattoo choices, you must give it a chance to avoid them. If you are learning on colors used for reworking the cover-up tattoos, these points can help you conclude a decision.
- Black is mostly the standard color used by certified tattoo artists in cover-up tattoos.
- You may also find certain other colors like greens, blues, oranges, magenta, and browns when it drops down to camouflage.
- Dark shades of the same hue or color will be able to cover up tattoos in no time.
- When new links are combined with the previous tattoos in the dermis, a new color is formed.
You can always look for a tattoo artist who likes experimenting with different colors and knows a clever placement of the design for hiding previous tattoos. Another common practice to cover up tattoos is using light shades. This helps uneven strokes of previous tattoos. You will be surprised to find out that tattoo artists can easily replace light blue hues with royal blue, lime green, or purple in no time.
3. Procedure used in cover-up tattoos
The entire procedure used in cover-up tattoos is as follows-
- The procedure begins with your tattoo artists placing a tracing paper on the old tattoo design to outline the features of your previous tattoo. This is the first and foremost crucial step that will help the artist find a reference for the parts of the tattoo that will need maximum coverage.
- Then the artist puts an outline under the light and places a thin piece of tracing paper on the top of it.
- The process of cover-up tattoos starts by starting on the fainted outline f the previous tattoo for concealing the area.
Other than this, certified cover-up tattoo artists are well aware of nonrotating old designs along with the new ones so there are very few chances of obliterating the design by the artists. For instance, the certified artists which hold expertise may develop scripting into flowing stalks or vines.
In cover-ups, the artists draw a lot of attention to the new design via crafting compelling patterns around the area of your old tattoo which appeared the most unattractive to you. This trick keeps the eyes on the new design formed.
In some cases, the tattoo artists may even recommend forming around 30% larger new designs compared to the old tattoo. This is done to ultimately camouflage the previous design. Plus, the lighter shades help neutralize the skin that flaunts only cover-up tattoos on the skin. If performed correctly, these steps can conceal the entire area removing every inch of the old tattoo or design.
4. Can cover-up tattoos change the color of tattoos only?
Most people going for cover-up tattoos indeed end up loving the design but they are not always satisfied with the tattoo color. Due to plenty of dark and light shades available, it can be quite difficult to choose the right color palette for your cover-up tattoos designs. People who only visit tattoo artists for changing the color of the tattoo think that enough options are not available for their needs.
In contrary to this, you can visit a cover-up tattoo artist to only fix your tattoo shades. It seems quite a risky task to follow but a certified tattoo artist will be able to manage it easily. Plus, you must know that not every shade can turn to form a new color. However, there are possibilities of transforming light shades into darker hues like:
- Red can be turned to format brown hue.
- Pink blends quite well with the magenta shade
- blue mixed well with purple shade
- yellow can always be changed to green.
Covering up your tattoos with a new one is always a smart option, but you should consider many things like tattoo size, design, colors, etc before going for one.
5. Size of tattoo
The cover-up tattoos designs are always larger than the previous one mostly by 30% as mentioned previously. There is a possibility of not getting the size you desire for your new tattoo. However, the big portraits used for designing the old one will make sure your old design is out of your sight forever,
It would not be wrong to tell that the larger designs allow you to go for some drastic images and styles as your cover-up tattoos. However, if you are not sure about inking a large area of your skin, make sure you discuss it with the tattoo artists to come with a solution that suits you.
6. Colors of tattoos
The color palette needs to cover your old tattoo designs ranges from blacks to blues to browns. When it comes down to concealing your existing inks, shades like red, yellow, and oranges cannot provide a good amount of coverage in your situation. tattoo artists can easily use bright colors to fix these designs using other bright colors. You can always opt for dark and bold color options to camouflage the previous or old tattoos.
7. Know that dark color may be see-though
If the old tattoo you got was dark-colored- cover-up ink might not be able to outshine or hide it properly. It may become see-through if the colors used in the new one are not dark enough. In most cases, the tattoo artists will use excess dark ink for achieving the effects you wish to have. Inks like black and blue will mostly appear in the cover-up tattoos as compared to some shades of yellow or white. It is worth noting down that using a lighter color with a dense or high intensity can create a huge impact on the cover-up tattoos.
8. Old tattoos are easier to cover
The age of the old tattoo also matters in covering up them. Tattoos tend to fade over time. This is because the ink used to make the tattoo and dermis keep breaking down with time. Yello and red colors are more spines to fade whereas shades like black and dark blue may stay for an extended period of time.
Concealing an old tattoo of a year ago is less time-consuming compared to a tattoo done 1 to 2 months earlier. Also, unlike the new designs, old designs do not show in the cover-up tattoos.
9. Tattoo designs
When you are going for cover-up tattoos, you must take note that the new designs you choose matter a lot. Not every design can be sued to camouflage your tattoo. To avoid any hassle, try choosing a moderate design fr a new tattoo so that you can get rid of the old one in less time without any chances of mistakes.
Concealing a tattoo is always based on how much area you want the new tattoo to cover. Covering the old tattoos does not always mean getting a new one, you may surely find some ways to replace the old design with a slightly new one. You can still call it a new one as some parts of the previous tattoo may be visible inside of it.
10. Look for experienced and certified tattoo artists
It is totally up to you if you want to visit your old tattoo artists or find a new one to get your cover-up tattoos done. However, it is always suggested to get a new tattoo artist that holds enough expertise and experience that can help you cover it up.
The cover-up process is slightly time-consuming and needs effort. This is why looking for an artist that has the skills to replace the old tattoo is important. Therefore, before rushing to any tattoo artists, just give yourself some time and do thorough research on the artists before reaching out for concealing your tattoo.
11. Some tricks used in cover-up tattoos
Reworking on an old tattoo that is completed entirely can be a hectic task and requires effort. But, it would still be wrong to call this a risky task or job. However, certified cover-up tattoo artists have some effective and quick ways to accomplish the desired outcomes within a small span of time. Some commonly used tricks opted by tattoo artists are as follows:
- Keeping the cover-up design closer to the previous one.
- Incorporating features and strengthening the weak lines.
- Opting for some sort of illusions to improve how your tattoo will look overall.
- Correcting spelling mistakes in tattoos
- Removing excess ink so that the old tattoo fades.
- Drawing backed tattoos or white-based tattoos, it needs a short session to put white ink over the previous tattoo. Each session helps lighten the previous tattoo by 10% to 30%.
12. Some tips to maintain cover-up tattoos
Rework is absolutely fantastic to get rid of some embarrassing tattoo designs but it also has some risks along with it. Tattoo artists have revealed that 77% of people decide to cover their tattoos for several reasons which have unfavorable outcomes. Deciding which part of the body requires a tattoo, the style and color of the tattoo beforehand save you from redoing it. To boost the healing process, you must take extra care after you have gotten a cover-up tattoo design. Here are some things to do:
- Listen carefully to the instructions of your tattoo artists. They are highly experienced and know what all problems you might face and has a solution for all of them.
- Avoid wiping the tattoos. It is very common for the cover-up tattoos to itch, but make sure you do not wipe them with regular towels you use or nails. This may tear the skin treated beneath the tattoo. Try to pat instead using a soft cloth or a tissue and let it dry.
- Use only an antibacterial soap. Concealing a too is the same as getting a new one as ink is inserted in your dermis. You must only go for antibacterial soaps to prevent any bacteria from entering the wound and affecting it causing infections. Using regular soap cannot stop the growth of bacteria and lead to serious problems associated with your skin.
- Wash the tattoo after few hours. Make sure your tattoo is clean 24/7. When you remove the bandages in between, you must give it a good rinse. Ise lukewarm water and only the products prescribed to avoid side effects.
- Avoid formation of scabs. Dabbing the tattoo using a soft cloth cannot make it dry out completely. This is why patting is suggested as it helps keep the tattoo moist. If you dry the tattoo completely, the formation of scabs may be seen which takes excess time for the tattoo to peel off.
- Use a good moisturizer. Tatoo artists mostly ask for you to moisturize the tao but make sure you do not overdo it. It also needs to be treated properly to heal on time.
- Avoid excess water. You must control your urges of being in a pool or a sauna until the tattoo completely heals. This is important to avoid infection on the treated skin. Opt for warm water showers so that healing is faster and make sure not to spend more than 15 minutes inside a shower too.
- Avoid sunlight because it causes incurable damages to the tattoo. It is a smart idea to not expose the tattoos to sunlight. Stay indoors as much as possible. UV light can hinder the process of healing.
- Be patient with the healing process and go for touch-ups. If the tattoo loses ink after one to two days, contact the tattoo artists immediately and go for touch-ups as it helps retain the freshness of your tattoos. You can always visit the tattoo artists after a few weeks or months to enhance the design and color.
Just like the normal tattoos, a cover-up tattoo can fade too. Cover-up tattoos also lose their shine and fade after few years if not touched up again by the artists. Most people have reported that their cover-up tattoos do not remain the same after few months due to fading. Moreover, colorful tattoos are more likely to fade. tattoos artists also suggest some shades like green, pink, lime color, etc that tend to fade faster as compared to purple, black, royal blue, brown, and other darker shades.
People who opt for pastels and watercolors encounter similar issues as well. You need to be cautious for tattoo shades like purple, gray, blue, black, etc as these colors will also lighten up after months.
Some factors that contribute to fading of the tattoos include:
1. Quality Of Healing
The fading of cover-up tattoos is linked to safety precautions. If you’re ensuring preventing tips, there are more cases that your tattoo will lighten after months. Also, during the first few weeks, make sure you allow the ink to settle properly into the place to reduce fading in near future.
2. Placement of the tattoo
Placement of the cover-up tattoos also plays a role in this context. Imprinting of tattoos on few body parts such as your biceps, inner thighs, in between the fingers, etc is more prone to fading. This is due to the rubbing of these body parts.
If you get your tattoo done on your shoulders, it is more likely for the design to lighten due to its constant contact with what you wear. Consistent rubbing with clothes can also cause the cover-up tattoos to lighten and fade. Initially, you will not notice much difference but it gradually becomes clear.
3. Quality of ink used
The longevity of cover-up tattoos also depends on the quality and type of ink used. If the ink has some low-quality components, the tattoo will undoubtedly not remain as fresh and striking as it should for a long time. Also, when the ink sued is excessively diluted, this can also result in quick fading. Many inexperienced artists use such ink.
Commonly, light ink will fade faster. To avoid the hassle, opt for cover-up tattoos that use dark colors, details, and textures. Avoid hues of yellow and pink to make the most out of your new tattoo design.
Incorporating highlights into the design is not a smart idea due to some reason. Do not hesitate to ask the artists about the quality of ink they are using and ask them to offer a long-lasting tattoo design and colors.
13. Wrapping a cover-up tattoo
It might be a little bit confusing for many of you to figure out wrapping a new tattoo is needed or not. various tattoo artists have mentioned that cover-up tattoos need a significant amount of rework on the old tattoo. The concealing needed is moreover the same as getting a new tattoo done. The sole purpose of wrapping the tattoo is to avoid bacterial infections and their contact with germs. You must wrap the tattoo as otherwise, it may lead to skin infections that you cannot deal with.
You can wrap the tattoo until you are cleaning it yourself. The ideal time for wrapping is 4 to 6 hours. Then you may wash it off using warm water along with an antibacterial soap.
This was all you needed to know about cover-up tattoos.
