Cover-up, rework or add-on?
These three get mixed up a lot:
- Cover-up: a new design that hides the old tattoo.
- Rework: keeping the old tattoo and improving it with new linework, shading or color.
- Add-on: building around an existing tattoo, like adding flowers or background to tie pieces together.
How cover-ups work
Tattooing over old ink doesn’t remove it, so a cover-up uses the darker areas, shading and detail of the new design to hide the old one. That usually means the new tattoo needs to be larger and darker than the original.
Designs with natural dark areas, like heavy shading, dark animals or dense florals, cover best. My manta ray and sweet pea cover-ups both place dark shapes right over the old tattoo.
When laser helps
Dark or large old tattoos can be hard to cover cleanly. A few sessions of laser lightening first can give the new design much more freedom. If I think that’s true for yours, I’ll tell you before we plan anything.
Photos to send
The better the photos, the more accurate my answer. Include:
- A clear photo in good light, taken straight on
- A second photo from the side if the tattoo wraps
- The size in inches, if you know it
- What you’d like instead, or tattoos you like the look of
Adding to another artist’s work
I’m happy to add to tattoos done by other artists. Adding flowers, shading or background is a good way to give an older tattoo new life or tie separate tattoos together into one piece.
How to book
Fill out the request form on my booking page with your idea, where it’s going, roughly how big, and any reference photos. I read every request myself and reply with any questions, a price estimate and open dates. I tattoo at Revival Tattoo Studio, 5911 Meredith Dr, Urbandale, Iowa.
Questions about cover-ups & reworks
Can any tattoo be covered?
Most can be covered or improved, but not always with any design you want. The old tattoo’s size and darkness limit what the new one can be. I’ll give you honest options.
Are cover-ups bigger than the original tattoo?
Usually, yes. The new design needs enough size and dark areas to hide the old one completely.
Do I need laser removal first?
Not usually. It helps most with dark or bold old tattoos. Send a photo and I’ll tell you.