As that popular saying goes, “not everything will go the way you want it to.” Well, if that is not a saying, it should definitely be one. And what is worse than having things going down the drain? When you would have to still carry that thing with you all your life even when you do not want it anymore.
Tattoos are not exempted to this kind of things. You should be extremely careful when getting a tattoo because they are permanent! But sometimes, no matter how careful you are, there are just things that can’t be helped. Luckily, having a bad or unwanted tattoo should not mean the end of the world.
There are many options open for people facing this dilemma. One of those things of getting a cover up tattoo!
Can the need for cover up tattoos be warded off?
Headings
“An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure,” no truer words have been said! Getting a cover up tattoo can prove to be a lot of hassle for anyone. So what is better than getting a cover up tattoo? Making sure that you will not need to get one!
How can you accomplish that? That can be very simple. Of course, the first thing you have to do is ask yourself if the tattoo you are about to ink permanently on your skin is the one you really want.
That is just the first step. Even if you like the tattoo, who says that will be the tattoo you will end up with? Ah huh, make sure that the tattoo artist who will make the tattoo is very good.
Look for someone who is very trustworthy! If you know people who got their tattoos from that artist, ask for their experience. Take your time checking that artist’s previous works. Tattoos are sometimes more permanent than relationships, never rush into things.
Once you have decided on the artist who will make the tattoo, the next thing you will want to do is talk to the artist. They most probably know more about tattoos than you do. Talk to the artist about what you want for the tattoo.
Be open to suggestions. I know that you already have an idea about the tattoo. You might already have your heart on a specific tattoo, but you still have to ask the tattoo artist about it. Can they do the design? Do they think it will suit you?
The final say will always be yours. However, your first idea may not be the best for you. The artist will know what he or she is doing so you should consider the opinion of the artist. Your tattoo artist may even suggest a better design for you, something that you may like even better!
The tattoo artist will definitely respect your desires, so don’t worry. Once you have finalized the design of the tattoo, you will have to decide where you want to put the tattoo. Choose a body part where you think the tattoo will fit, have the effect you want it to, mean the most, and look the best in.
You would still want to get the input of the tattoo artist here. Really, you would want to talk to the tattoo artist all throughout the process but never get carried away. Remember that you are the one who will wear the tattoo.
Think about what would be best and take your time. You will have to carry that tattoo for the rest of your life. But sometimes, even if you took your time and did your best to get the best tattoo you could get, things just happen. If the unforeseeable happens, all you can really do is get the original tattoo off your skin as best you could.
Having to go to a tattoo artist to get a cover up tattoo can happen to anyone. The things we mentioned here are just precautions and sometimes, no matter how much you do to make sure that it all works out, it just doesn’t.
Getting a cover up tattoo
The steps in getting a cover up tattoo
Getting a cover up tattoo can be very stressful. Why, you might ask? Because you would have to put your trust in someone who has the same job as the person who wronged you- most of the time, that is.
That is why we no one would, or should, judge you if you are having second thoughts. But if you can get over that, the first thing you have to do is accept that getting a cover up tattoo is not the same as getting a simple tattoo. In fact, it’s more complicated.
Again, the original tattoo will definitely limit the designs you can go for the cover up tattoo. So, at least in my opinion, the first thing you should do is look for a tattoo artist that you can trust. It will not be enough that the tattoo artist is a great one. Instead, you should look for someone who is an expert on actual cover up tattoos.
Some will tell you that you should think about the design you want to get to cover up the original tattoo. That could be a good place to start, too. Unfortunately, that might prove to be a pointless thing to do in the end.
A lot of designs may not be probable for cover ups. Of course, you will always have the final say in the matter. Don’t leave everything up to the artist, but it will definitely help to discuss things with the artist. Also, do not be too stubborn!
The next things you will have to decide on are the size and color of the cover up tattoo. It will be great to give a general idea for which the tattoo artist can work on, or around. Just remember that your idea may not work at all, if that is so, you will just have to compromise.
The cover up tattoo will always be bigger than the original. As for the color, the original tattoo will have a huge impact as to what colors you can get for the cover up tattoo. It will definitely not be like getting a simple tattoo because there will be more things to consider.
Despite all that compromise and adjustments, keep in mind that you will be the one wearing the tattoo for life. As much as possible, choose a design that works great as a cover up tattoo AND that you will love to wear. Trust me, you wouldn’t want to cover up your original tattoo with something that you will want to have covered up.
How are cover up tattoos done?
Cover up tattoos are quite complicated. Unlike a simple tattoo, you are tattooing the cover up on top of already inked skin. That is why cover up tattoos are trickier than a simple tattoo.
If you had to work with a tattoo artist for an original design, it is a MUST to work with a tattoo artist when it comes to cover up tattoos. You will have to work with the original tattoo to make a cover up tattoo work. The tattoo artist must see the original design in person to get an idea about how much needs to be done.
Cover up tattoos mainly depends on the original tattoo- how large it is and the colors used on it. It is up to you and the artist to make something out of said original, and unwanted, tattoo. Maybe you can even save the tattoo. You never really know until you see a tattoo artist.
Generally, the cover up tattoo will be, obviously, larger than the original tattoo. The cover up tattoo has to be at least 1.2 times of the original tattoo’s size. There are times when colors used on a tattoo can be covered by other tattoos and if that can’t be done, the artist will have to incorporate that color into the new design.
What kinds of cover up tattoo designs can you get?
Not all tattoos that need cover up jobs are created equal. Some may require less work than some. Some may not even be that far from redemption! So, before you let your mind go through the worst-case scenarios, let’s see some cover up tattoo options first.
The first, and the easiest cover up tattoo if it can even be considered that, are tattoos that may actually just need a few finishing touches. The tattoo may have been left unfinished for some reason or the tattoo can also look unsatisfactory even if it’s finished. It doesn’t really matter much, always look at this angle first.
If a tattoo can be saved by adding a few details to the original tattoo, why not go for it? A tattoo artist can add color to the tattoo or even other elements that will make the tattoo more up to your taste. This will take the least amount of work.
Some of the tattoos that need to be covered up are actually the ones that the person wearing it wants. Nope, not the actual tattoo. Imagine asking for a rose but getting something that resembles a crumpled piece of paper. The next option is about that- covering the original tattoo with a design that is in line with it.
It is like the first option but involves more work. This option is not as extreme as the other options and most of the time you will be given a bigger and better version of the original tattoo that will cover it nicely. This cover up tattoo option is a good option because you will be sure that the color scheme will not be much of a problem.
But what about when you got a bad tattoo that is mostly black and shades of grey? Most tribal designs feature these colors and if you want to get these kinds of tattoos covered up, your options will sorely limited. If you’re in this kind of situation, your best course of action is to get a cover up tattoo with the same color scheme.
Monochromatic overlay makes great cover up tattoos because the tattoo artist can use the bones of the original tattoo and make it disappear at the same time. You can go for another tribal tattoo or something entirely different but with the same black and white scheme. If the cover up tattoo calls for it, you can have some parts of the original tattoo lightened.
The next option for cover up tattoos is getting the original tattoo covered with a colored tattoo. This could be your only option if the tattoo you are dealing with involves ink colors other than black and grey. Covering up tattoos like that can prove to be a real challenge.
For the cover up tattoo, you have to consider the colors you already have. Think about tattoo ideas that will have to use the same colors in some way. For example, if you have a big tattoo that is primarily blue, you should consider that color as the main color of your cover up tattoo.
But if you really can’t find anything that you like that would be in the particular color you need, ask your tattoo artist if you can work with a darker color that could possibly cover the original tattoo well. Getting a colored cover up tattoo is very tricky. It takes a lot of skills and immense imagination.
Last, but definitely not the least probable option, is covering the tattoo in its entirety. In my opinion, this should be your very, and I mean VERY last option. In this option, instead of a covering the original tattoo with a new design, a person chooses to cover it with a completely black tattoo.
You do not need to consider anything with this kind of cover up tattoo. You just have to go to a tattoo shop and ask an artist to cover the unwanted tattoo with black ink- the whole tattoo. This option will definitely cover the original tattoo no matter how it looks, its design, and its color.
The good thing about this option is that it does not need much thought. You only have to decide whether you want to do it or not. Will the tattoo be meaningless? If you are a stickler when it comes to only getting a tattoo that means something to you, then you can choose to give the black tattoo meaning.
What could you do if you do not want a cover up tattoo?
Let’s face it, some people get traumatized too much by a bad tattoo that they won’t even consider seeing another tattoo artist to get another one. I mean, would you really be that enthusiastic about it? I won’t! If the original tattoo is really vile, I would seriously start doubting every tattoo artist.
If you seriously want a tattoo, a cover up tattoo is your best bet. For those who would rather get run over by an F1 car than being touched by another tattoo artist, you can go for two other options. It’s not the end of the world for you.
Your first option is makeup. In fact, if you just can’t stand seeing the tattoo and being seen wearing it, your first option should be this. It could be treated as some sort of first aid.
There are many products available on the market right now that will do an adequate job of hiding a tattoo. There are also waterproof ones that will definitely do a fine job of hiding the whole tattoo. The only drawback here is that the tattoo will still be there after all is said and done.
Covering the tattoo with makeup is a good option especially if you still can’t decide what to do with the awful tattoo. The next one is a more permanent- tattoo removal procedures. Technological advancements had made it possible for making tattoos fade faster and, eventually, be removed from the skin.
Lasers simulate the natural effect of direct sunlight to tattoos. Tattoos are permanent, sure, but you know that you have to protect it from the sun and use sunblocks if you want the tattoo to look great for a long time. Tattoo removal procedures take advantage this effect and make the fading process faster by using lasers.
The amount of time it will take to remove a tattoo from the skin depends on the colors used on it as some colors may take more time to remove than others. Tattoo removal procedures, each session, usually cost $200 to $500 and are done through a series of sessions, the number of which depends on the size and colors of a tattoo. They may take a lot of time and money.
