What You Should Do Before Getting a Tattoo Cover-Up

It’s a classic story - maybe you tattooed your ex's name on your shoulder. Or maybe you got one on a dare back in college, and it’s only starting to bother you years later. Whatever the reason is, you don’t have to justify getting a tattoo covered up. We all make mistakes, and some are just a little more permanent than others.

Before you decide to go and get your ink covered up for good, there are a few important things you need to know first. We’re going to cover the basics, so you’re fully prepared and informed before booking a tattoo cover-upappointment. 

What You Need to Know

First, let’s cover exactly what a tattoo cover-up is. A tattoo cover-up is what happens when one tattoo is concealed or “covered up” by another, newer tattoo. This treatment is usually done when a person wants to get rid of a tattoo that they regret. This is sometimes preferable to laser tattoo removal, which can take nine months to fade completely. 

Colour Changes

However, getting a cover-up is not as simple as just laying one new tattoo over another. The ink from your first tattoo was located in the dermis, below the surface of your skin. To place a new tattoo, fresh ink has to be applied in the same area. 

This means that the old, faded ink of your previous tattoo will be mixed with the ink of your new tattoo. In turn, it means the color that is produced won’t necessarily be the color that you choose. It will be a result of the combination of new and old colors.

Ink is Not See-Through

The ink of your tattoo is not see-through - this is another reason that the color of your previous tattoo will bleed through and mix with the new color. This means that not only will the two colors mix, but the darker your original tattoo is, the more it will show through your new tattoo. 

Black is Best

Darker colors will always dominate over lighter colors, so black is usually the most effective color to use in cover-up work. This can sometimes be a problem as many people don’t want full-black or majority-black tattoos. However, you can discuss this with your tattoo artist to decide the best route to go. In many cases, they will be able to balance practicality and your aesthetic needs. 

What Makes an Easy Cover-Up

The easiest kind of tattoo to cover up is one that is both small and faded. The smaller it is, the easier it is to create an appropriate design to cover it. The more faded the ink is, the less it will show beneath the new tattoo, or affect the new ink.

Why You Need to Lighten Your Tattoo

Most tattoos fade with time, making older tattoos the easiest to cover up. However, you may want to cover up a tattoo that you only got recently. Fortunately, you don’t have to wait years for that tattoo to fade before you can cover it up. It’s possible to lighten your tattoo, by fading it manually until it’s light enough to be easily covered up. Lightening your  tattoo is essential, as it allows the new tattoo to drown out the old one with fewer complications. 

How Do You Lighten a Tattoo?

Although there are some at-home options for tattoo lightening, the fastest and most effective treatment is tattoo lightening at a studio or clinic. The process is very similar to laser tattoo removal, but rather than removing your tattoo completely, it fades it just enough to be covered smoothly by a new design. If you have just had your tattoo applied, it’s recommended that you wait until your tattoo is fully healed before any lightening treatment.

Tattoo cover-ups can be a good option for concealing an unsightly tattoo that you no longer want to see. If you're considering this procedure, the most important thing to do is to find a reliable and reputable tattoo artist or tattoo removal specialist to consult with you and come up with the best tattoo cover-up ideas. Above all, make sure to undergo tattoo lightening treatment beforehand to ensure that your cover-up is effective.

If you’re looking for tattoo lightening services in Lexington, Kentucky, get in touch with our tattoo removal specialists at Lexington Tattoo Removal. You can call us at (859) 785-2189, or schedule an appointment today.