“ I have a tattoo I no longer like - what can I do about it? ”
It’s very common years down the line to end up with one or more tattoos you no longer feel attached to. Styles and interests change (and sometimes relationships!) and your tattoos are permanent, so it’s natural to want them to reflect who you are. If you’ve ever wondered what the different options available are, here’s a short rundown on them all!
Cover-Ups
Cover-ups involve getting a new design over an existing, unwanted tattoo so that the original design is no longer visible. Cover-up tattoos are typically larger and bolder than the original to ensure that the unwanted tattoo can be fully obscured. When booking a cover-up it is super important to go with an artist experienced in doing cover-ups as it’s a more difficult process than a regular tattoo. Your artist will need to know how to assess the existing tattoo and devise a way to cover it that looks good and doesn’t make it too obvious that it’s a cover-up where possible. Some people do find that a cover-up is more painful than when they got the original tattoo - this is because you’ll be going back over skin that has been tattooed before which can heighten the sensitivity in the area.
NOTE: With some cover-ups, laser removal may still be required to lighten the tattoo. This opens up the possibilities of what you can get in place of the original design and can make it much easier for your artist to work with.
Laser removal
Laser tattoo removal is a non-invasive procedure that usually requires multiple sessions depending on the size and colours in the tattoo and the skin type of the client. Laser removal uses focused light beams to break down ink particles in the skin, allowing your immune system to gradually eliminate them. Each session typically lasts 15-60 minutes. You may feel a snapping or stinging sensation during treatment. Some people find that the pain is worse than getting the original tattoo but that as the tattoo fades the sessions get less painful. Minimal downtime is expected and afterwards you may experience redness, swelling and some blistering or scabbing. Proper aftercare is required to minimise the risk of infection. With laser removal it’s not always guaranteed to completely erase the tattoo depending on the boldness of the design. This is why it’s very important to make sure the tattoos you get are ones you won’t come to regret!
NOTE: As with everything, our biggest advice is to do your research into places to get laser tattoo removal - not everyone who offers it does so with safe practices so it’s important to ensure you’re going with someone legitimate.
Blast-overs
A blast-over is a type of cover-up where a new bolder design is tattooed on top of an existing tattoo, allowing the original to be visible underneath as a layer within the new design. Unlike traditional cover-ups, the aim isn’t to completely obscure the old design, but to embrace it. This style allows the artist more creative freedom as they can work with the existing tattoo rather than needing to completely cover it. Blast-overs are a great way to reclaim an old tattoo and transform it into something new and meaningful.
Black-out
The other option with cover-ups is a complete black-out. This is where an artist will go over the old tattoo with solid black to completely obscure it. This can take multiple sessions, can be an intense experience and is a very drastic choice stylistically - black-out tattoos are definitely not for everyone but can be super effective and striking when done well! Once the black-out has settled, some people get new linework over the top with white ink for a unique look.
