Cover up
I draw a new design that incorporates and hides the old one. I choose the layout, size and colours so the old tattoo is covered by the new one.
Cover-ups: from regret to relief.
I change or touch up tattoos you no longer like, so you can feel comfortable wearing them again.
Refresh
If you still like the design but it has faded, I go over the lines and restore the contrast. I can also add details to rework the tattoo.
Before and after
Real Rescue Art cover-ups: on the left, the tattoo they arrived with; on the right, the result.
Covering or reworking a tattoo
If you’re looking for a tattoo cover-up in Barcelona, the first thing I want to know is what you’d like to change about the one you have. You may no longer like the drawing, or you may still want it but feel it needs reworking. Covering a tattoo calls for a different approach from keeping its original motif.
Reworking a tattoo means working with the design that’s already there. Among my Rescue Art examples, you can see refreshed stars and a Pomeranian portrait I redid. They’re different pieces, but they help explain how I can fix a tattoo without necessarily choosing a new motif. If you want to hide the old one, we plan a cover-up.
How I prepare the design
Send me a well-lit photo of the tattoo and its approximate size. Tell me which part you want to change and whether there’s anything you’d like to keep. You can point out a particular part in the photo if that’s easier than explaining it in writing. From there, I can assess the options and explain what kind of design makes sense. Before you book, I give you a quote for the work we agree on.
To plan the cover-up, I draw the proposal over the photo of your tattoo. That lets you see where the new design would sit and how the old one would blend in. I don’t prepare a separate drawing to place over it afterwards: I start with what’s already on your skin. That photo is the basis for discussing the shape and the space we need.
What a cover-up can change
A cover-up usually needs more space than the original tattoo and darker areas exactly where there’s something to hide. I explain this when I assess the photo, because a very small, light design can’t always cover what’s already there. I’d rather you knew those limits before deciding on a design.
Sometimes it helps to lighten the tattoo with laser before covering it. It isn’t needed in every case: it depends on what needs hiding. If I think it’s necessary, I’ll tell you. The aim is to let you choose between the options that can work for your tattoo, whether you want to rework it or replace it with another.
To assess your cover-up, send me…
- A sharp photo of your current tattoo, in good natural light.
- The placement and approximate size of the tattoo.
- What you’d like to achieve: hide it, refresh it or transform it.
- References, if you already have something in mind.
Cover-up questions
In the guide: How to cover up a name tattoo: ideas that work
Can any tattoo be covered?
There’s almost always a solution, though it isn’t always the one you pictured. A very dark or very large tattoo needs a bigger design with more shading to disappear. Send me a photo and I’ll tell you what’s possible.
Do I need laser before a cover-up?
Not always. If your tattoo is very dark, a few laser sessions to lighten it give us many more design options. I’ll tell you honestly once I’ve seen it.
Can you cover a name?
Yes, it’s one of the most common cover-ups. Lettering is usually thin and blends well into a flower, some branches or a shaded composition.
How much does a cover-up cost?
It depends on the size and on what needs covering. It usually costs a little more than a new tattoo of the same size, because the design is more complex. I’ll give you a quote once I see the photos.
Let’s talk about your cover-up.
Tell me what you have in mind, where you want it and roughly how big. I’ll get back to you so we can design it together.
Discuss my cover-up