When I was a silly teenager, I dated an amateur tattoo artist. He did beautiful work and was a genuinely nice guy. He gave me free tattoos because, well, I was his girlfriend, I loved tattoos and it gave him the chance to keep his skills sharp when there wasn’t a lot of other work around. It seems not everyone is interested in getting tattoos from someone with a homemade gun. Getting free tattoos from a talented tattoo artist – amateur or otherwise – was a privilege I took advantage of as often as possible, usually out of boredom. The result? Well … I’ve been looking for cover up tattoos and can conceal some of my less well thought out ink. That probably tells you all you need to know. Some of the work I need covered up will be a challenge for even the most talented of tattoo artists (a giant Jim Morrison portrait on my hip, for example) but the cover up tattoos on this list have given me hope. Cover up tattoos can be tricky depending on various factors and sometimes, there isn’t much that can be done. That is why the number one rule for anyone considering a tattoo should always be:
Think Before You Ink!!!
Sure tattoo removal has come a long way. Sure cover up tattoos can transform a less than stellar tattoo into a stunning work of art. Sure a million other things that might make someone decide tattoos aren’t as permanent as they once were. All of that ignores the fact that covering up a tattoo (not to mention getting it removed entirely) is a venture that will take time and money and may not leave you with the work of art you’d like to have. How much success you will have with a cover up tattoo will depend on the tattoo artist that does the cover up work and the tattoo that you started out with. Because the success of failure of any cover up tattoo depends on so many factors, it’s really much better to do the exact opposite of what I did and really think it through. Don’t just think about the design though. Think about who is going to do the tattoo. Your art will only be as good as your artist. Take a little time to look into the artist and check out his or her work before you get your tattoo. Talk about what you want. Many artists will be willing to talk design with you and help you find something or help you create something that’s perfect for you. If it’s too late and you already have a tattoo you aren’t exactly thrilled with, really take your time to find your artist. You do not want to have to get a cover up over a cover up. Let any artist you’re considering for the work see the piece you want covered and ask what they would do with it. Really listen to what they’re telling you. If they have good ideas and talk specifics, they’re probably a safe bet. To be sure though, ask if they have any cover up tattoo before and after photos they can show you. If they do a lot of cover up tattoos, they probably have some photos available. Talk time involved, price and design with your artist before you make your final decision. That’s the best way to make an informed decision. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and think you might be stuck with your ink as is, take a look at these incredible cover up tattoos and have hope. The answer might be out there. Just be patient.
Cover Up Tattoos by Adal of Majestic Tattoo, New York City, New York (6 Cover Up Tattoos)
In my search for examples of excellent cover up tattoos I discovered Adal who works out of Majestic Tattoo in New York City (visit their website by clicking here) and I have to say, his cover up work is truly exceptional. It’s no wonder so many consider him among the best in the city. If I was in the area, I’d definitely be booking an appointment with him for sure. If you aren’t in New York and Adal is not an option, check out the photos below anyway. You might be able to find inspiration for your own cover up tattoos.
Before Cover Up
After Cover Up
Before Cover Up
After Cover Up
Before Cover Up
After Cover Up
Before Cover Up
After Cover Up
Before Cover Up
After Cover Up
Before Cover Up
After Cover Up
As you can see from the above photos, Adal is a man that knows his cover up tattoos. If you’re looking for a cover up tattoo but aren’t sure where to start, you can contact Adal via the website I linked to above.
Cover Up Tattoos Out of Last Sparrow Tattoo (3 Cover Up Tattoos)
Last Sparrow Tattoo is an excellent website created by tattoo artist Scott Sylvia with the goal of helping people get good tattoos. While the website features a ton of excellent advice on tattoos and a terrific forum where you can talk to other tattoo enthusiasts, I was only able to get a few really good before and after cover up tattoos. Even so, take a look around the site. There is lots to be seen and lots to be learned. Visit the website by clicking here.
Before Cover Up
After Cover Up
Before Cover Up
After Cover Up
Before Cover Up
After Cover Up
Not only is the Playboy Bunny cover up a fine example of cover up tattoos gone right, it’s a might fine tattoo in general. I’d be proud to have that on my back – more so than the lopsided butterfly that is there right now.
Name Cover Up Tattoos
I really wanted to do a section on name cover up tattoos because a breakup has got to be one of the most common reasons someone seeks out cover up tattoos in the first place. I need to state this for the record. I have 13 tattoos, most of which I’d like to either fix or cover. None of those tattoos are names. Getting your boyfriend or girlfriend’s name tattooed on your body is a terrible, terrible idea; especially if you’re young. There are very few instances in which I feel name tattoos are a good idea. They are as follows:
- Your child’s name
- A relative’s name
- The name of someone close to you who has passed away
Outside of these very specific instances, I firmly believe name tattoos are a bad idea. I believe our final batch of cover up tattoos support that theory.
Before Cover Up
After Cover Up
Before Cover Up
After Cover Up
Before Cover Up
After Cover Up
Before Cover Up
After Cover Up
Before Cover Up
After Cover Up
Before Cover Up
After Cover Up
While most of these cover up tattoos successfully hid the names, there are a lot of examples out there of bad cover ups. The best way to avoid a bad cover up is to not need a cover up in the first place. I said it up top and I’ll say it again: think before you ink. Waiting a little while to get a tattoo and really thinking your decision through is far better than just diving in and getting something you’ll need to cover up later.
*None of the photos in this article belong to me. Images from Last Sparrow Tattoo and the name cover ups were by different artists and unfortunately, I wasn’t able to find names for those artists. All Last Sparrow tattoos were taken from the website (linked to in their section) while the name cover ups were found here.
