Cover-up tattoo in Oslo
Do you have a tattoo you're not happy with?
A cover-up means tattooing over an existing motif, and is often more technically demanding than a regular tattoo. What's possible to achieve always depends on the starting point, but with proper planning and design you can achieve excellent results.
We'll help you assess the possibilities and find solutions that work both technically and visually.
Before and after – cover-up
Here are some examples of how existing tattoos can be covered with the right design.
What is a cover-up?
A cover-up is about covering an existing tattoo with a new motif. To achieve a good result, the design must be adapted to what's already in the skin, both in terms of size, shape, and color use.
In many cases the new motif will be somewhat larger and darker than the old one, so that what lies beneath doesn't show through.
Common reasons to choose a cover-up:
- Tattoos that have faded over time
- Motifs you've outgrown or regret
- Older tattoos in a style you no longer identify with
- Tattoos that are uneven or poorly executed
Important to know about cover-up
Not everything can be fully covered
What's possible to cover depends on the tattoo you already have. Dark, defined lines, especially where there is scarring, will often influence the new design.
The motif must adapt to the starting point
To achieve a good result, the new motif must be adapted to the tattoo you already have. This often means the design needs to be somewhat larger, and that you work with darker tones or more opaque elements.
Style and color choices are crucial
Airy styles like fine line, dotwork, or light shading usually won't cover an existing motif well enough. Therefore, you often work with more contrast, clearer shapes, or darker areas to hide what lies underneath.
In some cases laser can help
For tattoos with a lot of dark areas or defined lines, it can be hard to cover everything completely. In those cases, a few rounds of laser can make it easier to achieve a better and more flexible result. This is assessed individually and isn't necessary in every case.
How we work with cover-up
When working with cover-up, we start with a free, no-obligation consultation where we assess the tattoo you want to cover.
Then we take what you actually want as the starting point – not necessarily the old motif.
Once the idea is in place, we adapt the design so that it both works visually and covers what lies underneath.
It helps to keep an open mind in the process, since small adjustments are often what make the result successful.
Our artists
Our artists have experience with cover-up work, with an understanding of both the technique and the limitations that come with this type of work.
Would you like a cover-up tattoo?
Send us a request with a photo of the tattoo you'd like to cover, and we'll help you with an assessment.