Can any tattoo be covered up?

Not always. Size, colour saturation and how dark the original ink is all affect what's possible. Very dark or solid black tattoos sometimes need laser fading sessions first before a cover-up will work well.

How much bigger does a cover-up design need to be?

As a rough rule, cover-up designs run around 30 to 50 percent larger than the tattoo being hidden, since extra space gives the artist room to build in the shading and contrast that does the covering.

Does a cover-up hurt more than a normal tattoo?

Working back over existing scar tissue and ink can feel more sensitive than tattooing clear skin, though this varies by person and by how much scarring the old tattoo left.

Tattoo cover-up specialists in London

Covering an old tattoo is a different job from starting on clear skin. The artist has to design around the existing ink rather than ignore it, which usually means a bolder, darker piece with enough contrast and shading to genuinely hide what's underneath. Black and grey realism work suits this well because the deep saturation and shading techniques give the extra coverage a straight line-art or pastel design can't.

A proper cover-up starts with a consultation where the artist looks at the size, colour and age of the old tattoo and works out whether it can be covered directly or whether laser fading sessions are needed first to lighten it. Not every tattoo is a straightforward cover, especially large dark pieces or anything with solid black fill, so expect an honest conversation about what's realistic before any ink goes down.

Book time for this properly rather than treating it as a quick fix. Good cover-up work takes longer to design and often longer to sit for than a fresh tattoo of the same size.

What it costs

Cover-ups usually cost more than a plain tattoo of the same size because of the extra design work and shading needed to blot out what's already there. Price depends mainly on the size and darkness of the original tattoo. Large or heavily saturated pieces can mean multiple sessions, and some cases need laser fading beforehand, which adds its own cost on top of the tattoo itself.

Top 3 by our score

Ranked from our published scoring of public Google reviews for black & grey realism.

1. Sai Sai Ink
5.0★ · 1092 reviews

95
2. Label Tattoo London
5.0★ · 677 reviews

95
3. House of Munshin - 24 Hour Tattoo Studio
5.0★ · 489 reviews

95

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FAQ

Can any tattoo be covered up?: Not always. Size, colour saturation and how dark the original ink is all affect what's possible. Very dark or solid black tattoos sometimes need laser fading sessions first before a cover-up will work well.
How much bigger does a cover-up design need to be?: As a rough rule, cover-up designs run around 30 to 50 percent larger than the tattoo being hidden, since extra space gives the artist room to build in the shading and contrast that does the covering.
Does a cover-up hurt more than a normal tattoo?: Working back over existing scar tissue and ink can feel more sensitive than tattooing clear skin, though this varies by person and by how much scarring the old tattoo left.