Almost everyone who comes to me for a cover up starts with the same question: “Can you even cover this?” The honest answer is usually yes — but the idea you walk in with isn’t always the idea that will work. Covering an existing tattoo is a technical problem before it’s a creative one, and understanding that is the key to a cover up you’ll actually love.
Here’s what genuinely works, and why.
Why some cover up ideas work and others don’t
A cover up has one job: stop your eye from reading the old tattoo. That comes down to contrast and density. The new design needs areas dark and detailed enough to sit over the old shapes and break them up, so they disappear into the new piece instead of ghosting through it.
This is why a small, light, delicate design rarely covers an existing tattoo well — there isn’t enough darkness or detail to hide what’s underneath. The ideas that work are the ones with enough depth and tonal range to absorb the old ink.
Why realism makes the strongest cover ups
Realism is one of the most effective styles for cover ups, and it’s most of the cover up work we do at the studio. Realistic pieces are built on deep shadows, layered detail, and strong focal points — exactly the tools you need to bury an old tattoo while still creating something that looks intentional, not like a patch.
A realistic animal, a portrait, or a detailed floral piece can carry a lot of darkness naturally, without looking like it’s hiding something. That’s the difference between a cover up that looks like a cover up and one that just looks like a great tattoo.
Cover up ideas that tend to work well
Every cover up is designed around the specific tattoo underneath, but some subjects lend themselves to it more than others:
- Animals with dark fur or feathers — wolves, panthers, lions, ravens. Their natural shadows and texture do a lot of the covering for you.
- Floral and botanical pieces with depth — roses, peonies, and foliage layered with strong shadow can wrap around and absorb old ink, especially across larger areas.
- Portraits and figures — hair, shadow, and background give plenty of dark space to work with.
- Dark, atmospheric backgrounds — smoke, clouds, or shading behind a subject can swallow the edges of an old tattoo the main subject doesn’t reach.
The common thread isn’t the subject — it’s depth. The more tonal range an idea has, the more freedom we have to cover.
When you might need fading first
Sometimes the most honest answer is that a straight cover up isn’t the best route — yet. Very dark, solid, or large existing tattoos can be hard to fully hide, and forcing a cover over them can mean an oversized, overly dark new piece.
In those cases, a few sessions of laser fading to lighten the old tattoo first can dramatically widen what’s possible, and lead to a far better final result. It adds time, but it’s often worth it. I’ll always tell you straight whether fading first would serve you better.
Setting realistic expectations
Two things are worth knowing going in. First, a cover up almost always needs to be larger and darker than the original — the new design needs room to work around the old shapes. Second, not every idea is compatible with every existing tattoo; part of the consultation is finding the design that both covers well and is something you genuinely want.
That’s why we start every cover up with an honest assessment rather than a promise. You can read more about how that process works on our cover up tattoos page.
Thinking about a cover up?
The best first step is to let us see what we’re working with. Message us on Facebook or Instagram, or email [email protected] with a clear, well-lit photo of the tattoo you’d like covered, along with any ideas for the new piece. We’ll tell you honestly what’s possible and plan from there.
We work by appointment, so reach out 2–3 weeks ahead of your preferred date.
Omom Tattoo Studio — 2nd Floor, 575 Protacio Street, Pasay City, Metro Manila. Open daily, 8am–6pm.
Recent Comments