Reasons to cover your old tattoo with a new one

Below, we list the 5 most common reasons for choosing to get a cover-up tattoo

2. The tattoo is poorly done
3. A memory from a difficult or different period in life
4. The tattoo has faded or become outdated in design
5. Desire to incorporate an old tattoo into a new, larger tattoo
6. The tattoo is a design that no longer matches my current values

1. The tattoo is poorly done

We've all heard of someone getting a tattoo in a basement or at an after-party. Home tattoos might sound like a good and cheap idea, but they often result in poorly done tattoos that look worse after a few years. A cover-up can therefore be a quick way to conceal poorly done tattoos.

2. A memory from a difficult or different period in life

Memories are not always the best or most enjoyable, and a tattoo can remind you of people, feelings, or places you no longer want to remember. Waiting until a tattoo is completely removed by laser can feel like too long to walk around with a bad memory and sometimes even impossible to do (depending on ink, color, placement, etc.). In these cases, a cover-up can shorten the time the tattoo needs to remain and instead, after a few laser treatments, make it possible to cover with a new design.

Worth considering! Strong colors from tattoos can shine through new tattoos, so it's recommended to fade the tattoo beforehand, even if you want the process to be as quick as possible.

3. The tattoo has faded or become outdated in design

Trends come and go, and this certainly applies to tattoos as well. Today, it's possible to see when tattoos were done just by looking at the design or how the ink has partially disappeared. For example, tribals that had a popular period among the masses during the 90s.
The choice doesn't have to be between keeping an old tattoo or removing it completely - a cover-up tattoo is perfect for these occasions.

4. Desire to incorporate an old tattoo into a new, larger tattoo

The original plan might not have been a full sleeve or back piece, but now that a few years have passed, it feels like the clear choice. For the old tattoo to fit into a larger design, it may often require certain parts to be faded with laser beforehand, or perhaps removed completely.

5. The tattoo is a design that no longer matches current values

Like trends in designs, there are also trends in one's view of the world and surroundings. We don't always share the same values, and for many, values can change over a lifetime.

Summary - reasons for getting a cover-up

As you can see, the reasons vary, and there are many more if we were to ask every customer who gets a cover-up.
It's worth noting, however, that a cover-up tattoo is not something that can be done for all tattoos. Everything depends on what original design you had and what new design you desire. Want to know if your tattoo is a good candidate for a cover-up? Read on to find out if cover-ups can be done on all tattoos and how the process of getting a cover-up works.
For some, it might be best to remove the tattoo completely before considering a new design.