Be flexible with your idea’s and stipulations – for example, size, colour and elements you want incorporated. Flexibility is key! Most of the time you’ll need to go reasonably bigger than your existing tattoo to cover efficiently, and certain elements are better to cover existing work than others. It is all completely dependent on your existing tattoo, but stay open minded and more often than not we’ll be able to work something out!
The most important element to a cover-up is disguise! Unfortunately, just slapping something new over the top doesn’t often work, we want to disguise and transform what is already there and turn it into something different!
Cover-ups always require a lot more preparation than a fresh tattoo, and always require at least one consultation. I put a lot of time and effort in to make sure it all absolutely works before we embark on the process of tattooing. Again, it is totally dependant on what you have already, but sometimes it can be a lengthy process.
Whether it’s a solid black background with subtle botanicals you want, or your pet eating ramen in hyper-colour, you may be pleasantly surprised at the potential, come in for a brainstorm!
Sammi
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All cover-up challenges are different, some look difficult at first but are simple in execution, others look simple to fix at first but end up being a lot more difficult than originally thought. It definitely requires a different way of thinking and a different approach, but I love the challenge and welcome anyone who wants to transform their old or unwanted work into fresh new tattoos!
I'll never say no to trying to help you with a cover up and will do my absolute best to come up with a solution for you. I will not go ahead if I’m not absolutely confident I’ll be able to do a good job, and it’s at that stage and only when absolutely necessary that I will recommend laser treatment in order to move forward effectively.
Here are some things to keep in mind when thinking about what to do with your old tattoo:
You don’t necessarily have to limit your idea’s, you still have the potential to have something awesome over the top of your existing tattoo, leave the technical part to me! I always say to approach thinking about your cover-up with a clear mind as if it were fresh rather than trying to conceptualise what will work, that’s my job. Lots of the time there is more potential than you’d think, so don’t let the fact that you have something undesirable stop you from being creative with your ideas! Sometimes the crazier, the better! Ponder what it is that you would truly love to have tattooed on you.