From our studio: a tiger over an old tattoo
This guest came in with an old tattoo across the upper arm. We planned a roaring black and grey tiger around it: the darkest shading of the face and stripes sits over the old lines, and the fur and smoke carry the design past its edges. Below you can see the arm before, the stencil going on, and the finished cover-up.
How a cover-up works
Tattoo ink doesn't erase old ink — it sits on top of it. So a cover-up has to be darker and denser than the tattoo underneath, with the heaviest shading placed exactly over the old lines. Designs with texture and movement hide old work best: florals, animals with fur or feathers, Japanese waves and clouds, black and grey statues and ornamental patterns. Clean, open designs with lots of bare skin are hard to use as a cover-up.
What can be covered
Small, light or faded tattoos are the easiest. Lettering and thin lines are usually simple to hide. Very dark, solid black tattoos are harder; sometimes a few laser sessions to lighten them first make a far better result. Your artist will tell you honestly what's possible before you commit.
Expect it to be bigger
A cover-up is almost always noticeably bigger than the tattoo it hides, because the new design needs room to spread the dark areas and disguise the old shapes. Colour choices are limited too: light colours can't hide dark ink.
Price and the artist's check
A cover-up costs more than the same design on clear skin, because it takes extra planning and denser work. Before we quote, your artist looks at the old tattoo and tells you honestly whether it can be covered well. See our price guide for normal prices.
What to send us
- A clear daylight photo of the old tattoo, straight on, with something for scale.
- Ideas or references for what you'd like instead.
- How big you're happy for the new piece to be, and your travel dates.
Walk-ins are welcome every day from 10:00 to 20:00, depending on artist availability. For bigger custom pieces and in high season (November–April), booking ahead guarantees your artist and date. Send your idea, placement and reference photos through the booking form or on WhatsApp and we'll reply with a free, no-obligation quote, usually within 24 hours.
Get tattooed in the last 2–3 days of your trip. A fresh tattoo needs about 14 days away from the sea, pools and strong sun, so do your beach days first. Our aftercare guide covers the rest.
