Tattoo Cover-Ups: What You Need to Know Before Starting Fresh

Got a tattoo you no longer love? You’re not alone. One of the most common enquiries we get at Eleven Pillars is about tattoo cover-ups, and while they can be a great solution, they also come with a few important things to consider.

Whether you’re after a complete transformation or just want to fade something enough for a new piece, here’s everything you need to know before booking a cover-up with us.

Can Any Tattoo Be Covered Up?

Short answer: not always.
Long answer: it depends on the tattoo you're starting with and what you want to replace it with.

Things that can usually be covered:

Old faded tattoos (especially black or grey)
Small script or fine line designs
Light tattoos that have naturally faded over time

Things that are harder to cover:

Bold, dark, or heavily saturated tattoos (especially large tribal or solid black)
Tattoos with heavy scarring or raised skin
Recent tattoos that haven't fully healed

Some tattoos can be covered in one session with a well-planned design, while others may need a little help first, which brings us to laser.

When Laser Is Your Best Friend

Laser tattoo removal isn’t just for wiping the tattoo off completely. Many clients choose to get a few sessions of laser fading to open up their cover-up options. This is especially helpful if:

Your current tattoo is very dark and bold (such as tribal)
You want to cover it with a lighter or more detailed piece
You want to keep the new tattoo design around the same size (rather than going much larger)

Managing Expectations: What a Cover-Up Can and Can’t Do

It’s important to come into a cover-up with realistic expectations. While experienced artists work absolute magic, cover-ups still involve compromise.

You may need to go bigger or bolder than you originally wanted.
Fine detail or soft shading may not always be possible over existing tattoos.
Some elements of the old tattoo might still peek through, especially over time.

Our job is to be honest with you. If something won’t work, we’ll tell you and then work with you to find a design that will.

Meet Our Cover-Up Specialists

When it comes to cover-ups, you want someone with experience and an eye for transformation. At Eleven Pillars Tattoo Studio Melbourne, Chris and Nado are our go-to artists for complex cover-up work.

Chris

Chris has a background in realism and horror tattoos, which makes him an expert at using high contrast and clever shading to hide even the most stubborn tattoos. He’s known for being able to expertly distract the eye away from the old design and bring it to life with something completely new. Check out his portfolio of work here.

Nado

With a more illustrative and neo-traditional approach, Nado brings a bold, graphic style to cover-ups. He’s especially great at reworking old linework and colour pieces into something completely new while retaining a cohesive look. Check out his portfolio of work here.

Real Cover-Up Examples from Eleven Pillars

Thinking About a Cover-Up? Here’s What to Do Next:

Book a free consultation with one of our senior artists
Send photos of your current tattoo and any inspo you like
Be open to your artist’s advice – we’re here to guide you. We want the best end result for you!
Consider a laser assessment IF fading would give you better results

Final Thought

Cover-ups are more than a second chance, they’re an opportunity to start again with something you’re proud to wear. Whether you’re ready for a fresh design or want to explore your options, we’re here to help you get it right.

Get in touch here and take the first step toward something new.