Tattoo Cover-Up Artist in Phoenix
Some tattoos can be covered beautifully. Some need lightening first, and some are better reworked than hidden. Send me a photo and I will tell you which.
Real Cover-Ups, Before and After
Select any photo to see it full size.
A Faded Upper Arm Tattoo, Covered in Black & Grey
An old outline tattoo with lettering, covered with an all-seeing eye seal framed by clouds and rays.
A Small Puzzle Piece Tattoo, Covered With a Tiger
A small puzzle piece outline, covered with a bold black tiger biting down on a katana.
Send me a photo of yours and I will tell you honestly what is possible.
What decides whether a cover-up works
A cover-up is a design problem with real constraints. How dark and saturated the existing ink is, how large it is, where it sits on the body, whether there is colour in it, and whether there is scar tissue all change what is possible. So does how much room there is to work around the original.
Darkness is the main limit
New ink goes over old ink, it does not erase it. Heavy black work needs a design with enough density of its own to sit on top convincingly. If the original is very dark and very solid, a few sessions of laser lightening first will open up far better options than forcing it.
A cover-up is usually bigger
Covering almost always means going larger than the original. That extra space is what lets a new design carry its own shape instead of tracing the outline of what is underneath. If you are attached to keeping it small, say so early and we will talk about rework instead.
Rework as an alternative
Not everything needs hiding. Sometimes an older piece just needs its linework tightened, its contrast rebuilt, or new elements grown around it. That often looks better than a cover and keeps whatever the original meant to you.
Aliza is HEAVEN-SENT!! She worked so hard to make my dream design come to life! I'm suuuper picky, and she happily redid it multiple times to make sure I absolutely loved it. It has healed so perfectly it literally hasn't itched.
Find out what is possible
The fastest way to find out whether your tattoo can be covered is to send me a clear, well-lit photo of it, taken straight on in daylight if you can. Tell me what you would like instead, and I will tell you honestly what is realistic, including whether lightening sessions first would give you a better result.
Send a Photo of Your TattooBefore You Book
What do you need from me to assess a cover-up?
A clear photo of the existing tattoo in good natural light, taken straight on. Let me know roughly how old it is, and whether it has had any laser lightening already.
Will the old tattoo still be visible?
A well-planned cover-up should not read as a cover-up. Whether that is achievable depends on the original. I will be straight with you about it rather than promising something I cannot deliver.
Do I need laser removal first?
Sometimes. For very dark or very saturated work, a few lightening sessions dramatically widen what can be designed over it. It is not always necessary, and I will tell you if it is.
Can you cover a name?
Usually, yes. Lettering is often easier to cover than dense imagery because there is open skin between the letters to work with.
How much does a cover-up cost?
Cover-ups are booked at the day rate, $650 half day or $850 full day, because they generally need more design time and more room than a fresh piece of the same size. The pricing guide explains estimates and deposits.
Find out if yours can be covered
Send a photo of the tattoo along with where it is and how big it is. You will get an honest answer about what is possible, including if the answer is that it needs lightening first.
Request a Cover-Up Consultation