Tattoo Cover-Ups in Fort Collins
If you have a tattoo you no longer love, a cover-up can be a great way to give it a fresh start.
Maybe your style has changed, the tattoo didn’t turn out the way you hoped, or you’re just ready for something different.
At Linden Street Tattoo Company in Old Town Fort Collins, we work with plenty of clients who want to cover or rework an existing tattoo. Every cover-up is different, so the best place to start is by looking at what you already have and figuring out what’s possible.
What Is a Tattoo Cover-Up?
A cover-up is a new tattoo designed to work with and conceal an existing tattoo.
It’s not usually as simple as putting a new image directly on top of the old one. Your artist has to work with the shape, placement, color, and darkness of the tattoo that’s already there.
The goal is for the finished tattoo to feel like a new piece, not like something was just placed over an old one.
Does a Cover-Up Have to Be Bigger Than the Original Tattoo?
Usually, yes.
A good rule of thumb is that a cover-up may need to be around twice the size of the existing tattoo. That gives the artist more room to work the old tattoo into the new design instead of trying to squeeze everything into the exact same space.
That said, every tattoo is different. The final size will depend on what you already have, where it is, and what you’d like the new tattoo to be.
Can Any Tattoo Be Covered?
Many tattoos can be covered, but every situation is different.
Things like how dark the tattoo is, the colors in it, how old it is, where it’s located, and what you’d like the new tattoo to be can all make a difference.
We usually recommend starting with a free consultation so one of our artists can see the tattoo in person and talk through your options with you.
Do Cover-Up Tattoos Have to Be Dark?
Not always.
What you already have will play a big part in what will work for the new tattoo. Your artist can help you come up with a new design that works with the tattoo that’s already there.
There usually isn’t one answer that works for every cover-up, which is another reason it helps to have the tattoo looked at first.
Do You Need Laser Removal Before a Cover-Up?
Not necessarily.
Many tattoos can be covered without laser removal. In some cases, though, lightening a very dark or heavily saturated tattoo can give you and your artist more options for the new design.
Before deciding on laser removal, we’d recommend talking with a tattoo artist first.
What Should You Bring to a Cover-Up Consultation?
You don’t need to have every detail of the new tattoo figured out before you come in.
It helps to have a general idea of what you’d like, and if you have reference images you love, bring those too.
Most importantly, your artist needs to see the tattoo you want covered. From there, you can talk about the size, placement, and overall design of the new tattoo and figure out what will work best.
Our consultations at Linden Street Tattoo Company are free, so if you’re unsure where to start, that’s a great first step.
Can You Walk In for a Tattoo Cover-Up?
You’re always welcome to stop in and have us take a look.
We take walk-ins Tuesday through Saturday from 12–8pm on a first-come, first-served basis.
Depending on the cover-up, we may be able to help you that day. If the tattoo needs a little more planning, we may recommend setting up an appointment or consultation first.
For bigger or more involved cover-ups, having some extra time to plan usually makes the process easier for everyone.
Ready to Cover an Old Tattoo?
If you have a tattoo you’re ready to change, stop in and let us take a look.
We can talk through what you have, what you’d like to do with it, and what your options are.
You can also check out our artists and their portfolios to get a feel for everyone’s work before you come in.
Linden Street Tattoo Company
218 Linden Street
Fort Collins, CO 80524
Walk-ins welcome Tuesday–Saturday, 12–8pm.
