Silent
Moon.

A tattoo cover-up is a new design tattooed over an existing one so the old tattoo is fully hidden, using darker tones, denser shading and clever composition to absorb what’s underneath. It takes more planning and experience than a fresh piece, and at Silent Moon it’s one of the things we do best, in our private Bermondsey studio, South East London.

Every cover-up is custom. No two old tattoos are the same, so we never work from flash. Your artist studies the size, shape and darkness of your existing tattoo and designs a new piece around it, placing the darkest areas exactly where they’re needed.

Can my tattoo be covered? Most can. What matters is how dark and how large the old tattoo is. A cover-up usually needs to be bigger and darker than the original, so expect the new design to extend beyond it. Faded or lighter tattoos give the most freedom in style and colour.

Do I need laser first? Not always. For very dark or heavy tattoos, a few sessions of laser fading at a specialist clinic can lighten the old ink, so your cover-up can be smaller, lighter and closer to what you actually want. We’ll tell you at your consultation whether it’s worth it.

The best styles for cover-ups are those with bold shapes and full tonal range: realism, Japanese, neo-traditional and blackwork. Fine line and light watercolour can’t hide an old tattoo on their own, but can sometimes be added alongside a stronger cover-up design.

Cover-up or rework? If you still like your tattoo but it has faded, blurred or was poorly done, a rework can bring it back to life with new linework, shading and colour instead of hiding it completely.

What to expect. Bring a clear, well-lit photo of your existing tattoo and we’ll tell you honestly what’s achievable. Smaller cover-ups may take one session; larger ones are built over several. Your artist agrees sizing, placement and a guide price at your free consultation.