There is never a beautiful way to say goodbye to your lover and it gets even uglier if you’re left with a permanent tattoo that reminds your ex. The process of getting a covering tattoo is already hard enough but how horrible would it be if it goes worse? From cover up tattoos that completely erases the trace of ex in a cool way to tattoos that are just too sad, here is a collection of the ex-tattoo cover!

Everyone who wants a cover-up tattoo has to be open to modifications that will allow it to completely hide the old one. And the more complex the cover-up design is in terms of fine details and rich shading, and the more solid, deep colors it has in it, the better it will turn out. For example, elements like layers of scales on fish, variegation in flower petals, and swirls of hair in different shades are really useful. Also, deep purples, blues, greens, and other dark, cool colors with lots of black shading work really well. Especially if the original tattoo is dark. On the other hand, warmer colors tend to be less successful at covering an old tattoo.

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Typically, the new design has to be larger than the old tattoo, so that it provides more than sufficient coverage. According to Painful Pleasures, the shape of the new design and the way it’s angled over top of the old one will determine how much larger the cover-up tattoo needs to be to successfully mask what’s underneath it.

Kami_No_Tanjou

The artist may also suggest a few sessions of laser tattoo removal to lighten the old tattoo before attempting to cover it up with a new one. The necessity for laser tattoo removal usually depends on the age of the old tattoo, how dark its colors are and what colors the cover up tattoo will consist of as well as the complexity of the cover-up design. When covering up an old, faded tattoo, laser tattoo removal usually isn’t necessary.

Once the ink of the new tattoo settles, the old design may peek through somewhat, but a few more passes should take care of that problem, if it arises.