Cover-Up Tattoos in Halifax, Before and After

Ten real cover-ups by Vivek Divine at Tattoo Lab. Slide each photo to see the old tattoo under the new one, then send a photo of yours for an honest opinion on whether it will work.

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Charged by time at the same $150 to $250 an hour, usually a little longer than a fresh piece. Large or highly detailed custom work can cost more per hour. Prices exclude tax. How the price works.

Scar or mastectomy project? Read this first

Small black Celtic knot tattoo on the inner forearm, before its cover-up at Tattoo Lab, Halifax — **Moon over the sea**Colour realism, forearmA small Celtic knot became a full moon over the water, with pink cloud edges pulling the eye away from where the old lines sat.

Colour realism cover-up tattoo of a full moon over the sea with pink clouds and waves, wrapping the forearm, Tattoo Lab, Halifax — **Moon over the sea**Colour realism, forearmA small Celtic knot became a full moon over the water, with pink cloud edges pulling the eye away from where the old lines sat.

Nine more cover-ups, slide each one

Faded grey panther head tattoo on the upper arm, before its cover-up at Tattoo Lab, Halifax — **Jesus in the crown of thorns**Black and grey realism, upper armA faded grey panther head, fully absorbed into the shading of the portrait.

Black and grey realism cover-up tattoo of Jesus wearing the crown of thorns, on the upper arm, Tattoo Lab, Halifax — **Jesus in the crown of thorns**Black and grey realism, upper armA faded grey panther head, fully absorbed into the shading of the portrait.

Faded grey tattoo of a winged creature along the forearm, before its cover-up at Tattoo Lab, Halifax — **Blackwork figure with a trident**Blackwork, forearmA faded winged creature, rebuilt as a solid blackwork figure along the same length of the arm.

Blackwork cover-up tattoo of a long-haired figure with a trident in solid black, on the forearm, Tattoo Lab, Halifax — **Blackwork figure with a trident**Blackwork, forearmA faded winged creature, rebuilt as a solid blackwork figure along the same length of the arm.

Small faded number tattoo in black script on the inner wrist, before its cover-up at Tattoo Lab, Halifax — **Butterfly**Black and grey, wristA small faded number, gone into the dotwork of a wing.

Black and grey cover-up tattoo of a butterfly with dotwork wings and a small sparkle, on the inner wrist, Tattoo Lab, Halifax — **Butterfly**Black and grey, wristA small faded number, gone into the dotwork of a wing.

Faded vertical lettering tattoo on the side of the neck below the ear, before its cover-up at Tattoo Lab, Halifax — **Winged gargoyle**Black and grey, neckVertical lettering below the ear, covered by a gargoyle whose curled tail follows the old line.

Black and grey cover-up tattoo of a winged gargoyle with a curled tail on the side of the neck, Tattoo Lab, Halifax — **Winged gargoyle**Black and grey, neckVertical lettering below the ear, covered by a gargoyle whose curled tail follows the old line.

Fine line constellation tattoo with a crescent moon and small stars on the upper arm, before its cover-up at Tattoo Lab, Halifax — **Snake and heart**Black and grey, upper armA fine line constellation, covered by a snake coiled around an anatomical heart.

Black and grey cover-up tattoo of a snake coiled around an anatomical heart pierced by an ornate dagger, on the upper arm, Tattoo Lab, Halifax — **Snake and heart**Black and grey, upper armA fine line constellation, covered by a snake coiled around an anatomical heart.

Faded script name tattoo with a small red heart on the chest, before its cover-up at Tattoo Lab, Halifax — **Lord Shiva**Black and grey realism, chestA faded script name with a small red heart, now inside the flowing hair of the portrait.

Black and grey realism cover-up tattoo of Lord Shiva with flowing hair, a crescent moon and a trident, on the chest, Tattoo Lab, Halifax — **Lord Shiva**Black and grey realism, chestA faded script name with a small red heart, now inside the flowing hair of the portrait.

Two blue initials and a faded older tattoo on the shoulder, before the cover-up at Tattoo Lab, Halifax — **Chucky**Colour, shoulderTwo blue initials and an older faded piece. The red background does most of the covering.

Colour cover-up tattoo of the Chucky doll holding a knife against red and black smoke, on the shoulder, Tattoo Lab, Halifax — **Chucky**Colour, shoulderTwo blue initials and an older faded piece. The red background does most of the covering.

Small faded name banner tattoo on the upper arm, before its cover-up at Tattoo Lab, Halifax — **Spartan helmet**Black and grey, upper armA small faded name banner, under the helmet and the arrow.

Black and grey cover-up tattoo of a Spartan helmet pierced by an arrow, on the upper arm, Tattoo Lab, Halifax — **Spartan helmet**Black and grey, upper armA small faded name banner, under the helmet and the arrow.

Morse code dots and dashes tattoo on the inner forearm with red stencil lines drawn over it, before its cover-up at Tattoo Lab, Halifax — **Lotus and dahlia**Black and grey realism, wristA Morse code line, absorbed into the petals and stems.

Black and grey realism cover-up tattoo of a lotus, a dahlia and small blossoms across the wrist, Tattoo Lab, Halifax — **Lotus and dahlia**Black and grey realism, wristA Morse code line, absorbed into the petals and stems.

Next styleFeatured piecesEvery angle, up close

Sea turtle tattoo in blue and yellow-orange colour with a glossy shaded shell on forearm, Tattoo Lab, Halifax

How a cover-up works at Tattoo Lab

Show us the tattoo you want gone
A clear photo in daylight, plus the ideas you like. Placement, size and how dark the old piece is decide everything.
An honest opinion, and no pressure
You hear whether the design will work, what would work better, and whether a cover-up is worth going for at all. Take your time to decide.
A design drawn around the old lines
After the deposit, your artist draws a piece whose darkest areas sit where the old tattoo is. You review it and ask for changes.
One session or several
Most cover-ups take longer than a fresh tattoo of the same size. Your artist tells you at the consultation how many sittings to expect.

★★★★★

He added so much detail and it looks very realistic. Wouldnt even know there was once a tattoo under this one covered it up perfectly.

What makes a cover-up easy or hard

Usually easy

Small, faded or light grey. Old tattoos that have softened over years absorb into new shading with room to spare.

Room around it. A placement with skin to work with lets the new design grow past the old edges, which is how the eye stops finding them.

Harder

Dense black. Solid black can only be covered with more black, so the new design has to be built around it rather than over it.

Fine line or very light styles. A cover-up needs enough weight to hide what is underneath. At the consultation you hear whether the style can be adapted.

Fresh work. A tattoo that has not fully settled is still changing. Waiting a few months usually gives a better result.

Sometimes, laser first

A very dark or very large piece may need lightening before a good cover-up is possible.

Scar and mastectomy tattoos

We take on scar and mastectomy tattoo projects at our studio in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and each one is discussed case by case, with no pressure to book.

Tell us about the area and what you have in mind, or simply ask whether it is possible. You do not need to send a photo: your artist can look at the area with you, in private, at the free consultation.

Your artist tells you honestly what can work on that skin and what cannot. We give no medical advice: when your skin is ready for a tattoo is a question for your doctor.

Cover-up questions

Can any tattoo be covered up?

Most can, some should not be. Small, faded and lighter tattoos are the easiest. Very dark or very large pieces may need lightening first, or a bigger design than you had in mind. Send a photo and you will get a straight answer.

Does a cover-up cost more than a normal tattoo?

Usually a little, because it takes longer: the design has to work around what is there, and the ink has to be packed more solidly. It is charged by time at the same $150 to $250 an hour. Large or highly detailed custom work can cost more per hour.

Will the old tattoo show through?

The goal is that nobody who did not know would find it. Dark areas of the new design go where the old lines are, and the composition leads the eye elsewhere. Very dark old work can leave a faint shadow inside solid black.

Do I need laser removal first?

Only for the darkest pieces, or when you want a much lighter style on top. We will tell you if that is the case. We do not offer laser here.

Can you fix or touch up a tattoo done somewhere else?

Yes. Reworks and touch-ups on outside work are welcome. Bring it in or send a photo.

Do you tattoo over scars or after a mastectomy?

Yes. We are open to scar and mastectomy projects, and every one is discussed case by case at a free consultation. There is no need to send a photo: tell us what you have in mind, or simply ask whether it is possible.

How long does a cover-up take?

From one session for a small piece to several for a large one. You get a realistic number at the consultation, not an optimistic one.