Can any tattoo be covered up?

Most tattoos can be covered in some way, but it depends on how dark, large and detailed the existing piece is. Some benefit from a few sessions of laser lightening first to open up more design options. Send us a photo and we'll give you an honest answer.

Do cover-up tattoos have to be bigger than the original?

In most cases yes. A larger design gives more room to properly cover the existing tattoo and create something balanced. How much bigger depends on what's being covered.

Will the old tattoo show through?

A well-planned cover-up should make the original tattoo undetectable. Very dark pieces can sometimes influence the final result slightly, but with the right design approach this is minimised significantly.

Do I need laser removal first?

Not always. Some tattoos can be covered without any laser work. Others benefit from a few sessions of lightening to open up more design options. We'll advise you honestly on this after seeing a photo.

How much does a cover-up tattoo cost?

Cover-ups are priced based on size, complexity and how much work is involved. They can take longer than standard tattoos due to the planning and layering required. Get in touch with a photo for an accurate quote.

Peaky Blinders cover up tattoo by Rick Shaw Worthing

✦ Rick Shaw · 20+ Years Experience · Hundreds of Cover Ups

Cover Up Tattoos
in Worthing

A good cover up shouldn't look like one. It should just look like a great tattoo.

Send Us a Photo — Free Assessment

"A cover up should never look like it's trying to be a cover up."

Cover ups need three things above everything else — experience, the right eye, and an understanding of how to break the original design without it being obvious. At Broken Puppet Tattoo in Worthing, Rick Shaw has been doing this for over 20 years and has completed hundreds of cover ups. Not hiding tattoos. Transforming them.

Every cover up starts with a proper look at what's there. Size, placement, density, how dark it is, where the ink has spread. Only once that's understood does the design conversation begin — because the new piece has to be built around the old one, not just placed on top of it.

The existing tattoo is the brief

Every design decision — size, style, composition — is made around what's already on the skin. That's what separates a cover up that works from one that doesn't.

It has to work as a tattoo

The goal isn't to hide something. It's to create a tattoo strong enough that the original becomes irrelevant. The new piece needs to stand on its own.

Honesty about what's possible

Some tattoos are harder to cover than others. We'll always tell you what's realistic before anything is booked — including whether laser lightening would open up better options.

Before & After

Tap to reveal

Each image shows the finished cover up. Tap to see what was there before.

Full Colour Rose Cover Up

Before After

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Tap again to see after

Black & Grey Samurai Cat Cover Up

Samurai cat cover up tattoo before Worthing

Samurai cat cover up tattoo after Worthing

Before After

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Underwater Scene Cover Up

Diver shark cover up tattoo after Worthing

Before After

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Birds & Flowers Cover Up

Birds and flowers cover up tattoo before Worthing

Birds and flowers cover up tattoo after Worthing

Before After

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Tap again to see after

The Process

How a cover up
actually works

The Back to the Future cover up below shows the full process — original tattoo, design stage, work in progress, and healed result. Each stage is planned before the needle goes anywhere near the skin.

Some cover ups are done in a single session. Others — particularly larger or denser pieces — are split across sessions to give the skin time to settle and keep the quality consistent throughout. Your artist will always be straight with you about what the job actually requires before you commit to anything.

Cover up tattoo process stages Back to the Future Worthing West Sussex

More Cover Up Work

More from the portfolio

Spartan cover up tattoo in progress Worthing

300 Spartan — In Progress

Spartan realistic sleeve cover up tattoo finished Worthing

300 Spartan — Finished

Shark inner arm cover up tattoo Worthing West Sussex

Inner Arm — Shark Cover Up

Skull cover up tattoo before and after Worthing

Skull — Before & After

Sugar Skull — Rework

Cover Up

What Works Best

Styles suited
to cover ups

Not every style works for cover ups. The ones below tend to give the best results because they allow for strong contrast, layering and composition. That said, every cover up is different — the right approach always depends on what you're starting with.

Traditional

Bold lines and solid fills give strong coverage. One of the most reliable styles for covering dark or detailed existing work.

Neo Traditional

More flexibility in composition and colour than traditional. Good for covering pieces where you want something with more movement.

Black & Grey Realism

High-contrast shading can effectively neutralise existing dark ink when the design is planned correctly around the original placement.

Ornamental

Geometric patterns and decorative elements can be designed specifically to incorporate and conceal existing tattoos naturally.

Questions

Cover up FAQ

Most tattoos can be covered in some way. It depends on how dark, large and detailed the existing piece is. Very dark or densely saturated tattoos may need a few sessions of laser lightening first to open up more design options. Send us a photo and we'll give you a straight answer on what's achievable.

In most cases yes. A larger design gives more room to work with and creates a better result. How much bigger depends entirely on what's being covered — sometimes it's marginal, sometimes significantly larger. We'll always tell you what size is needed before you commit.

A well-planned cover up should make the original undetectable. Very dark pieces can sometimes subtly influence the final result, but with the right design approach this is minimised. The examples on this page show what's achievable when the design is built properly around the original.

Not always. Plenty of tattoos can be covered without any laser work. Others benefit from lightening a few shades first — not full removal, just enough to give better design flexibility. We'll advise you on this honestly once we've seen a photo of the existing piece.

It depends on size, complexity and how much work the existing tattoo requires. Cover ups can take longer than regular tattoos due to the planning and layering involved. Get in touch with a photo of the existing piece and your idea — we'll give you an honest quote with no obligation.

Yes — text is actually one of the more straightforward things to cover because the lines are relatively thin and predictable. The key is designing something with enough density to fully cover the letterforms without the shapes showing through underneath.

Send us a clear photo of the existing tattoo along with a rough idea of what you'd like instead — or even just a style you're drawn to. From there we can tell you what's possible and get the conversation going. No charge, no commitment at this stage.

Ready to find out what's possible?

Send us a photo of your existing tattoo and we'll give you an honest assessment — free, no obligation. Include as much or as little as you like about what you're thinking.

A clear photo of the existing tattoo

Rough idea or style preference if you have one

Approximate size and placement

Send a Photo — Free Assessment