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Remember, it can come up through lighter colors. Your artist will have to draw something specifically designed to hide your previous work. This may take time, so be patient. They may want to trace the area so they can use reference to draw on at home, or they may suggest freehand work.

Freehand coverups done by good artists are the best solution to covering up an old unwanted tattoo. By drawing directly on the skin (drawing is done first with marker, then tattooed on) the artist can take into account the form of the old tattoo, as well as your anatomy.

The most important step in the entire process is finding the right artist. Look for someone you like, whose art you admire. Try to find an artist who enjoys not only coverups but also really appreciates the same kind of artwork that you do. Since all coverups are custom tattoos drawn by the tattoo artist, make sure the artist you pick has the same kind of taste you do.

Coverups can be very expensive. Tattoo artists know that if you had valued your personal canvas, and their artform, you wouldn't need one! Be sure to tip well when getting a coverup done. Most artists spend more effort and time drawing for coverups than they would drawing an original tattoo, and most don't charge anything for their drawing time. Be aware of this extra work they've done and tip accordingly.

You can't get a coverup on the spur of the moment, unless it is so tiny that it's hardly visible to begin with. You'll have to plan in advance and think quite a bit about your new tattoo. Hasty decisions are the reason coverups exist in the first place, so take your time and do some reaearch before you buy.

Getting a coverup may limit your choices in some ways, but the subject matter and style is still wide open. Knowing that it may have to be darker and larger should not keep you from getting a tattoo you can be proud of, and if you find the right artist you may even forget the old tattoo was there. If you can picture what you want, you can find a way to make it work, as long as you find someone who is capable of tackling the job.

Learn more about this author, A.R. Marth.
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