55 Great Cover Up Tattoo Design Ideas 2022 (Complete Guide)

So, are you looking for hidden tattoo ideas? You have come to the right place. Not only have we collected the top 55 tattoo cover up ideas, but we've also created a quick guide to choosing a cover up. In addition, if you scroll to the end of this article, you will find useful information about other methods for hiding a tattoo.

This is a no-judgment zone. If you are in a hurry delete your ex's name or you just don't want that drunk vegas bug to stay on your body foreverwe can help you find cover. It will be as if this ink bug never happened...

How can I hide a tattoo?

Tattoos forever. Even with natural aging and exposure to sunlight, tattoos will never fade until they disappear. So that leaves you with a dilemma.

For most people, the best way to hide a tattoo they no longer like is to get another tattoo. This is the best way to be 100% sure that the old tattoo will not be visible. You also get brand new fresh ink in the process!

Unlike laser tattoo removal, tattoo coverage does not leave unwanted scars. It is often much cheaper to get a new tattoo than to have it removed with a laser.

What makes the best cover up tattoo idea

You might think that a bright, bold color is the best way to hide a tattoo, but that's not entirely true. For example, if you tattooed a simple square of red on top of your ex's initials, you'll still be able to see the initials through the color.

So, The best cover up tattoos are highly detailed, colorful, and use lots of lines and shading.. This way you can easily hide any lines that show through.

Intense floral patterns, detailed lettering, American traditional tattoo styles, and other detailed designs such as mandalas and animal designs work best.

5 Tattoo Name Cover Ideas

Fortunately, the name is usually quite easy to hide with a tattoo. Any detailed swirling pattern above the lettering will obscure the name. Name tattoo overlay ideas are very common, so ask your tattoo artist what they have done in the past for further inspiration.

Detailed shape idea

This woman has hidden her text tattoo just above the crook of her elbow with a triangle depicting a galaxy, with some floral details. I never would have guessed that the word was hidden under it!

Watercolor Abstract Tattoo

It was not formally a name. But you see how skillfully this word is smeared with a black watercolor brushstroke. It's abstract and beautiful - perfect for covering up a name.

Colorful frog design

Sorry Samantha, but your tattoo really needed to be covered up! This whimsical frog in the log scene beautifully covers the old ink with added color to take your mind off it.

Intense menial work

When the name tattooed on your body is so big, you need a big and powerful tattoo to hide it. This black ink drawing with piercing blue eyes does a great job.

Tree trunk

The dark ink used to create the tree trunk is perfect for hiding the old ink in this cover up. It also gives you the option to get the scene tattooed on your body.

5 ideas for covering up small tattoos

Just because a tattoo is smaller doesn't necessarily mean it's easier to hide. Equally important are the location and color of the ink. I hope these 5 ideas give you some unique inspiration for your little tattoos!

Leg tattoo cover idea

This little tattoo was easy to cover up with a pretty butterfly. The colors are bright and light, with black details. As a result, the coating does not seem too heavy.

Initial cover

The initials may be small, but when you want to remove the ink, they can appear huge. This tattoo shows how an elegant rose can be used to hide an old initial.

Extended forearm coverage

It's hard to believe there's a small lizard tattoo hiding under that gorgeous foliage ink! This cover up tattoo does a great job of hiding the old ink and glorifying the new.

Tattoo disguise on the back of the head

Was this tattoo originally a good idea? Nope! But luckily, this little tattoo was easily covered with a stunning galaxy eye tattoo.

New tattoo with inscriptions

Sometimes it's the tattoo you want...but not the right font. Thus, this tattoo hides old inscriptions and makes room for new inscriptions. Cool idea!

5 Black Tattoo Cover Up Ideas

Black ink is one of the hardest to mask. You usually need more black ink to cover it up, or an experienced tattoo artist who can use color to cover it up. We hope these 5 ideas will inspire you on how to hide your own black tattoo.

Black tattoo on the sleeve

The original tattoo included a fair amount of shading, all in black ink. To completely hide this, the artist used a photorealism style with solid black ink.

Closing black text

A beautiful sunflower mandala is the perfect cover for this woman's vertical back tattoo. We have some more back tattoo cover up ideas below!

Adding vibrant colors

Instead of covering this text tattoo with lots of black ink, this artist used red roses, black details, and green foliage to cleverly hide the regretful text underneath.

American traditional style

The black panther is an American traditional style tattoo and is great for hiding as it mostly uses black ink. You can also add red color to the mouth.

Black floral design

This tattoo hides colorful yet faded lettering with a stunning black design. The coverage is flawless and perfectly dyed. Kudos to the artist for this!

5 Tribal Style Tattoo Cover Up Ideas

Tribal tattoos usually consist of large, thick and heavy streaks of black ink that are notoriously difficult to hide with makeup. And while black ink is effectively removed with a laser, removing a large tattoo will require many costly sessions. So recoloring the tattoo is a good option.

Jesus is hiding behind

The detailed portraits and intricate designs like Jesus and the church windows in this tattoo are perfect for hiding the thick stripes and stripes of tribal tattoo styles.

animal portrait

Just like human faces, animal faces can be great covers for tribal tattoos. The more detailed and shaded the fur, the better you will cover up your tribal tattoo.

Skull and roses

Skulls and roses are a classic combination that is perfect for any tattoo. Romance, honor, life and death are all wrapped up in one amazing tattoo design.

H

Birds and small animals are great for disguising small tribal tattoos. You can see how the existing curves and lines of the tribal tattoo seamlessly blend into the shape of a hummingbird.

Tribal Tatt Floral Cape

Like birds, the natural curves of petals and flowers are great for hiding tattoos. This tribal side tattoo is easy to hide behind this floral motif.

5 hidden tattoo ideas for women

As you may have already noticed, many tattoos call for bold, dark designs that can properly hide the ink underneath. But this is not always compatible with the delicate, elegant and feminine atmosphere that you are striving for. So here are 5 female cover ideas for you!

Improve original design

This tattoo replaces the old lip print with a new (and vastly improved) lip tattoo. This is a great way to hide a tattoo. This one fits on the butt.

Line coloring

Flower tattoos are beautiful, so why hide them? This tattoo update job added color and expanded the dull grayscale floral motif on the lateral side of the upper thigh.

flower tattoo disguise

Instead of opting for a thick, bold design to completely cover the tattoo, why not enhance it? This elegant feminine tattoo adds a sophisticated style.

Spread wings

We often think that wings are lower on our shoulders, but this tattoo shows how detailed wing tattoos can be used to hide old ink elsewhere on your body.

Full back

We're not sure what the original tattoo was here, but we do know it was a cover job. Don't be afraid to go big. Full back tattoo can be either female or male as you wish.

3 arm tattoo cover ideas

Tattoos on the arm are usually small or medium in size, or a full-length sleeve - with no intermediate values. But it normal. A qualified tattoo artist will still be able to hide or enhance your tattoo. Because your hands are exposed to more people than other parts of your body, it's important to take good care of your tattoo to prevent UV rays from fading.

The idea of ​​covering the upper arm

This tattoo cover keeps the elements of the original tattoo that we like but updates the parts we don't like. It also adds more depth and shadow. This is a huge improvement!

Sleeve tattoo

With a sleeve tattoo, there isn't much room to "cover up" this tattoo, so it's best to improve it until you're happy with it. See these photos for an example.

Forearm tattoo

Both the old and the new tattoo work well on the forearm area. We love the design of Venom too! Though you might want to consider a more timeless design.

3 Wrist Tattoo Cover Ideas

Your wrist is a very public place, so it can be frustrating when you have a tattoo you don't like...and everyone can see it. Luckily, you only need a little coverage to hide the ink on your wrist, so the cost won't be too high and the session will be short.

Wrist cape from small to large

The original wrist tattoo was quite small, but the cover extends along the forearm to hide the ink and create a more detailed design. We love the shading on this one.

Chinese character cover

We love the floral design used to cover up the original symbol tattoo. The contrast is amazing. The origin was bold and dark, while the cover is soft and fresh.

Well spaced leaves

It's smart. The tattooed rose draws attention with beautiful delicate petals... and distracts from the leaves that are actually hiding the old ink!

3 Chest Tattoo Cover Ideas

Chest tattoos or chest tattoos for women are not as popular as other tattoos. However, there are some ideas you can use if you have a tattoo in this area that you need to get rid of.

Cover up chest tattoo

The shadow behind the butterfly not only makes it stand out against your skin, but it also helps hide the ugly tattoo that once lived behind it! Artfully done.

Covering the scars on the chest

Another butterfly, but in a different place. This ink was used to hide the scar! We think it looks nice and hope it inspires confidence. Body art works well for this.

Full chest coverage

This is an unfinished tattoo right now - you can see the inscription underneath the crocodile, which will be completely covered up when the artist is done. Cool, yeah?

3 Back Tattoo Cover Ideas

Back tattoos are one of the easiest types to disguise as you have enough space to use a large design. Even though the new cover design should cover the entire back, it can curve over your shoulders and around your ribs to provide full coverage.

Back tattoo cover

Why not make your cover tattoo more decorative? If you're unhappy with the style of your lower back tattoo, this cover up is perfect.

Cover up tattoo on upper back

The detailed butterfly wing perfectly hides the vertical lettering hidden underneath. With back tattoos, you can make a big design to hide a small tattoo.

Ethnic back tattoo

This is another "vagrant stamp" that needed to be covered up. The tattoo artist has created a solid black design that stretches to the middle of the back. This is a really flattering design.

3 neck tattoo cover ideas

Few people have the courage (for lack of a better term) to get a neck tattoo. But if you do it here and end up regretting it, then these neck tattoo ideas will save your life.

Tattoo cover up behind the ear

This tattoo on the ear and on the side of the neck perfectly hides the design of a small scorpion. We love the minimalistic sky scheme, which uses only black and white ink to create it.

Tattoo name cover

Rose and scorpion! Such a classic combination. Love, but with pity. This is a very sexy tattoo and a good cover up. You would only notice the letters if you knew they existed.

Overlap tattoo on the neck and shoulder

This image shows you before, during and after the tattoo cover up process. The artist painted the squirrel so you can see how it masks the original ink.

3 arm tattoo cover ideas

Hands are a difficult place to disguise. For example, if you have a small tattoo on the side of one finger, it can be difficult to hide it with a large tattoo because there isn't much room! But don't worry, you still have a few options.

Inscription on the fingers

The letters on each finger can be cool or even cool...when they're in the right font and professionally drawn. This cover job shows how you can update your finger tattoos!

The revival of the portrait

Instead of hiding this tattoo on the entire arm, it has been artfully restored, like a painting by a master. We love how well it has been shaded and etched.

Matching Queen of Hearts Tattoo

The little queen of hearts on one finger is usually associated with a partner (who has a tattoo of the king of hearts). But this spider tattoo hides the design perfectly.

3 leg tattoo cover ideas

Leg tattoos tend to fade quickly if they are regularly exposed to sunlight. So, whether you're looking to cover up a faded tattoo or breathe new life into an old favorite faded design, these 3 ideas can give you the inspiration you need.

Cover up tattoo on lower leg

Using dark gray for the elephant and surrounding it with splashes of watercolor is a genius way to hide a tattoo on a medium sized leg while still maintaining some elegance.

Cover up tattoo on back of leg

This simple symbolic tattoo on the back of her calf was easily hidden by a stunning black and gray floral motif. It's absolutely beautiful!

Tattoo on the leg

Feathers are almost as popular as flowers and butterflies for covering tattoos. The long, elegant and detailed feather shape is perfect for tattoos.

3 Ankle Tattoo Cover Up Ideas

The ankle is a bony area, so tattoos here are usually located just above or below the ankle bone. However, when you need to cover up an ankle tattoo, you might want to consider a tattoo that runs from the top down the ankle. This allows for maximum coverage.

Faded black ankle tattoo

We love the vibrant colors in this cover up tattoo! It does a great job of hiding the faded ink underneath. Navy blue is a great color to camouflage if you don't like black.

killer whale tattoo on ankle

The killer whale, also known as the killer whale, is technically a dolphin. It is also one of the best animals to get tattooed as a cover up, thanks to its smooth dark black skin.

Deer floral motif

There are flowers, but not too flowery. A deer tattoo is a really nice way to hide an old tattoo, whether on the ankle or elsewhere.

3 finger tattoo cover ideas

Even the smallest tattoos can be covered with unique designs! The trick with finger tattoos is to not be too adventurous. Fitting a lot of detail into a small space is difficult. Keep it simple and you'll love the results.

Feather Tattoo

Another example of how a feather tattoo is perfect for hiding words and names... even small ones. This is a very elegant way to cover the side of one finger.

Tiny skull cover

There are no regrets here! A small skull is a great idea to cover up a finger tattoo - it can be drawn on a small scale with minimal detail or enlarged with more detail.

Bow tattoo

Tiny flowers, bows, and birds are great for disguising finger tattoos if you keep them simple. The small size fits neatly and looks great between the knuckles of the fingers.

3 Shoulder Tattoo Cover Ideas

Your shoulders are always a good place for a tattoo. You also have a lot of room to expand... or hide a small big tattoo. These three ideas will help you imagine the types of designs that are good for covering up a shoulder tattoo.

Tattoo "Love"

The original "love you" tattoo was just too ugly, so this talented tattoo artist saw the potential and turned it into the stunning ink piece it was meant to be.

Tattoos on the shoulder with wings

Wings are very popular tattoos for the shoulder area, be it angel wings or bird wings. Either way, a large sweep of a winged tattoo is great for hiding old mistakes.

Floral name motif

The small old tattoo in the center is beautifully smeared with dark shading, then surrounded by roses and the names of loved ones. She turns a mistake into something beautiful.

Other ways to hide a tattoo

If the thought of getting another tattoo isn't very appealing, you still have your cards on the table. Laser tattoo removal is a very permanent (and expensive) option, while makeup cover-up is temporary but quite affordable in comparison.

Here are our tips for both methods to help you decide.

Laser tattoo removal

Laser tattoo removal is the option that many people go for when they need to remove a tattoo - no coverage. It involves exposing your skin to a laser to break up the ink particles so your body can remove them naturally.

There is a misconception that laser tattoos leave scars. Technology has advanced so far that modern laser tattoo removal machines rarely leave scars. They are very efficient. In a few sessions, they can completely remove the tattoo with no or minimal scarring.

However, compared to tattooing, laser tattoo removal is more expensive and takes longer. Between sessions, you will have a blotchy tattoo as some inks fade faster than others.

If you want to completely remove your tattoo without leaving any marks, this is still your best option.

Read our laser tattoo removal guide to learn more.

Makeup to cover up a tattoo

This video shows you how to cover up tattoos with makeup if you need temporary cover up for a work meeting, photoshoot or event. Keep in mind that there are several steps and products required to achieve a flawless look that can be quite expensive. If you don't normally use makeup, you may find that products expire before you can use them all!

In any case, we have covered up our tattoos with cosmetics many times, and we have a few recommendations. Try to use products that are full coverage, matte, and non-greasy. This is the key to a long lasting finish thick enough to hide your ink.

Kat Von D Lock-It Concealer is our favorite product from the Kat Von D line. Its foundations and concealers are designed to cover up tattoos, so you'll find the coverage to be excellent.

Nars Soft Matte Complete - For darker skin tones, we recommend checking out the Nars range of concealers. This Soft Matte Complete concealer is usually great for acne and discoloration, but it can also be used on tattoos. If you can't afford Kat Von D, then this option will suit your taste!