So, that homemade tattoo you had done at a house party in college is looking a little drab, eh? Fear not. As tattoo artists continue to increasingly hone their craft, you’d be surprised at how beautifully you can cover up that drunken mistake.
Of course, there are the cover-up tattoos that can completely erase an old one, but there are also ones that simply enhance an existing design.
From large to small, here are the best designs we found if you’re in the market for some inspiring cover-up tattoo ideas.
Black and White Warrior
Large tattoos with dark colors will need more dark colors to cover them up.
This warrior tattoo is large and covers up the existing tattoo while maintaining balance.
Bear and Wolf
You would never have guessed what was once underneath that detailed shading.
Enhanced Letter
Sometimes, the answer to a small, fading tattoo is to make it bigger and bolder.
Tropical Florals
Although the original tattoo is small, this tropical cover-up expands down to the foot, creating a beautiful scene.
Red Roses
This unique cover-up uses dark reds in addition to black to completely erase an old sun tattoo.
Wild Flowers
Since the underlying tattoo is green, an arrangement of green-hued flowers covers this up nicely.
Dainty Florals
This dainty floral tattoo fits perfectly over an old, faded initial tattoo.
Lace Mask
This cover-up is a very creative portrait, using lace to mask the original tattoo.
New Butterfly
The best cover-ups are are redos of an existing tattoo, and this butterfly is a perfect example.
Small Monstera
Hand tattoos are notorious for fading more quickly than other parts of the body, but it’s nothing this little monstera leaf can’t handle.
Bold Roses
This cover-up is a big and bold choice to erase a long line of stars.
Galaxy Stars
A patch of the galaxy covers up an unwanted tattoo perfectly.
Lotus Flower
This little, shaded lotus flower covers up a cursive name well.
Big Lion
Bold lines and shading take this lion cover-up tattoo to the next level.
Elephant Mandala
Getting a cover-up tattoo is a perfect time to go large, and this elephant adorned with a mandala makes for a beautiful piece.
Purple Rose
Cover-ups don’t always have to be black and white.
This vibrant purple rose looks stunning over a faded line tattoo.
Wispy Goldfish
A cute and uniquely designed gold fish hides this old rose tattoo beautifully.
Berry Wreath
This original wreath design uses dark purples to cover up a dark snake tattoo.
Feather Redo
This faded feather benefited from adding some hard lines.
Classic Black Cat
This tattoo looks great redone with a solid black cat and fine line flowers to add balance.
Rainbow Peacock Flower
A mystical peacock feather is a fun tattoo cover-up idea if the original has similar colors.
Baby Tiger
Another great example of enhancing what’s already there, this baby tiger got an upgrade.
Cat Portrait
The watercolor tattoo was a trend for a minute; however, without the use of hard lines, the style can fall flat.
This cat portrait, however, has the enhanced features to make it new again.
Skull and Roses
Skull and rose tattoos are as old as time but are still trendy.
Black Ink Arm
Sometimes, you may want to cover up … everything.
While it’s a bold choice, a cover-up of the entire arm can look pretty cool if done correctly.
Looking for more tattoo inspiration? Check out these other articles on FamilyMinded: