Cover-ups · Black & grey realism
Realism Cover-Up Tattoos in Sheffield
Cover-ups are the next chapter of my tattooing. Not long ago I turned most of them away; now they're something I want to do a lot more of. There's nothing quite like taking a tattoo someone hates — one they've kept covered up or been embarrassed by for years — and turning it into something they love and are proud to show.
Every cover-up is black and grey realism, designed around the old tattoo and usually finished over two sittings. Send me photos of what you want covered and I'll tell you honestly what will work.
Cover-Ups: Before and After
The tattoo that came in on the left, what went over it on the right. Photographed at the studio — tap any one for the full story of that piece.
Why a Cover-Up Takes Two Sittings
A cover-up is roughly 1.5 to 2 times the work of the same design on fresh skin, and it's more intensive to tattoo. Every part of the design has to be placed so the darkest, busiest areas land over the old ink, and the skin is being worked over something that's already there.
The first sitting is about killing what's underneath. When it heals, the old tattoo will usually still show through the lighter areas and highlights, and the piece can look quite flat and grey. That's expected — it's the foundation, not the finish.
The second sitting, once the first has fully healed — I recommend at least 4 weeks between the two — mainly goes over the lighter areas. It adds the depth and contrast that make realism look like realism, and completely disguises the old tattoo.
How Much Does a Cover-Up Cost?
As a rule, expect a cover-up to take — and cost — about 1.5 to 2 times my advertised prices for the same size of piece on fresh skin.
- A4-size piece on fresh skin
- £480One 6-hour sitting
- The same piece as a cover-up
- £750–£9609–12 hours over two sittings (6 + 3 hours, up to 6 + 6)
- A cover-up sleeve — one inner or outer profile — needs at least two 6-hour sittings.
- Your quote is for your tattoo. How dark and how big the old one is changes the time, so I price it properly once I've seen photos.
- One deposit covers both sittings, so expect roughly 1.5 to 2 times my usual deposit — for the A4 example, about £150–£200 instead of £100. I confirm the exact amount before booking; it's paid by bank transfer and comes off your total.
Do You Need Laser Before a Cover-Up?
Not necessarily. It depends on the tattoo you have, the idea you want over it, and having realistic expectations. I've had great results covering really dark tribal that has never been near a laser.
What laser does is give you more choice. The more faded a tattoo is, the more options you have for the design that covers it. Laser fading for a cover-up isn't the same as full removal — it usually takes a handful of sessions rather than the many needed to remove a tattoo completely, and the skin needs to settle afterwards before it's tattooed. Your laser clinic will advise on how long to leave it.
The honest rule: don't expect to cover thick black tribal with delicate, light flowers. A strong realism subject — a warrior, a lion, a god, an armoured knight — has the dark tones and texture to take over the old work. Send photos before you book any laser, and I'll tell you whether it would actually change what's possible.
What Can Be Covered — and What Makes It Harder
Black and grey realism is well suited to cover-ups: the darkest values and heaviest texture — fur, armour, beards, smoke, feathers, shadow — can be placed right over the old ink, while the highlights sit on clearer skin.
Usually more straightforward
- Older tattoos that have faded or softened
- Names, script and thin linework
- Lightly shaded or patchy work
- Tattoos that have had some laser fading
Harder, but often still possible
- Thick, solid black tribal — it needs a dark, heavy design
- Newer, bold tattoos that haven't faded yet
- Strong reds, blues and greens
- Raised scarring or ink that has blurred and spread
A cover-up usually needs to be bigger than the tattoo it's covering, so the old shapes are broken up rather than traced. We'll plan the size and placement together, and you'll see the design before your first sitting.
How a Cover-Up Works, Step by Step
- 1
Send me photos and your ideas
Clear photos of the tattoo you want covered, and what you'd like over it — through the quote form or on WhatsApp. I always need to see it before anything else.
- 2
We talk through the ideas
I'll tell you honestly what will cover well and what won't, and suggest where the design needs to go and how big.
- 3
I book you in personally
Cover-ups aren't on the online calendar. Once we've agreed the plan, you pay one deposit by bank transfer that covers both sittings, and I book in your preferred dates.
- 4
First sitting: the cover
The main session. It covers the old tattoo and lays down the design — expect it to look a bit flat and grey once healed.
- 5
Second sitting: depth and contrast
Once healed — at least 4 weeks later — we go back over the lighter areas and highlights to add depth and completely disguise what was underneath.
What to Send for a Cover-Up Quote
Good photos mean a straight answer first time:
- A straight-on photo of the tattoo, in daylight — no filters, and no flash glare
- A wider shot showing where it sits on your arm, leg or body, and any tattoos around it
- Its rough size in cm — or a ruler or coin next to it in the photo
- Your ideas for what you'd like over it, with reference pictures if you have them
- Anything I should know — laser sessions you've had, scarring, or roughly how old the tattoo is
Watch a Cover-Up Session
Filmed on the day in the studio — the old tattoo, the stencil going on, and the new piece taking over.
A Private Studio, Easy to Reach From Across South Yorkshire
Plenty of people with a tattoo they'd rather hide don't want to walk into a busy shop and show it off. The studio is a private, one-client-at-a-time room in Chapeltown (S35), two minutes from M1 Junction 35 with free parking — an easy trip from Sheffield, Barnsley, Rotherham and Doncaster.
Cover-Up FAQs
- Can any tattoo be covered up?
- Most tattoos can be covered, but not with any design. What matters is how dark and dense the old tattoo is, how big it is, and what you'd like over it. A faded tattoo gives you lots of options; thick, solid black work needs a design with dark, heavy areas to sit over it. Send me clear photos and your idea and I'll tell you honestly what will work — and if I don't think it will cover well, I'll say so.
- How much does a cover-up tattoo cost?
- Expect a cover-up to take roughly 1.5 to 2 times as long as the same design on fresh skin, and to cost 1.5 to 2 times my usual prices. For example, an A4-size design that would normally be one 6-hour sitting (£480) usually takes 9 to 12 hours as a cover-up, over two sittings: £750 to £960. I'll give you a proper quote once I've seen photos of your tattoo.
- Why does a cover-up need two sittings?
- The first sitting is about killing what's underneath. Once it heals, the old tattoo can still show through the lighter areas and highlights, and the piece can look a bit flat and grey — that's normal. The second sitting, at least 4 weeks later, goes back over the lighter areas, adds the depth and contrast, and fully disguises the old tattoo.
- Do I need laser removal before a cover-up?
- Not necessarily. It depends on the old tattoo and what you want over it. The more faded it is, the more design options you have — so a few laser fading sessions can open up lighter ideas. But I've had great results covering really dark tribal that has had no laser at all. What you can't expect is delicate flowers over thick black tribal. Send photos first and I'll tell you whether laser would actually help.
- Will I still be able to see my old tattoo?
- After the first sitting has healed, you may still see traces of it through the lighter parts — that's exactly what the second sitting is for. The finished piece is designed so the old tattoo sits under the darkest, busiest parts of the new one, and the second pass disguises what's left.
- Does the cover-up need to be bigger than my old tattoo?
- Usually, yes. The new design has to reach past the edges of the old one so its shapes are broken up and lost, and it needs enough weight to take the eye away from what's underneath. How much bigger depends on the tattoo — I'll show you when we plan the design.
- Can you cover a colour tattoo with black and grey?
- Yes. I work in black and grey only, and it's well suited to covering old colour work because the darker values sit over the old ink. Strong reds, blues and greens are harder than faded ones, so the design has to be planned around them — photos will tell me what's possible.
- Can I book a cover-up online?
- No — cover-ups aren't on the online booking calendar. Send me photos of the tattoo and your ideas through the quote form or on WhatsApp (07719657695). Once we've agreed the design and the sittings, you pay one deposit by bank transfer that covers both sittings — roughly 1.5 to 2 times my usual deposit, and I'll confirm the amount first — and I book your preferred dates in personally.
- Do you fix or rework other artists' tattoos?
- No — I don't rework or finish other people's tattoos. A cover-up is different: the old tattoo is completely covered by a new black and grey realism piece, designed from scratch.
- Can a cover-up be part of a single-sitting sleeve?
- Not usually. The £600 and £700 single-sitting sleeves are designed for fresh skin. A very small old tattoo that can easily be hidden within the design is the exception. A cover-up sleeve — one inner or outer profile — needs at least two 6-hour sittings.
Everything I tattoo is black and grey realism. See all services or the full price list.