Cover Up Tattoos in Las Vegas
If you’ve got a tattoo you regret, you’re not alone.
Maybe it was a rushed decision. Maybe it didn’t heal right. Maybe it was a relationship, a phase, or a “good idea at the time.” Whatever the reason—if you’re tired of hiding it, a properly designed cover up tattoo can give you a clean slate without looking like a cover up.
Eagle tattoo cover up by Joe Riley
At Inner Visions Tattoo, cover ups are a regular part of what we do. Multiple artists in our studio specialize in cover up tattoos, and we approach them like a true art-and-problem-solving project—because that’s exactly what a successful cover up is.
If you’re looking for cover up tattoos in Las Vegas, or searching for cover up tattoo artists in Las Vegas who can actually pull it off—book a free consultation and let’s map out the best path forward.
Cover up Tattoo at Inner Visions by Utah Evans
Why cover up tattoos are different (and why most people get them wrong)
A cover up is not “slap something over it and hope for the best.”
A great cover up follows one rule:
The new tattoo should look so good that nobody even thinks it was a cover up.
That means the design has to be built around:
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The age and darkness of your existing tattoo
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The placement on your body
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Your skin’s tone and how your skin takes ink
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Smart use of contrast, texture, composition, and flow
We aim to cover about 98% of the old tattoo. Occasionally, a tiny area may show through depending on the original ink and placement—but most of the time, you’re the only person who will ever notice it.
Cover up tattoo by Josh Stono
What to expect with a real cover up (straight talk)
1) Yes—cover ups usually need to be bigger
Most successful cover up tattoos end up at least 2–3x larger than what they’re covering.
That’s not a sales tactic. That’s physics and composition.
Going bigger allows us to:
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Add dark value where we need coverage
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Add lighter areas to pull the eye away
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Create a design that actually fits the body correctly
2) No—it doesn’t always have to be “super dark”
A cover up needs strategic darkness, not a giant black blob.
When we design it correctly, we can balance:
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Dark areas where the old tattoo needs to disappear
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Brighter areas that create depth and a clean focal point
3) You have to trust the artist’s design decisions
Most of our artists have 15–25+ years of experience.
We know what works and what doesn’t.
A common mistake is bringing in a random design from online and being locked into it. The reality is:
That design wasn’t created for your tattoo, your skin, or your placement.
We’ll absolutely use your ideas as direction—but we will design it in a way that actually produces a successful cover up.
Biomechanical tattoo cover up by Joe Riley
Cover up tattoo by Utah Evans
Designs that typically do NOT work well for cover ups
Some styles look great… but are terrible for cover ups.
We typically avoid:
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Soft, light-shaded black and grey designs (like gentle portrait shading)
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Designs that rely on open skin (lettering, mandala/geometry with negative space, light tribal, minimalist)
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Flat designs with solid color blocks and little texture
Why?
Because light shading is transparent. Open skin leaves nowhere to hide. Flat designs don’t create the texture we need.
Floral tattoo cover up by Joe Riley at Inner Visions
What DOES work well (and why our cover ups succeed)
The best cover ups use texture.
Texture camouflages what’s underneath and keeps the new tattoo looking natural.
Cover up tattoos often do best with:
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Certain types of Realism - but not most portraits (black and grey or color)
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Japanese (bold flow, solid black, layering)
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Neo-traditional (strong lines and value structure)
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Organic textures (feathers, scales, fur, stone, smoke, bio textures)
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Biomechanical Tattoos (the best option, abstract, heavy texture, and great flow)
Color cover ups: darker tones win
Color can absolutely work for cover ups—especially:
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Blues
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Purples
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Greens
More transparent colors like reds, oranges, and yellows usually don’t cover as effectively.
Black and grey cover ups: opaque greys can be a game-changer
In many cases, we can keep your tattoo black and grey using more opaque grey tones and smart value placement.
But here’s the key:
Just because it’s black and grey doesn’t mean any image will work.
A white bald eagle head won’t cover a thick tribal armband. But darker feathers and textured shadow structures might.
Cover up Tattoo by Utah Evans using opaque black and grey
Biomechanical cover ups (a specialty at Inner Visions)
Some styles are naturally built for cover ups—and biomechanical tattoos are one of the best.
Biomech works because it’s:
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Abstract and adaptable to the body
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Packed with texture
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Easy to build dark-to-light transitions
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Designed to “wrap” and flow with placement
Owner Joe Riley is a biomechanical tattoo expert, and he can design biomech cover ups that look like the tattoo was always meant to be there.
Biomechanical Skull Tattoo Cover up by Joe Riley
When we recommend laser first (and why it’s not a bad thing)
Not every cover up needs laser.
But if the tattoo is:
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Very dark
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Very bold
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Very saturated
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Or covers a large area
…we may recommend a few laser sessions.
Not to remove it completely—just to lighten it enough to open up better design options.
If laser is recommended, it’s because we’re protecting you from making another decision you regret.
We won’t take on a cover up unless we’re confident it can be a success.
Start with a consultation (in person or virtual)
Cover ups should always start with a consultation.
During your free consultation, we will:
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Look at the tattoo you want to cover (in person or via photos)
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Tell you the true level of difficulty
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Discuss design direction and realistic options
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Recommend size, style, and whether laser would help
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Pair you with the right cover up tattoo artist for your project
If you’re traveling from out of state (or out of the country), we can also do a virtual consultation.
Tip: When you fill out our contact form, upload clear photos of the tattoo you want to cover up. Natural lighting helps.
Get Started on Your Cover Up
Only takes about 60 seconds
Ready to stop hiding that tattoo?
You don’t need another “quick fix.”
You need a plan. A design that fits your body. And an artist who knows how to make the old tattoo disappear.
Book your free cover up consultation at Inner Visions Tattoo today.
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Walk-ins welcome when available
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Appointments available
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Virtual consultations available for out-of-town clients
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Cover Up Tattoo FAQs
1) Can any tattoo be covered up?
Most tattoos can be covered—but not every tattoo can be covered the way you’re imagining.
Success depends on how dark, bold, and saturated the original tattoo is, plus what you want to put over it. During a consultation, we’ll tell you what’s realistic and what’s not.
2) Does my cover up tattoo have to be bigger?
Usually, yes.
Most cover ups need to be 2–3x larger so we can create enough room for proper coverage, better composition, and a tattoo that looks intentional—not forced.
3) Does a cover up tattoo have to be really dark?
Not always.
We typically need strategic dark areas where the old tattoo sits, then we balance it with lighter areas and focal points so the new tattoo looks clean and high-end.
4) Will the old tattoo show through?
Our goal is to cover about 98% of the tattoo.
Depending on the original ink and your skin, a tiny area may show through—but a properly designed cover up makes it nearly impossible to notice.
5) Do cover up tattoos hurt more?
In most cases, no.
Cover ups generally feel like any other tattoo. The only exception is if there’s scar tissue or complications from the original tattoo (which is rare).
6) My tattoo is raised. Will a cover up fix the scar tissue?
A cover up won’t remove scar tissue.
Raised areas may soften over time, or they may remain. Our job is to design and tattoo in a way that the overall piece is so strong that the texture of the skin becomes a small detail—not the focal point.
7) Should I get laser removal before my cover up?
Not always.
If your tattoo is already faded, you may not need it. If it’s very dark or bold, a few laser sessions can dramatically improve your options and final result.
8) What tattoo styles work best for cover ups?
Styles that use texture, value, and layered shading tend to work best.
That includes biomechanical, Japanese, neo-traditional, and some realism.
Biomechanical tattoos in particular are excellent for cover ups because they’re adaptable, textured, and designed to flow with the body.
9) How many sessions does a cover up take?
It depends on size, detail, and placement.
Some smaller cover ups can be done in one session. Larger or more complex projects may take multiple sessions. We’ll give you a realistic time estimate during the consultation.
10) How do I book a cover up consultation (and what should I bring)?
Start by booking a free consultation.
Bring (or upload) clear photos of the tattoo you want to cover, plus any reference ideas you like.
Then let us do what we do best: design something that actually works.
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