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5 of the best tattoo cover-ups we’ve found on the internet
Whether it’s an Ex’s name or just an awful cheap tattoo, having an old tattoo covered up can take on some creative turns.
Now, we don’t mean something your tattoo artist has done wrong – at the end of the day, what you have put on your body is your responsibility. We’re talking about fixing an ex’s name or covering up that homemade tattoo your friend gave you when you were 14. You know, complete shit.
Here are five of the best tattoo cover up ideas we found on the interwebs. All credit due to the original artists.
The Ex-partner cover up
True love never dies… until it does about 6 months later when you’re both over that honeymoon period. When that happens, turn your soul mate into a literal soul mate, with this kick as idea.
When in doubt, call Batman
And we’re not even joking. Because the Dark Knight is, well, dark, he’s perfect for covering up old tattoos. Darth Vader and Black Panthers (the animal, not the Marvel character) are also great for this.
Own your mistakes
Ok, so you made a mistake. One way to fix it is not to try and cover it up, pretending it never happened, but instead to own it. Johnny Depp famously had Winona Ryder’s name tattooed on his arm when they got engaged, but when they broke up, instead of having it covered up or lasered off, he changed it from Winona Forever to Wino Forever.
The dreaded cheap portrait
The internet is flooded with terrible tattoos of loved ones. This is what happens when you go cheap on your ink. If you want a photo-realistic portrait of a loved one, then you’re simply going to have to pay the money for it, otherwise you might end up with some sort of Zombie/Demon image of your beloved daughter to carry around with you forever.
Get creative
A fix job doesn’t necessarily mean covering up your old tattoo. If you’re creative enough you can incorporate it into a new design. The one above is brilliant because it simultaneously creates a new, decent tattoo, while acknowledging at the old one.
How to tell if a tattoo is infected
It’s quite rare for a tattoo to get infected, but if it does, you should know the warning signs and how to avoid it in the first place.
Here at Sunset Studio, we take every precaution when it comes to hygiene. All our equipment is sterilised and we only use disposable tubes with high-quality Eternal Ink.
However, no-one is immune to stupidity or bad luck. If you get a tattoo and then go roll around in the muck, there’s a good chance you’re going to get an infection.
The trick is to spot the warning signs before things get really out of hand. An infected tattoo is a dangerous thing, and if left untreated can have serious consequences.
Spot the warning signs
After getting a tattoo, redness, itching and tenderness are all to be expected, so don’t panic. With some basic aftercare instructions and some Protat aftercare cream, you should be fine and everything will be healed and back to normal in a couple of weeks.
If however you tenderness turns into genuine pain, then you might want to pay attention.
If you start to notice any kind of red lumps or sores, then there’s a good chance your tat has become infected. Thing will soon start to get out of hand with thick white or yellow puss. If you experience a fever or nausea, then it’s time to get to the doctors.
A tattoo is an open wound, and as such is a gateway for bacteria to enter the body. If you’re unlucky enough to get an infection, it might not even affect the tattooed area! Symptoms might start to show as aches and pains throughout the body, or vomiting and diarrhoea.
Long story short, if you feel sick after getting a tattoo, go get it checked out.
What to avoid
The best thing you can do for a new tattoo is to keep it clean.
Listen to your artist and buy whatever creams they suggest. We use Protat aftercare, it’s one of the best on the market. It will help keep your skin hydrated.
Avoid direct sunlight, the ultra violet radiation will damage your already sensitive skin. Stay away from swimming pools and anything that may get your tattoo dirty. If you’re into sport that involve a lot of sweat, you’re just going to have to take a break for a while. The last thing you need is a staph infection.
Some people, especially those with immune conditions, have more severe immune responses to the procedure and inks used, but this is very rare.
Just be sensible and look after yourself – and your tattoo- and you’ll be fine.
Where on your body do tattoos change the least with time?
If you’re planning on getting a tattoo, you may want to have a longer think about where your next tattoo is going. The following four areas are the least likely to change over time.
If you’re wanting a tattoo that’s going to look good in 20 years, then you have to be careful about where you put it on your body.
You may think you’ll be thin forever, but trust us, once you hit 30 it’s all downhill from there.
As your metabolism slows, you gain weight, whether you like it or not. Our skin stops producing as much collagen as it used to once we pass 30, making it sag and lose its elasticity.
Even if you’re a bit on the plump side now and plan on losing weight in the future, we’re bad news for you; losing weight causes your skin to change even more than gaining it.
With all that in mind, you may want to have a longer think about where your next tattoo is going. The following four areas are the least likely to change over time.
Inner forearms
If you want a tattoo on your arm, the inner forearm is probably the best option. This area is less likely to show much change over time, unlike upper arms, and less often exposed to the harmful ultraviolet light from the sun life the outer forearms.
Calves
As any weight-lifter will tell you, calves are notoriously difficult to put weight on. While this might not be good for body builders, it’s great news for anyone wanting a tattoo that will last.
Upper back
As we get older, we tend to put on weight in certain areas. Men add a bit to their gut, while women tend to add weight to their breasts, bum and thighs. The good news is, our upper backs stay pretty much the same through out our lives, so unless you’re planning on going “American at Disney World” fat, then here is also a good place.
Bony spots
Bony spots that don't get much sun are also a safe bet. The ankle, knee, elbow, and wrist match these criteria best, but they are also the areas which are the most wrinkly, so may not be suited to the type of tattoo you want.
The NZ Tattoo & Arts Festival is only 2 weeks away!
Just like Christmas, it seems to come round faster every year!
The Eighth Annual New Zealand Tattoo & Arts Festival will once again be held in New Plymouth, and once again Sunset Tattoo Studio will be attending.
The Festival
Featuring over 300 of the world’s best artists, the world-famous Festival will be held on the weekend of 24th-25th November at the TSB Stadium. Highlights include Ink Master stars Ryan Ashley Malarkey & Nikki Simpson, Dan Smith from LA Ink, Steve Butcher, FMX & BMX shows, live music, live performances, art & much more.
Sunset are of course heading down, with Tom Tom, Tristian, Capilli, Milky and Magali Corpus all representing Auckland’s best tattoo studio at the event.
You can get tattooed at the festival by either pre-booking an appointment via email/message or get a walk up booking.
Appointments are to be booked directly with the artists, make sure you include plenty of information in your email/message about what you want tattooed, size of tattoo, where on the body etc.
A large number of artists will be doing walk up tattoo appointments all weekend long. Tickets can be purchased from www.ticketek.co.nz or at the Ticketek box at the gate during the festival weekend.
And remember, the NZ Tattoo & Art Festival is a family friendly event, so bring the kids along! Alongside tattooing there is FMX & BMX shows plus a dedicated kid zone area. Kids 14 & under get in free when accompanied by a paying adult.
This Festival is in its eighth year, and it’s only getting bigger each year! Come along for the fun and say hello to the guys.
Happy Halloween! Check out these scary tattoo ideas for everyone’s favourite holiday!
Everyone’s favourite holiday is back, and we’ve picked out 6 of the best ideas for a halloween themed tattoo.
It’s that time of year again when everyone likes to get dressed up and lose all inhibitions by pretending to be someone else.
Halloween is awesome, but with a Halloween themed tattoo, it can be your favourite holiday all year round!
Check out 6 of the best Halloween themed designs we found on the internet.
Pumpkin Tattoos
What’s more symbolic of Halloween than a carved pumpkin. And the beauty of it is, you can have anything you want carved into it! Scary clown, the Batman logo, your last blood pressure rating… the choice is yours!
Traditional Halloween Tattoos
The old traditional style tattoos meet Halloween imagery, creating a gorgeous little snow globe of terrifying cuteness. Ghosts, pumpkins, a graveyard… the only thing that’s missing is Donald Trump’s hair.
Ghost Tattoos
Aww look at this little guy! If he turned up at our door we’d give him all the lollies! After shitting ourselves of course, he’s still a ghost.
This boy on the other would just get the soiled pants.
Scary tattoos
Yeah, na bro. How are you supposed to sleep with this screaming at you every night?
Halloween tattoos
Literally. Michael Myers is the embodiment of Halloween, staring in… we want to say 743 movies? Most of which have the same name. He’s still cool AF though, even if his terrifying mask is actually a William Shatner mask spray painted (true story!).
