Don't Cry Over Spilled Ink: What You Need To Know About Covering Up (Or Getting Rid Of) Tattoos
Bad tattoos can be really bad, and old tattoos can be tiresome – so if you're looking for options for dealing with a tattoo, then here's what you need to know.
Put A New Twist On It
If you're tired of your old ink – or if it was poorly done – then a good option is to ink over it, turning your old tattoo into an entirely new one. There are many different options and examples for you to choose from, but some general rules are to cover up black ink with deep color, or incorporate the original tattoo into the new one's design, albeit with improvements. You'll want to talk to your tattoo artist about covering up your old tattoo and have them draw the new one on with a stencil before making any hasty decisions, but your new ink could be just the pick-me-up that you need to have confidence in your body art again.
Makeup Is Your Friend
If your bad tattoo has left you leery about any new ink (or if you're waiting before following Tip #3 on this list), you can always cover it up with a bit of careful makeup application.
The first thing you need to do is look at the size of your tattoo: for huge tattoos, an airbrush concealer works best, whereas for medium to small tattoos, full coverage concealer will do just fine. Then apply a primer and consider the color of your tattoo. You'll want a base concealer (save the full coverage for later) with the opposite color of the one you're trying to cover up (white for black tattoos, red for blue, orange for blue, yellow for purple, and vice versa). After you've applied your color-correcting concealer, apply the full-coverage concealer with either your airbrush (for large tattoos) or with gentle but firm pats with a makeup pad (for medium-to-small tattoos). Finish with powder that matches your skin tone, and you should be good to go.
Get Rid of It
If you just want the thing gone without putting makeup on it every morning (and up to 50% of people with tattoos do), then it's time to consult a professional. Laser tattoo removal has progressed along with technology, to the point where the pain is minimal and the lasers are much more successful at completely removing the tattoo from your skin. Once you find a doctor (ask for a recommendation from your family doctor or a dermatologist), they can sit down with you at a consultation and tell you how many sessions it will take to remove the tattoo, and how much it will cost. While laser tattoo removal isn't cheap, it's the only way to have your ink gone forever – and if that's what you want, laser surgery will be worth it.
Visit a website like http://ADCderm.com to learn more.