A cover-up tattoo hides a tattoo you no longer like under a new design. Studios get asked for cover up tattoos all the time, but we found no official or health source that explains how one is done. What tattoo studios say is experience, not published data. This guide keeps three things apart: what a studio says (named, and treated as opinion), what health sources say about removing tattoos with laser, and what a studio in Andalucía must tell you before it starts.

What is a cover-up tattoo, and why it is not always possible

Ray Studios, a tattoo studio in Ireland, explains on its blog that the new design has to be more visible than the old one. That is why a cover up tattoo is usually darker, has more ink and is bigger. The studio adds that dense ink, especially black, is hard to hide unless it is faded first. Without fading the old tattoo, it says, you cannot get a clear result over a dark base. According to the studio, a direct cover-up only works if the old tattoo is light, has little ink and is small. This is one studio's opinion, not scientific data.

Laser first: fading the old tattoo before a cover-up

Ray Studios says that in most cases a few laser sessions before the cover-up improve the final result a lot. It matters most when the old tattoo is very dark, has a lot of ink, was badly done or has worn badly over time. Its numbers are 1 to 3 sessions for a light fade and 3 to 6 for fuller preparation. After that, the skin needs several weeks after the last session to heal and settle.

The health sources talk about removing a tattoo, not fading it, and give higher numbers:

  • OCU, the Spanish consumer organisation, says you often need eight sessions or more. Black, dark blue and red inks respond best. Light blue, green, purple and orange only partly, and yellow usually does not respond to any laser. With a Q-switched laser, blisters, bleeding, infections and scars are common. The risk is higher if you tend to get thick scars or keloids (scars that grow more than normal). OCU recommends an authorised specialist centre with dermatologists (skin doctors).
  • EROSKI Consumer (2016) quotes a dermatologist from the Spanish Academy of Dermatology (AEDV). In general, the dermatologist says, 8 to 10 sessions are needed, depending on the colour, the amount of ink and the age of the tattoo. The article warns of burns and scars if the laser is not suitable or there is no medical control. This source is ten years old.

These numbers are not comparable with the studio's. Fading to cover is not the same as removing, and every case depends on the tattoo and your skin. Ask a professional to look at your tattoo before you decide. Both OCU and EROSKI are in Spanish, and we found no English-language health page on laser removal that we could check.

Before tattooing over a tattoo: your skin must be healed

Decreto 71/2017 says that, for a time, tattooing is not advised if you have scars that have not settled, recent burns, ulcers or haematomas (large bruises) (art. 19.1.b). If you have had laser treatment, the studio needs to know and check the state of your skin. Always tell your tattooist about it, and about any allergy or problem with healing (art. 18.a).

What the studio must explain

The decree requires the person who tattoos you to inform you before they start, in speech and in writing (art. 17). They must explain:

  • Which technique is best for your case and, if possible, show you photos of similar work (art. 17.2.c). For a cover-up tattoo, ask to see other healed cover-ups.
  • That a touch-up or a change may be needed, and that the tattoo is "for life" (art. 17.2.g).
  • Whether it can be removed, in a "clear and realistic" way (art. 17.2.h).
  • The quote before you start, with the total cost (art. 17.2.j).

All of this goes in the informed consent form, which is signed in two copies and you get one (art. 20.1). We found no source with cover-up prices in Málaga. The cost depends on the size, the colours and whether laser comes first, so ask for the total in writing before you book. For general prices see our tattoo prices guide. The checks on hygiene and paperwork are in our guide on how to choose a tattoo studio in Málaga. If it is your first time in a studio, the first tattoo guide also helps.

Questions for your cover-up tattoo artist

  1. Can my tattoo be covered as it is, or does it need fading first?
  2. If it does, how many laser sessions do you expect, and how long do I wait afterwards?
  3. What size and colours does the new design need so the old one does not show?
  4. Can I see your healed cover-ups of a tattoo like mine?
  5. What happens if it needs a touch-up? What is the total cost?

If you have not chosen a style yet, our guide to tattoo styles helps you compare. For a cover-up, the best cover up tattoo artist is the one who shows healed cover-ups like yours, so judge the portfolio, not the promise.

Find a studio in Málaga

Our directory lists tattoo and piercing studios in Málaga with their address and phone number. It is an information list: we do not rate or guarantee any studio. Always check with the studio itself whether it does cover-ups.