Service
Cover-Up Tattoos in Whitby
A cover-up replaces an old tattoo with a new design that hides the original. At HeadRush Whitby, cover-up bookings are taken by Ross, Max and Maks — the three artists with the most experience designing around existing ink.
What a cover-up actually is
- •A new tattoo designed specifically to disguise an existing piece.
- •The new design typically needs to be larger and darker than the original to absorb it.
- •Some old tattoos cover cleanly. Others need 1–3 sessions of laser lightening first to give the artist room to work.
- •Honesty matters — we will tell you up-front whether your piece can be covered, and how big and dark the new design will need to be.
What we can usually cover
- •Faded older work that has lost saturation.
- •Smaller pieces (smaller than your hand) where the new design has room to dominate.
- •Designs without heavy black ink — coverage of black is the hardest, because there is nothing darker to absorb it.
What we cannot cover (or what needs laser first)
- •Hand and finger tattoos — the new piece would also need to be a hand or finger tattoo, and detail breaks down too quickly there to support the kind of redesign required.
- •Heavy black tattoos that have been refilled multiple times — these usually need laser lightening first.
- •Names of past partners that you want gone, where you are not willing to commit to a much larger new piece — sometimes laser removal is the better option than a cover-up.
Who does cover-ups at HeadRush
Ross, Max and Maks all take cover-up bookings. Which artist matches your project depends on the style of the new piece — black & grey realism (Ross or Maks), traditional, neo-traditional or Japanese (Max).
Recent work
Pricing
- •Studio minimum: $135 (HST included).
- •Hourly rate: $180–$250 depending on artist.
- •Cover-ups specifically: priced like any custom piece — by hours and complexity, not by what is being covered.
- •Most cover-ups: one to three sessions depending on the size and density of the original.
Final price is always confirmed at your free 30-minute consultation, before any deposit changes hands.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the consultation take if I want to cover something?+
About 30 minutes, like any consultation. Send us a clear well-lit photo of the existing tattoo before you book and we will respond within 24 hours with an honest read on whether it can be covered.
Will the old tattoo show through?+
Sometimes a faint shadow remains in certain lights, especially if the original had heavy black. Most well-designed cover-ups read as the new piece in everyday viewing, but we will be honest at the consultation about what is realistic for your specific case.
Do you do laser removal in-house?+
No. If laser lightening is needed before the cover-up, we will refer you to a licensed laser-removal clinic — that work is billed by the clinic, not by HeadRush.
How long should I wait between laser and cover-up sessions?+
Usually 6–8 weeks between laser sessions, and another 6–8 weeks after the final laser session before tattooing over it. Your laser provider will give you specific timing.
Can I get a small tattoo to cover a smaller one?+
Often no. Cover-ups almost always need to be larger and darker than the original. If you want a small piece, the realistic options are usually laser removal first, or accepting that the old tattoo will partly show through.
Ready to start?
Book a free 30-minute consultation. Bring references, talk through size and placement, leave with an honest quote — no deposit until you book the session.
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