Let’s face it — falling in love can be intense. We’ve all had that moment in the early stages of romance when we want to tell the world about our newfound boo.
Instead of simply changing their relationship status on Facebook, these folks decided to declare their love with tattoos. Unfortunately, not all relationships survive, calling for another trip to the tattoo shop to get their tributes covered up.
I Suspect Fowl Play
It’s been said that getting inked is a great way to kiss goodbye to the break-up blues. A creative solution, this woman covered her ex’s name with a watercolor-inspired feather. Cover-ups usually have to be large enough to disguise the original design, and the artist of this piece decided to take it one step further, getting creative with color.
Nature-themed cover-ups are a popular choice, and feathers can event represent freedom from a toxic or troubled relationship. Goodbye forever, Darwin!
Marge Makes the Best Muse
Cover-ups don’t have to consist of the typical images of flowers, birds, roses, skulls, or feathers. If you want to erase bad memories of your ex, why not replace your ink with a fun tribute to your favorite cartoon character?
Altering the text on a tattoo is a convenient way of changing its meaning without having to cover the design entirely. This tattoo artist cleverly altered ‘Mary’ to say ‘Marge’, complete with a portrait of the blue-haired mother of three.
Portrait Gone Wrong
Getting a portrait of your significant other can be risky, and when the relationship breaks down, a trip to the tattoo shop is inevitable. Thankfully, some tattoos are more easily covered than others.
Sometimes, the artist may suggest a few sessions of laser removal, but this is not always necessary. When a design has faded over time, the artist can conveniently cover the original piece of work using bold colors, as seen in this ‘Day of the Dead’-inspired piece.
Birds of a Feather
When a tattoo consists of a long line of script like this one, it can be difficult to cover it up. This tattoo artist decided to experiment with vivid shades of blue and purple, creating a colorful and fun feather. This bright design leaves no trace of the original, transforming the client’s arm into a canvas.
Sometimes the old tattoo can peek through, but not in this case. Even the small flower has been covered with a splatter of ink!
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
Natural landscapes can be a popular choice of tattoo – reminding the client of peace, tranquillity, and rest. If a relationship falls apart, it can be a good idea to cover the tattoo with a tribute to your happy place.
The artist of this piece decided to cover the original text with a cluster of trees. The mountain range and rising sun add another layer of beauty to this stunning tattoo. You wouldn’t even know that this was a cover-up piece.
Mother of Dragons
Sometimes a tattoo can be difficult to cover entirely, due to the placement or size of the original text. In some cases, names can be completely covered by circular designs like this one. This Game of Thrones-inspired piece transforms the old tattoo into a powerful dragon symbol.
Dragon tattoos can represent freedom – and in many cultures, they connote strength, good luck, and knowledge. If only the client had the wisdom to avoid getting a tattoo dedicated to their partner.
Til Death Do Us Part
On their big day, some couples decide to get matching tattoos instead of exchanging rings. However, not all marriages stand the test of time.
Ring finger tattoos are subtle, but they can be tough to cover up when relationships go up in flames. However, if you decided to celebrate your marriage with ink, a lotus design like this one can be a beautiful solution, symbolizing beauty and spiritual awakening. Next time, maybe you should just put a ring on it!
King Kong Cover-Up
What do you do when you have a huge tattoo of your ex adorning your leg? Cover it with a gorilla, of course! When a portrait is this big, covering it up can be a mammoth task. Sometimes, the only solution involves exploring the animal kingdom.
This gorilla tattoo is a fun way to disguise a detailed portrait, and the dark coloring helps remove any trace of the original. If your favorite movie is King Kong, then that’s a bonus!
Gotham Before Girlfriends
Getting a massive tattoo of your girlfriend’s name across your back seems like a good idea until you split up. This Batman fan came up with the ingenious idea of dedicating his back piece to the caped crusader. The large script may have posed a challenge for the tattoo artist, but the classic shape of the Batman logo worked perfectly to disguise his homage to Kayleigh.
Never mind Bruce Wayne – in this story, the tattooist really saved the day.
Growing a Forest Apart
If your true love has left you, don’t despair. Cover up that tattoo with an image of a place that brings you joy! This piece follows the natural curve of the lettering, disguising the fateful ex’s name with a tall, powerful tree.
Forests are places of peace and relaxation, and simply looking at this forearm piece would be enough to dispel any bad memories of a failed relationship. Simply inhale, exhale, and focus on the future. A new life awaits!
Wings of Freedom
Getting your loved one’s name tattooed on you is a big commitment. In the throes of love, sometimes this decision seems like a perfectly natural thing to do. This client desired his girlfriend’s name inked over his chest, just above his heart. How sweet!
However, when things went sour, he had to go big to cover up the huge original artwork. This new piece uses intricate shading to complete the bold design. Sometimes birds of a feather don’t stay together.
Devil in Disguise
Ouch. Let’s hope this guy’s ex never sees his new tattoo, as he decided to transform her portrait into a creepy, cartoon devil! The tattoo artist of this piece had to get creative to cover up the original design, as detailed portraits can sometimes prove difficult to erase.
The brilliant use of coloring really allows this piece to stand out, whilst still incorporating elements of the former tattoo, such as the hair. Check out those devil horns and sharp fangs!
Touchdown Cover-Up
People can decide to cover their tattoos for a host of reasons. Sometimes this is triggered by a relationship break down, but often the original tattoos were also terribly done! In this client’s case, both of those factors played a part in their decision.
The original tattoo is shoddy, amateurish, and lacks detail. The new design uses vibrant shades of green and yellow, showing off this guy’s love for sports, whilst covering the name of his ex-boyfriend. It’s a win-win situation!
Mythical Medusa Transformation
Oh, dear! Poor Kim. Not only has her ex entirely removed any trace of her original tribute tattoo, but they’ve also replaced her portrait with a colorful, detailed portrayal of an evil creature from Greek mythology! The artist of this piece cleverly covered the text and the image with a host of slithering snakes.
This cover-up is bright, bold, and leaves no trace of the original black and white design. Hopefully, Kim won’t be offended by her ex’s new ink!
Dead Man’s Bones
Some relationships just aren’t built to last. Thankfully, this client was able to say goodbye to their old relationship with this dramatic skull tattoo. The intense shading ensures that the original name is completely gone, while the skull design represents the death of an old life. Also, this tattoo can hold symbolic meaning for the wearer, showing that change and growth lie just around the corner.
Aside from all that soppy stuff, skull tattoos also make you look pretty tough.
Rainbow Feather Fever
When the piece incorporates many bright colors, it can be a challenge for the tattoo artist to come up with a new design. This artist decided to craft a tribute to all things nature-inspired, sketching a watercolor feather surrounded by flying birds.
It was a stroke of genius, as the stunning shades of purple, pink, blue, and green really help to conceal the former script. Feathers may be a popular choice, but this is for a reason. They look great!
Diamonds Are Forever
This fun design brings the bling. Unfortunately, the client’s relationship with Isaac didn’t work out, but this didn’t mean they had to kiss goodbye to their beloved diamond tattoo. Instead, the tattoo artist masterfully concealed the text with a luxurious purple ribbon.
They even went to the effort of brightening the blue colorwork and adding some sparkle with the lines at the top of the piece. This goes to show that completely covering a design isn’t always the answer.
Out of This World
Being in love can make a person do crazy things and getting a neck tattoo is a brave way of declaring your romance to the universe. Unfortunately, not all relationships are meant to be. This time, the artist decided to go galactic, covering the dark, Gothic script with a colorful outer space design!
Break-ups are always tough but getting a quirky and unusual tattoo like this one certainly makes the best out of a bad situation. To infinity and beyond!
Guard Your Heart
Sometimes it’s necessary to book a few sessions of laser tattoo removal to erase the original design. However, a talented artist will be able to avoid this by coming up with a design large enough to conceal the old piece. As long as you have a high pain tolerance, getting a huge tattoo is a good way of transforming unwanted ink.
This design is cartoonish and cute, but it reveals a deeper layer of emotional meaning for the client.
Dagger Through the Heart
Relationships can crumble for a number of reasons. Tension, a mismatch of priorities, or different values are just a few potential triggers for a break-up. Sometimes, instead of simply covering up an old tattoo with a pretty picture, people want to get a tattoo that symbolizes the end of a turbulent time in their life.
This client chose to get a dagger plunging through a heart, surrounded by a crown of roses, showing a newfound sense of strength and bravery.
Paint it Black
Sometimes, a piece is so detailed and large in size that there is no point in trying to cover it completely. This client definitely has a sense of humor, and the artist took advantage of this! In this design, the ex’s name is concealed by a smudge of black ink, which is being painted on by a hardworking stick-man.
Taking a comedic approach like this one can be a fun and light-hearted way of covering up a tattoo. We like!
Bye, Bye Billy
A mandala design can be an excellent way of covering up an old flame’s name. In many spiritual traditions, mandalas are used to aid meditation – representing divine guidance, sacred spaces, and dreams.
Whilst this person may have made a big mistake getting their partner’s name tattooed, perhaps the mandala will remind them to consider their actions and avoid getting into similar situations in the future. Detailed and usually large in size, they can cover a multitude of tattoo sins.
Lotus Move On
According to an ancient proverb, the lotus flower blooms most beautifully from the deepest and thickest mud. It can be hard to move on from a break-up, especially if you carry a reminder of your ex’s existence on your skin.
This lotus design is a great way of covering up an old tattoo, as it creates a beautiful image that can hold brand new significance for you as you continue with your life. Life is tough, and so are you!
Star Crossed Lovers
If you’ve said goodbye to your significant other, it’s time to say goodbye to your old tattoo as well. It’s true that lower back tattoos can be tough to cover tastefully, due to their length and position. This artist chose to simply block out Edwin’s name using thick, bold lines.
This cover-up isn’t exactly subtle, but it certainly sends a clear message! Sometimes you just need to cross your ex out of your life. As Beyoncé once said – “Boy, bye!”
Wisdom of Ganesha
This cover-up stands out as a beautiful tattoo in its own right. To your average artist, this bold and dark typeface would be difficult to conceal. The creative tattooist of this piece decided to cover the text with a bold Ganesha design.
The detailed headpiece cleverly covers the writing, allowing the features of the elephant’s face to stand out. With this piece of art on your body, no one will ever remember the original! Look at those piercing blue eyes.
Hayley’s Misery Business
Even celebrities make mistakes! The powerhouse lead singer of pop-punk band Paramore tattooed the initials of her former husband Chad Gilbert on her fingers, only to split a few years after getting hitched. Rather than remove this with laser treatment, Williams opted to cover each letter with a bold, black square.
The design formed the basis of her first solo album cover, as she sported black squared painted along her face to match. I guess he wasn’t the only exception.
Risky Wrist Tattoo
When they think they’ve found the one, some people want to dedicate a piece of art to that special someone. Some write songs for their lovers, whilst others create beautiful paintings and drawings. However, songs can be deleted, and artworks can be destroyed. Getting their name permanently inked on your skin may not be a wise choice.
This client decided to cover their tattoo with an intricate mandala design. This one was a massive improvement from the wobbly text of the original.
Wise Old Owl
Another wrist tattoo that needed to be covered up with a bold design. If you’re an animal lover, you’ll love this colorful owl piece. The artist left no trace of the original initials, instead creating an entirely new and fresh addition to the client’s body.
When a tattoo is particularly dark and difficult to conceal, tattooists can use bright and vivid colors to disguise the old artwork. This owl comes to life in shades of brown, pink, green, and blue.
