Overview
According to a poll conducted by National Geographic in 2000, roughly 40 million Americans have at least one tattoo. This translates to about 15 percent of the American adult population. Although 83 percent of those who have tattoos say they do not regret the decision, there are still times when people want to cover their ink. Fortunately, tattoos can be temporarily or permanently concealed.
Reasons
There are several reasons people might not want the public to see their skin art. According to SkinInkToday.com, the most common reason is because the artwork contains a person’s name, usually that of a former spouse or lover. In other cases, the person may no longer like the way the tattoo looks. A person might also need to cover a tattoo for a family gathering, job interview or business meeting.
Permanent Cover-ups
If the objective is to cover up the content of a tattoo permanently, a cover-up tattoo may be the best solution. Although cover-up inkwork doesn’t remove the embarrassing tattoo, it can conceal it, according to InkArtTattoos.com. Talented tattoo artists can create designs that mimic the lines of the old tattoo while hiding them in new elements. Roses are a popular cover-up choice because the shading and folds of the petals can hide lettering well.
Temporary Cover-Ups
If you only want need to cover a tattoo for an event, such as a business meeting, social gathering or job interview, there are options that are much less drastic. Clothing, makeup and jewelry are all effective cover-ups. According to MakeupNotebook.com, ordinary makeup and concealer are sometimes all that are necessary to make a tattoo less noticeable.
Placement
Tattoo placement can affect the method of temporary cover-up. Plain concealer and foundation is best for tattoos under see-through clothing such as pantyhose, says MakeupNotebook.com. If the tattoo is in an easily visible area, such as the forearm, having a makeup artist apply airbrush makeup may be necessary to conceal the inkwork.
Texture
If you plan to cover your tattoo with makeup, texture is the key to distracting the eye, says MakeupNotebook.com. After applying the concealer and powder, you can dip a stipple sponge in a slightly lighter or darker shade and dab it on your skin to give it the appearance of skin texture.
