Poor-quality work
Permanent makeup is probably the most in-demand procedure today. As a result, there are many offers from artists in Chișinău for this procedure.
Unfortunately, at our EBROWS.MD micropigmentation studio, clients often come to us with a request to cover up a failed eyebrow tattoo.
There can be several reasons for this:
- Lack of experience
- Carelessness
- The artist's mistakes
- Improper eyebrow care
- The tattoo has aged
- It has lost its shape or color
- The desire to cover up gray/green/blue eyebrows
Covering up an old tattoo is a current procedure, but not always suitable — especially when it comes to hiding a dense coloring of an unnatural shade. Let's look together at how to correct an old eyebrow tattoo, when it's possible and when it isn't.
When is correcting an old tattoo suitable?
Let's start by defining the difference between correction and cover-up.
Correction is a procedure in which the existing shade becomes more saturated, while preserving or partially adjusting the shape in a minor way. In other words, the shape and color of the eyebrows are acceptable, and the only desire is to intensify the color. Correction must be done no later than 2 months after the first procedure.
Covering up an eyebrow tattoo is a fundamentally different procedure. It involves completely covering the previous design by implanting pigment in a different shade. The goal is to hide an old, failed and unsightly tattoo. Through cover-up, an eyebrow or lip tattoo can be corrected, but not always.
When can an old eyebrow tattoo be covered up
- If the old pigment has minimal residue — pale, broken up, barely visible.
- If the eyebrow shape has no clear edges, especially the upper edge and the head of the eyebrow.
- If the existing shape allows for it to be extended without exceeding the permitted limits, so that the final result looks harmonious and natural.
- If the pigment has not turned a different color (blue, red, brown, etc.). Red eyebrows or a gray/bluish tattoo can be covered up, but it is very difficult; if the shades are very intense, cover-up is not possible.
3 stages of eyebrow condition and the difficulties of cover-up
- The simplest stage: the condition of the eyebrows allows the old tattoo to be covered with another pigment, without a corrector. There is no need to change the shape, and the pigment residue is very faint.
- The stage where it is necessary to change the shape: to make the eyebrows wider or longer.
- The stage where it is necessary to change both the shade and the shape — the most difficult and lengthy one, in which not only pigment but also a corrector is used.
When is it impossible to cover up an old tattoo?
Before booking an appointment to cover up microblading or an old tattoo, a preliminary consultation with the artist is mandatory. The artist must see the condition of the old tattoo and decide whether it is possible to cover it up.
4 reasons why the artist refuses a cover-up
- The impossibility of changing the shape through cover-up: the shape is irregular, unnatural, with an obvious asymmetry.
- The pigment color has become unrecognizable and is very visible.
- Low-quality pigments were used when the old tattoo was done, and they have spread.
- The pigment was implanted deeply and too densely.
Cover-up, in the modern interpretation, involves implanting pigment into the upper layers of the skin. Gradually, the implanted pigment dissolves and leaves the body, and the old tattoo becomes more and more visible. Therefore, covering up a very visible old tattoo is not a permanent solution, but a temporary effect.
What to do if you can't cover up an old tattoo?
If you want to correct an eyebrow or lip tattoo, but this is not possible with a standard cover-up, we recommend first removing it with a laser, then getting a modern and beautiful permanent makeup.
Laser tattoo removal — advantages
- The old pigment is completely removed; you can adjust the number of sessions according to the goal (from lightening the shade to completely removing the design).
- Many corrections after the cover-up will not be needed: the old tattoo is removed, a new procedure is carried out, and then the mandatory correction after one month.
- The removal procedure is safe for the skin and provides excellent results, including the elimination of the black color of the pigment.
If the old work on the eyebrows, lips or eyelids looks unsightly, laser removal can be a real lifesaver. After this, you can have permanent makeup in any technique, as soon as the skin has fully recovered.
Is it possible to do powder brows over old work?
Powder brows are the most popular permanent makeup technique for eyebrows, which is why the request to do them over an old tattoo comes up very often. We always refuse to perform this procedure without the prior removal of the old tattoo.
The principle behind powder brows consists of implanting pigment point by point into the upper layers of the skin; over time, these open up and are completely eliminated. That is why we do not apply this technique to cover up a garish and visible tattoo. The only correct solution is removing the old tattoo, followed by a modern procedure on clean skin.
The cover-up procedure is carried out similarly to the traditional stages of permanent makeup, but with the use of a color corrector. Correctors are used to neutralize unwanted shades, with the corrective color chosen according to the rules of color theory:
- Olive green to neutralize the red color.
- Yellow to neutralize strongly purple shades.
- Orange and red to eliminate gray and blue shades.
A very important aspect in the cover-up process is creating the sketch. Here the artist dedicates time to create a new shape that looks neat, beautiful and, at the same time, natural. The shape is created and discussed with the client.
How to prepare for a tattoo cover-up
- Stop taking antibiotics and aspirin.
- Avoid any procedure that traumatizes the skin, including visits to the tanning salon and direct sun exposure.
- Keep in mind that the procedure has contraindications: insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, epilepsy, psychiatric disorders, viral and oncological diseases, advanced skin conditions and blood clotting problems.
Skin care after the procedure
- Avoid direct exposure to ultraviolet rays and apply a cream with a high SPF factor.
- Avoid traumatizing the skin.
- Use chlorhexidine for disinfection.
- Do not peel off the skin that is flaking.
The correction after the old tattoo cover-up procedure is mandatory: it intensifies the new color of the pigment and prolongs the cover-up effect. Since the shade always becomes lighter after healing, one more correction may be necessary.
Tattoo cover-up: should we do it or not?
The tattoo cover-up procedure is only relevant if the old design is pale and barely visible.
Even in this situation, the procedure is complex and demanding, requiring a serious and lengthy approach. With the artist's proper experience, cover-up can help hide the unwanted tattoo for several years.
In the case of an old and visible tattoo, cover-up is not a practical option. In this situation, removing the tattoo followed by fresh micropigmentation is the ideal choice.
In any case, the artist will give you advice after examining the condition of the old tattoo and will recommend the best solution for achieving the desired result.
