Some things just go together naturally - bacon and eggs, coffee and cake, Jack Daniels and coke … you get the idea. Then there are the things that you’d never dream of pairing up, but you can’t deny that they just work together: chocolate and chilli, salt and caramel, tattooers and tattoo removal.
Yep - you might think that tattooers and tattoo removalists would be worlds apart, but the reality is that they can, and a lot of the time do, work together like a dream. Because at the end of the day, we’re all working toward the same thing: helping clients get a great tattoo that they’ll love forever.
Most tattooers have at least a couple of people a week getting in touch with them asking to get tattoos covered up that they just don’t want anymore. Sometimes the best option is to fade the old ink before re-tattooing - something that’s known as a 'fade out’ or 'tattoo reduction’. Enter laser tattoo removal ...
We had a chat with the awesome Edgil from Platinum Ink in Sydney to find out why he thinks a fade out and a cover up go hand in hand - here’s what he had to say …
Yep - you might think that tattooers and tattoo removalists would be worlds apart, but the reality is that they can, and a lot of the time do, work together like a dream. Because at the end of the day, we’re all working toward the same thing: helping clients get a great tattoo that they’ll love forever.
Most tattooers have at least a couple of people a week getting in touch with them asking to get tattoos covered up that they just don’t want anymore. Sometimes the best option is to fade the old ink before re-tattooing - something that’s known as a 'fade out’ or 'tattoo reduction’. Enter laser tattoo removal ...
We had a chat with the awesome Edgil from Platinum Ink in Sydney to find out why he thinks a fade out and a cover up go hand in hand - here’s what he had to say …

Why is black ink such a problem in cover-ups?
"You can't cover black up with anything apart from more black ink. Tattoo ink doesn't work like paint - you can’t just go over the top of black with colour. Even if it looks like you’ve coloured over it when the ink is fresh, the black will eventually come through again. It always does."
So how does laser help?
“It frees up your choices and gives you more scope for design and if you don’t start with the cleanest canvas possible, it won’t matter how much time or money you put into the tattoo. Laser might cost a little more and it will take a little longer to get your tattoo but it opens up many more doors for you design-wise - and if you’re compromising on design and getting a tattoo you don’t REALLY love over something you already hate, you’re never going to be really happy with it."
"You can't cover black up with anything apart from more black ink. Tattoo ink doesn't work like paint - you can’t just go over the top of black with colour. Even if it looks like you’ve coloured over it when the ink is fresh, the black will eventually come through again. It always does."
So how does laser help?
“It frees up your choices and gives you more scope for design and if you don’t start with the cleanest canvas possible, it won’t matter how much time or money you put into the tattoo. Laser might cost a little more and it will take a little longer to get your tattoo but it opens up many more doors for you design-wise - and if you’re compromising on design and getting a tattoo you don’t REALLY love over something you already hate, you’re never going to be really happy with it."
What’s your biggest piece of advice for someone looking for a cover up?
"Listen to your tattooer. If your tattooer tells you that you need laser we're telling you for a reason, so pay attention! We’re talking about putting something permanent on your skin here and quality tattooers are passionate about doing what it takes to create beautiful tattoos - so listen to what they’re telling you to do!"
Any final words?
“Please don't haggle with your tattooer over price. You wouldn’t haggle with your doctor, dentist or even your hairdresser, so don’t do it with your tattooer! Quality costs, people - cheap tattoos aren't good and good tattoos aren't cheap. That goes for laser as well - you have to be prepared to pay for quality.”
There you have it folks - straight up advice on why laser is important, straight from an awesome artist. If you have any questions about tattoo reduction or removal, give us a call on 0422 540 773 or email info@unwantedinktattooremoval.com
Unwanted Ink would like to thank Edgil for sharing his time and wisdom :) We also think you should click here to check out some of his amazing artwork >>
And you can see more great cover-up work from all the artists at Platinum Ink Sydney here >>
"Listen to your tattooer. If your tattooer tells you that you need laser we're telling you for a reason, so pay attention! We’re talking about putting something permanent on your skin here and quality tattooers are passionate about doing what it takes to create beautiful tattoos - so listen to what they’re telling you to do!"
Any final words?
“Please don't haggle with your tattooer over price. You wouldn’t haggle with your doctor, dentist or even your hairdresser, so don’t do it with your tattooer! Quality costs, people - cheap tattoos aren't good and good tattoos aren't cheap. That goes for laser as well - you have to be prepared to pay for quality.”
There you have it folks - straight up advice on why laser is important, straight from an awesome artist. If you have any questions about tattoo reduction or removal, give us a call on 0422 540 773 or email info@unwantedinktattooremoval.com
Unwanted Ink would like to thank Edgil for sharing his time and wisdom :) We also think you should click here to check out some of his amazing artwork >>
And you can see more great cover-up work from all the artists at Platinum Ink Sydney here >>