Have an inkling? Mumbai tattoo artists dissect how to approach removals and cover-ups

Zaheer Chhatriwala’s work covering up a previous tattoo

Recently, British celebrity Victoria Beckham got an old tattoo removed that led to speculation about a possible rift with husband, David Beckham. She spoke up about the deliberation, explaining that her tattoos were from a long time ago, and hadn't aged well. Bespoke tattoo artist Dr Esha Varpe from Moths and Owls Tattoos, suggests thinking through tattoos and selecting an artist you trust. And if you are looking to get rid of your tattoo, here's what you can do.

Laser removal

This method can be more painful than getting the tattoo, and may require several sittings but will fade the tattoo till it is almost unnoticeable. Considering the side effects of laser treatment such as hypertrophic scars, Dr Varpe, a dental surgeon who changed her field of work after a botched-up tattoo, suggests sitting in for a trial session to see how your skin reacts to laser treatments.

Victoria Beckham with the tattoo she got removed. Pic Courtesy/Getty Images

Extend or cover up old ink

Before laser removal, she advises extending a tattoo (modifying it) or covering it up, adding, "For this, it's important to research your artist and consult them in person to understand the process and designs. You can also sit for one laser session to lighten the tattoo before a cover-up." She elaborates, "Make sure the first tattoo is covered well and not visible through the second tattoo. Here, design comes into play and a good artist will know how to get the best results. The artist must also think about how the tattoo will age."

Trust your artist

Tattoo artist Zaheer Chhatriwala reiterates, "You can opt for designs from the Internet, but a copy-paste design will limit how well you can cover up a tattoo. It's always best to leave it to the artist's expertise." He suggests checking the artist's previous cover-up works. The cover-up shouldn't look like one, and this will entirely depend on the artist's skill and design.

Zaheer Chhatriwala and Dr Esha Varpe

Ink notes

Chhatriwala, who has covered up entire sleeves and backs that took eight months to a year to complete, shares his list of reminders and advice for anyone

>> "Go big or go home," he shares. The more space you give for a cover-up, the better it will look. Expect the size of the second tattoo to be three to four times bigger than the existing one. Don't try for a five-inch design over a four-inch tattoo.

>> Simplify the design for results that look neat and not messy. Don't cram too many ideas into one design concept. Avoid too much detailing; bold designs and colour usage will do justice to the cover-up.

>> It's no myth that colour can cover up black ink but this is where expertise comes in. There is a method to it and the artist needs to be skilled.

>> Don't opt for hyper-realistic work, watercolour, and dainty designs for cover-ups.