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Cover-ups · refreshes · laser removal

Old ink, new story.

Hate it, outgrown it or just watched it fade? A lot of the work that comes through this door is fixing the past. Cover it, refresh it or laser it, all in one studio in Blaydon.

Enquire about a cover-up Laser removal
The same shoulder after Tabitha’s cover-up: a purple rose, orange blooms and a pocket watch BeforeAfter An old, dark, blurred tattoo on a client’s shoulder before the cover-up

Drag to compare. A cover-up by Tabitha.

Your options

Three ways to fix an old tattoo.

  1. Cover it

    A new design over the old

    Your artist plans a new piece around what’s already there, using darker areas, texture and grey or colour opaques so the old lines disappear into the new shading. Luke and Tabitha do a lot of them.

  2. Refresh it

    Bring a faded one back

    Lines gone soft, colours gone flat? A refresh re-lines, re-shades and re-colours a tattoo you still love. One client said Tabitha “actually made it better, not just the shading”.

  3. Fade it

    Laser, then decide

    RazaLight works from the studio. A few laser sessions can lighten a heavy tattoo so a cover-up has more freedom, or keep going for full removal.

How it’s planned

Stencil over the old. Then ink.

Before a single line goes in, the new design is placed over the old tattoo as a stencil, so you can see exactly how it will hide. Here are two of Tabitha’s, from stencil to finished.

Stencil stage: Lilies over an old back piece, with the old tattoo visible underneathStencil
Finished: Lilies over an old back piece, by TabithaFinished
Lilies over an old back piece
Stencil stage: A swallow over an old neck tattoo, with the old tattoo visible underneathStencil
Finished: A swallow over an old neck tattoo, by TabithaFinished
A swallow over an old neck tattoo

Cover-ups & refreshes

Recent rescues.

by Enquire with
  • ★★★★★
    “I had my work originally done in 1983 and hated the tattoo. After 6 hours in the chair I am over the moon with the outcome and the artistic detailing… everyone in the studio makes you feel welcome and puts you at ease as soon as you walk through the door with cups of tea and Yum Yum treats.”

    Joe H. tattooed by Luke Google review

  • ★★★★★
    “Love, love my new tattoo done by Tabitha… Had a cover up of a 30 year old tattoo and you wouldn’t know it had ever been there.”

    Karen H. tattooed by Tabitha Google review

  • ★★★★★
    “I went to Inkwell with a tattoo that had faded… she even went over the original and actually made it better, not just the shading. Very reasonably priced as well. 10 outta 10!”

    Michael S. tattooed by Tabitha Google review

  • ★★★★★
    “Tabitha was lovely. A ‘do over’ of a faded tattoo but colours changed and enhanced. Excellent value for money too.”

    Sandra W. tattooed by Tabitha Google review

Laser tattoo removal

RazaLight, in the studio.

Raza has been removing unwanted ink for 11 years, supported by Lynton laser for the last 10. He moved his clinic into Inkwell in late 2025. You can fade an old tattoo and plan its cover-up under one roof.

  • Lynton laser equipment, from the UK medical-laser maker.
  • 8–16 sessions for full removal, usually three months apart.
  • Fading for a cover-up often takes far fewer.
  • A patch test comes first, then a non-refundable booking fee secures your sessions.
  • Honest advice. Every tattoo fades differently. Raza will tell you what to realistically expect.

Raza also offers

  • IPL treatments
  • RF microneedling
  • Carbon facials
  • Hair removal
  • Facials
Message RazaLight Or send an enquiry

Follow Raza on Instagram @razalight_tattoo_removal or TikTok @raza.cook.

The same name faded right back after laser sessions with RazaLight BeforeAfter A dark script name tattoo on a forearm before laser
Drag to compare. A name, faded right back by RazaLight.
  • Two blue kanji characters before laser, then much lighter after sessions
  • A bright colour heart tattoo before laser, then heavily faded after sessions
  • A dark tribal lower-back tattoo before laser, then fading after sessions
  • Blue outline hearts before laser, then almost gone after sessions
  • Before and after photos from RazaLight’s own clients, taken mid-journey.

Questions

Cover-up & removal FAQs.

Can any tattoo be covered?

Most can. The new design usually needs to be a bit bigger and a bit darker than the old one. Send a clear photo or call in and your artist will tell you honestly what’s possible.

Will I still be able to see the old tattoo?

Not if it’s planned properly. The stencil goes on over the old tattoo first so you can both see how it disappears into the new design. One client, whose 30-year-old tattoo was covered, put it best: “you wouldn’t know it had ever been there”.

Should I have laser before a cover-up?

If the old tattoo is very dark or heavy, or you’d like something light or fine-line over it, a few fading sessions with RazaLight first give your artist far more to work with. Ask at your consultation, since it all happens in the same studio.

How long does laser removal take?

Full removal usually takes 8–16 sessions, spaced three months apart. The laser breaks the ink up, then your body clears it away over the following weeks. Fading for a cover-up usually needs fewer sessions. Every tattoo is different and some inks shift faster than others. Raza will tell you straight what to expect.

How much do cover-ups and removal cost?

Cover-ups are quoted per piece once your artist has seen the old tattoo. Laser removal is quoted by RazaLight after a consultation and patch test. A non-refundable booking fee secures your appointment.

Can you fix a tattoo someone else did?

Yes. The studio opened in 2025, so almost every cover-up and refresh here started life somewhere else. One was done in 1983.

Send us the old one.

Message a clear photo of the tattoo you want gone and tell us what you’d love instead. We’ll tell you honestly what’s possible.

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