Blackwork Tattoos with White Ink

Can white ink hide a black tattoo? Check out our FAQ, white ink on black tattoo designs, and more!

Can a solid black tattoo cover-up obscure previous ink?

Yes! Blacking out your tattoo is doable, but it takes time and money. This cover-up gives many individuals an innovative solution to disguise huge tattoos.

Will the “white-out technique” brighten my old tattoo?

Adding white ink to an existing tattoo can lighten it. White ink helps clean a canvas for a cover-up, but artists are unsure of its durability. This can be a good way to prepare for your new tattoo, but some artists warn that a poor cover-up may show through.

Are white-ink blackout tattoos more expensive?

Blackout tattoos with white ink overlays cost far more than cover-ups. Since blackout tattoos cover large areas of the body, they take numerous visits, which takes time for you and your artist. Adding white ink to the black will take up to 5 sessions or more, so budget for extended sessions with your professional artist and touch-ups over the years.

Are blackout tattoos harmful?

Yes, and no. Blackout tattoos can be safe or dangerous, depending on the artist and ink. To avoid carcinogens, use organic, non-toxic ink when blackouting a wide area of skin. To avoid safety issues, never tattoo over moles, which must be visible to identify changes over time. Even with natural inks, vitamin D insufficiency can occur in large areas, so be cautious before getting a blackout tattoo.

Black Tattoos with White Ink: The Best Cover Up

White over black tattoos are a new trend that gives people with unwanted, huge tattoos a creative solution to cover them. The artist completely covers the old tattoo in black ink to “blackout” it. White ink is then added to the black ink for decoration and images. If you have a sleeve or huge tattoo you don't like, there are ways to conceal it and make it look new!

Green, yellow, light blue and neon tattoos are hard to laser off, so you may not want to undergo the painful and expensive operation. Luckily, white ink can be used over blackout tattoos! These pieces have strong contrast for design work and can cover any size or colour tattoo with assurance.

Considerations for a White-on-Black Tattoo

Before getting a white-on-black tattoo to cover up your old artwork, consider these factors. This style of tattoo isn't new, but many artists are still experimenting with it. If you want a cover-up tattoo like this, make sure your artist knows how to tattoo white ink over blackouts. Artists who have not worked in this style may decline your request because it is difficult and requires a lot of skill.

Nathan Mould is a top white on black tattooist. A black and white ink tattoo should be done by an expert artist; according to Mould, “Unless you land a rare spot with an experienced artist, you’ll probably be rolling the dice and asking your tattooer to do the same.” It may take time and investigation to discover the proper artist for this type of job, but there are many outstanding ones.

In addition to hiring a professional artist, you must also consider the time and money needed to realise your design. Your artist must fill the gap with black ink to cover the tattoo. This approach takes a long time to cover a large pattern like a sleeve, with time for healing between sessions.

After "blacking out" the enormous piece, the artist must add white ink. To make the white ink stand out against the black tattoo background, it usually takes five sessions or more. Due to their vast coverage and time-consuming white ink application, these tattoos can take years to finish, requiring a huge financial and time investment.