If you want to cover up an ex name tattoo, the fastest route is usually a cover-up: a new, darker and larger design tattooed over the old name, done in one or a few sessions. Laser removal also works, but it takes many sessions at a clinic and a lot of time. If the old name is very dark, the smartest path is a few rounds of laser lightening first, then a cover-up.
There is nothing to be embarrassed about. Every week at Electric we meet someone with an ex name tattoo, an anniversary date or a matching tattoo that no longer fits. This guide gives you the honest options, the price, and how to choose a design that hides lettering well.
Three ways to deal with an ex name tattoo
- Cover-up: a new design tattooed on top to hide the old name. Usually done in one or a few sessions.
- Laser removal: the old ink fades step by step over many sessions at a laser clinic. Electric does not do laser.
- Lighten, then cover: a few laser sessions to fade the name, then a new tattoo. The new design can be smaller and more open.
Cover-up: fast, but the new tattoo will be bigger and darker
A cover-up is the most common way to hide an ex name tattoo. You walk in with a name and walk out with a new design you chose.
Know this first: the new tattoo is usually larger and darker than the old name. Lettering has many thin strokes running sideways, so the cover needs enough width to swallow every letter. Light colors or very open linework will let the name show through.
- Time: a small name is often done in one session. A larger cover may be split into sessions of up to about 7 hours each.
- Price: charged by the hour, 2,500,000 VND (about $96) per hour with a standard artist, or 3,500,000 VND (about $135) with a Master or Founder.
- Result: the old name disappears under the new design, and the new tattoo gets our lifetime warranty like any Electric tattoo.
Laser removal: clean, but slow
Laser breaks the ink into tiny pieces that the body clears over time. Fading a tattoo fully usually takes many sessions, spaced weeks apart, and results depend on the ink, how dark it is and where it sits. This is a job for a laser clinic, not a tattoo studio. Wikipedia has a plain overview of laser tattoo removal.
Laser makes sense if you want bare skin where the ex name tattoo was and do not want another tattoo. If you still want ink there, a cover-up is usually much faster.
Lighten, then cover: when the ex name tattoo is very dark
Some names are tattooed very dark, with thick lines and solid black. A direct cover is still possible, but the new design would have to be very large and very dark. In that case, a few laser sessions first, then a cover-up, often gives a better result and more design choices.
At the consultation, the artist will tell you honestly if your ex name tattoo can be covered directly or should be lightened first. We will not push you into a tattoo that will not look good.
Which designs hide an ex name tattoo best?
Lettering is one of the easier things to cover, because it is thin and usually sits in a narrow band. The trick is to put dark areas and texture exactly where the letters are.
- Flowers: petals, leaves and shadows create layers that hide letters well. Peonies, roses and lotus flowers all work.
- Animals: fur, scales and stripes on tigers, birds or koi give dense texture that covers strokes well.
- Ornamental: symmetrical patterns with dark areas that run along the length of the name.
- Blackwork: if you want to be sure, solid black areas can cover almost any lettering.
Designs to avoid: thin new lettering over old lettering, pale watercolor, or minimalist designs with lots of empty space. These often let the ex name tattoo show through after healing.
What Electric needs from you
- A clear photo: take it straight on, in natural light, with no filter.
- The size: measure the length and height of the name, or put a ruler next to it in the photo.
- Your new idea: what the new tattoo should say, which style, color or black and grey.
- How big you are happy to go: tell us how large a design you would accept.
Send it through our booking form or WhatsApp, and we will give you a free consultation before you come in.
Who will do your cover-up
Wolf Nguyễn, the founder of Electric, lists Cover-Up as one of his specialties, together with Lettering, Blackwork and Realistic. He knows how lettering is built, so he knows how to hide an ex name tattoo. See his work on the Wolf Nguyễn artist page.
How much does it cost to cover an ex name tattoo?
Same price for everyone: 2,500,000 VND (about $96) per hour with a standard artist, or 3,500,000 VND (about $135) with a Master or Founder, because a cover-up takes more planning and layering than a new tattoo.
- Under 30 minutes: flat 1,000,000 VND (about $38).
- Standard artist: 1,800,000–2,200,000 VND (about $69–85) per hour.
- About 10 x 10 cm, basic shading: about 4.3 to 6.9 million VND (about $165 to $265).
- About 14 x 14 cm, basic shading: about 6.9 to 10 million VND (about $265 to $385).
These prices are a reference, and the exact quote comes after the free consultation. Full tables are on our tattoo price guide. For more on the process, read our guide to cover-up tattoos in Hanoi.
An example to picture it
Say your ex name tattoo is three small initials on your wrist from your student days, thin and slightly faded. You do not want laser because it takes many sessions. One sensible direction is a small flower branch with dark leaves placed right over the initials, a little larger than the old letters, and often done in one session. This is only an illustration, and the artist will look at your real tattoo and advise you on it.
Worth remembering: you do not need to erase the past. You only need a new tattoo you like seeing every day.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need laser before covering an ex name tattoo?
Usually not. Thin, light names can be covered directly. Very dark names look better if lightened first.
Will the cover-up be bigger than the name?
Usually, yes. The new design needs enough width and darkness to swallow the letters.
Does tattooing over an old tattoo hurt more?
It usually does not feel very different from tattooing fresh skin. Pain depends on placement and on your body.
Does Electric do laser removal?
No. If lightening is needed, you do it at a laser clinic first, then come back to us for the cover-up.
Is the cover-up covered by the warranty?
Yes. A cover-up done at Electric gets the lifetime warranty once healed, as long as you follow the aftercare steps.
Can I keep part of the old tattoo?
Possibly. At the consultation, the artist will see which parts can stay and which should be covered.
Book your ex name tattoo cover-up
Visit us at 59C Ly Nam De, Hanoi (near the Old Quarter) or 18th Floor, B14 Building, Lane 65 Pham Ngoc Thach. Open 09:00 to 21:00, every day. Send us a photo of your old tattoo, or message us on WhatsApp: (+84) 94 391 3174.
