In the world of tattooing, there are many ways to deal with an old piece of ink you no longer love. For years, the main option was a dense cover-up. But a new, bold, and highly artistic approach has gained massive popularity: the blast-over tattoo.
You may have seen them: a bright, bold new tattoo that is placed directly on top of an older, faded one, but the old tattoo is still intentionally visible underneath. So, what is a blast-over tattoo, and how is it different from a traditional cover-up?
This is your guide to the art of the blast-over, a style that embraces the past instead of completely erasing it.
Blast-Over vs. Cover-Up: The Core Difference
The goal of a traditional cover-up is concealment. The artist's job is to use a new, larger, and darker design to completely hide the old tattoo, making it disappear.
The goal of a blast-over is layering. The artist intentionally creates a new tattoo over the old one, but the new design is often more open, using bold lines and less shading. This allows the old tattoo to show through in the negative spaces, creating a complex, textured, and layered piece of art. It doesn't hide the old tattoo; it interacts with it.
Legend of tattooing, @tysonarndt with an incredibly cool blast-over from @gordie_jones. Check out bigtimepdx.com to get tattooed by a legend.
Why Choose a Blast-Over?
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It's an Artistic Statement: A blast-over acknowledges the history on your skin. It says, "This old tattoo is a part of my story, and now I'm adding a new chapter on top of it." It's a powerful way to show how tattoos age and evolve with you as a person.
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It Can Save a "Bad" Tattoo: Do you have an old tattoo with a tattoo blowout or some faded, blurry lines? A bold blast-over can impose a new, sharp structure over the top, making the old imperfections look like an intentional, shadowy background.
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More Design Freedom: Because you don't have to worry about complete coverage, you have more freedom with the new design. You aren't forced to use a huge, dark, dense image to cover up a black tattoo, which is often the only option for a traditional cover-up.
What Makes a Good Blast-Over Tattoo?
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High Contrast is Key: For a blast-over to be successful, the new tattoo must be significantly bolder and darker than the old one. This is why the most common style for a blast-over is bold, black American Traditional or heavy blackwork. The new, crisp black lines create a stark contrast against the soft, faded grey of the old tattoo underneath.
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The Old Tattoo Should Be Faded: The technique works best when the existing tattoo is already several years old and has naturally faded. A brand new, dark tattoo is not a good candidate.
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You Need the Right Artist: This is a very intentional style that requires an artist with a strong sense of composition. You need to find tattoo artists who specialize in this look and have examples of it in their portfolio. They will know how to design a tattoo that interacts with your existing art in a dynamic and visually pleasing way.
The Process and Aftercare
Getting a blast-over is just like getting a new tattoo, and the aftercare is just as critical. In fact, because you are re-traumatizing the skin, a flawless healing process is essential.
A bad heal could damage both the new and the old tattoo.
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A professional aftercare system is the best way to protect your layered art. Our No Pain Tattoo Aftercare Bundle provides the gentle No Pain Tattoo Cleansing Foam and nourishing No Pain Tattoo Aftercare Balm needed to heal the new layer perfectly without complications.
The Verdict: A blast-over tattoo is a bold and artistic way to update your skin. It's a celebration of your tattoo journey, layering new art over old stories. By finding an artist who is a master of this specific style, you can transform an old piece into something new, exciting, and completely unique.