Covering Up: How to Hide a Tattoo
May 20, 2015
You love your body art. It’s colorful and original, but most of all, it’s YOU. Your tattoos are something you take pride in. You selected them carefully to represent something meaningful to you. Your significant other finds them sexy, and your friends think they’re super cool, so you love to show them off every chance you get.
But…There are times and people who may not always appreciate the artistic expression of your tattoos. Perhaps you don’t want to have THAT argument again with your ultra-conservative uncle. Or maybe body art is frowned upon at your work, and you DO need to keep that job. Maybe a new opportunity is coming up for a new job, and you’re not sure that the dragon that snakes its way across your forearm will make quite the impression you would like.
For whatever reason, there are times when your tattoos may need to temporarily go into hiding. Here are some options for discreetly putting them away without too much hassle.
Clothing and Accessories
Obviously, covering up with long sleeves and/or long pants is the easiest way to hide your tattoos. Depending on the season and place where you need to cover up, you can select clothes that hide body, arm, and leg tattoos. Neck scarves, necklaces, bracelets and other accessories can also help conceal your ink. Use these items for wrist and neck tattoos and you’ll defuse attention away from your body art.
Specialized Clothing
There are specialized clothing products that can help cover up tattoos. Items such as TatJackets and Tattoo Covers come in various configurations, which can be used for full arm and leg cover-up or for specific areas such as wrists, ankles or small patches of skin. These products are made from skin-tone, compression materials that generally look like a person’s skin. Prices vary depending on the size and brand of the product, but are generally affordable and readily available.
Everyday Cosmetics
Clothing may not always be your best option. If you work outdoors in Florida in the summer, long sleeves and long pants may not be a possibility. With a little bit of patience and skill, tattoos can be covered with regular makeup. Experts recommend using a concealer that is lighter in color than your skin, then following up with a hefty dose of base makeup that is as close as possible to your skin color. Finish it off with some translucent powder and you’ll be ready to show your seemingly ink-free body. But be careful when using makeup on areas that are washed often, such as your hands and wrists. Choose waterproof makeup for longer-lasting concealment.
Stage Makeup
For a heavier dose of makeup, choose the products that performers often rely on – stage or theatrical makeup. Stage foundation is thicker and provides more concealment than standard makeup, so it can provide an alternate solution to your ink cover-up dilemma. It tends to be somewhat pricier than standard makeup products, but can go a long way in erasing your tattoo for a little while.
Tattoo Concealers
There are various products that are made specifically to conceal tattoos. These items are generally available for various skin tones and can be purchased at local retailers, tattoo parlors, and online. Tattoo concealers are generally affordable, so they could present a viable solution for your cover-up woes.
When preparing for job interviews or keeping your conservative boss happy, hiding your tattoos may be a necessary evil. Various alternatives are available, and one may very well work for you. Choose the method that best fits your job or circumstances, and remember, once the obligations are done for the day, you can be free to show off the body art that you love so much and express yourself openly.
Tags:
body, body art, body mod guide, Body Modification, tattoos