what to do about my tattoos??

leideigh

hi all -

i have a large shoulder tattoo and a large tattoo on my upper back that NEED to be somehow hidden for my wedding.... i'm planning a wedding in hawaii so i don't want a sweater or something!

any ideas or experiences on makeup? DIY? makeup by a pro? test runs? i also don't want to look like i have large bruises or something... so i was thinking makeup under lace??

this is very frustrating, making my dress shopping even more difficult! i'm clueless!

i've attached a pic of what i'm up against. the one on my back is a bit smaller. any and all advice/experiences welcome! thanks!

leideigh

whoops here's the pic!

artbyallie

Why do they need to be hidden? Your tattoos are part of you and I assume you got them because you like them. I would encourage you to rock your tattoos in your wedding gown. Plenty of brides do so all the time.

ETA: Though if both are on your left side as shown, that side will be turned away from the audience anyway...

leideigh

i know i know and believe me i would rock them if i could... but due to some extreme family "issues" they need to be hidden.... 

that one is on my left, it's the one i'm worried about the most.... the other one is in the center of my upper back and i'm less worried about that one since i can use makeup/hair/veil.....

smalfrie19

I think this is YOUR wedding and they are a part of who you are. I vote to not cover them at all. 

nextrightthing

I understand where you are coming from.  I, too, have tattoos that I want hidden (not because of family issues, but because I was young and dumb when I got them and I don't like them .  My gown is lace and will cover them.  I will probably use makeup under the lace.  I'm not sure if this will work for you, because your shoulder is much darker than mine and bigger. 

How do you feel about a dress with three-quarter length sleeves or a bolero?  Depending on the season of your wedding, that could work.  I don't think just makeup will do it without, like you said, looking bruised. 

As PP said, if you like your tattoos, rock them.  Family or no family.  You aren't a kid anymore, so they don't get to tell you what to do.  I mean that nicely, not harshly.

Good luck!

csweaney

I concur about it being your wedding and your tattoos and I think you should rock them uncovered--that being said I understand that sometimes family issues and things of that nature are unavoidable and make life difficult for soon to be brides. Might I recommend looking for a gown that has an element like this :

http://www.maggiesottero.com/dress.aspx?style=19713&page=0&pageSize=36&attrib31=278&attrib31=279&keywordText=

This one has a removable illusion "jacket"--you could rock the illusion jacket for ceremony and take off for reception?

http://www.maggiesottero.com/dress.aspx?style=A3635&page=0&pageSize=36&attrib31=278&attrib31=279&keywordText=

This gown also has the illusion jacket--in fact, you might be able to buy one of these separately from the dress/have one made depending on what kind of gown you want to get. 

Hope I helped. I know this is a rough situation.

ohmrs2014

As much as my dad has a dislike for tattoos, they are apart of me and I do not plan on covering them up.  Most of them will be covered anyway because of location but the ones that will be visible I will be wearing them proudly.  I vote for leaving them alone and letting them be worn proudly.

MeganLAnderson

Do you need to hide the fact that you have them or just want to make them less obvious?

I've heard good things about Kat Von D's tattoo cover up product but haven't tried it yet.  I have one on my back that I want to cover during the ceremony when everyone will be staring at me, but I don't care so much during the reception.  If the make-up doesn't work out, I'm thinking of wearing a light shawl or wrap during the ceremony.  I know this may not be fool proof for hiding my tattoo, but at least it won't be in all of the ceremony pictures.

QueerFemme

that is a pretty significant tattoo to cover.  Personally, I think it's beautiful and I would rock it for sure.   if you feel like you need to cover it, I would find someone who does theatre make up and make sure it's sealed. 

Random question though, won't it look weird to you later when you look at your photos and your tattoos aren't there?

[Deleted User]

I'm was going to mention Kat Von D too. I remember  a few years ago she did a photo shot where in one shot they showed all her tattoos and in another shot they covered every single tattoo and you couldn't see anything through the makeup. I think it will be just a matter of finding the right makeup and testing it out prior to the big day & something that will hold up in the heat of the hawaiian weather.

lovesclimbing

I have heard good things about Dermablend.  I have never used it but that's the one I hear people recommend and talk about the most.

suzyk723

Because the the size and darkness of the tattoo i think ti will be very hard to cover up. good cover up is very expensive. When it is rubbing up against your dress it will fade and mess up your dress. Also if you are in Hawaii the warmth and sweat will add to the messiness. My advice would be to look for a dress with sleeves or look for a dress that you would be able to able sleeves to.

luvforfluffy

what about air brush ? or very heavy make up like MAC make up?

lovebugVictoria

Walmart sells this stuff called glamoflauge. Its made by hard candy. I have used it for job interviews on my friend (she has a quite large chest piece full of blacks and dark reds). It works very well. Just make sure you get the right shade cause if not it will look like a bruise. Once you put the glamoflauge on, put a coat of bronzer over it so it doesnt get on your veil or dress. Good Luck!!

Aileta

Kat von D got hers covered for a photo shoot a while back.  they do have air brush make up you can do to cover tats.  i have seen it done on some of the most impossible looking tats on youtube all you have to do is search it.  there is a way at home as well and some of the products can be purchased and used at home too even with out an air brush.    stage makeup i would try from select places that specialize in theatrics products.  i warn make sure you get the right shade it will fully cover BUT you will look like you have two shades of skin tones. theater make up is some wonderful stuff its how we can create wrinkles and make people look older or younger and it goes on really thick talk about full coverage!  

 if there is a family issue behind the tattoos i would cover them.  if it meant no help with cost or it was a requirement of some contributing person or would really start some big crap you really don't want on your wedding day. otherwise  i would rock them, some tattooed gals look super glam in their dresses and it gives some kind of added flair in creative wedding pics. 
this also applies to if you have gauges you can get skin looking plugs to or get big stud earing wiht a wide backing and stick it through a hallow gauge.  lots of things you can do.   

figured id edit this to adds some links 
kat von d tattoo cover their air brushed her head to toe this can be seen in one of her tv episodes.
http://www.lagunahair.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Kat-Von-D-by-Sephora-Tattoo-Concealer.jpg


dermablend make up cover on youtube: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtUUOxskTA0

and a how to on dermablend:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anw19rcN8Qc

for professional grade stuff seems like derma blend is one of the most highly preferred.

nhuynh87

I am having the same issue. i have upper back tattoos and a shoulder piece. There is this heave duty concealer at wal-mart called glamofauge (not sure if I spelled that correctly). It's only about $6 a tube but it is very heavy duty. It is a cheaper version of the Kat Von D stuff. I did a couple test runs and here is the best outcome which I had found on Pinterest. I covered the tattoo first with red lipstick to cover up all the different colors I had going on then I applied the concealer over it with a make up sponge which pretty much covered it but then I covered it with foundation and lightly sprayed it with setting spray. It works! Good luck!

KDM323

What about a small bolero jacket over your shoulders?  That could potentially cover most of the tattoo?

There are some options on this board that are really pretty and don't look "heavy" like a sweater.  Even if you did a lace bolero then any coverup makeup under the lace wouldn't be AS noticeable?

http://pinterest.com/TinyFoxPaw/wedding-shrugs-boleros-cover-ups/

shaylagirl

drexelkathy said:

What about a small bolero jacket over your shoulders?  That could potentially cover most of the tattoo?

There are some options on this board that are really pretty and don't look "heavy" like a sweater.  Even if you did a lace bolero then any coverup makeup under the lace wouldn't be AS noticeable?

http://pinterest.com/TinyFoxPaw/wedding-shrugs-boleros-cover-ups/

I'm also thinking that if you get make up on the bolero, then it won't be as hard to clean as getting it off your wedding gown, which you might want to preserve.

Davidandnicole10

I used Dermablend to cover my very dark and bright tattoo between my shoulder blades, you could'nt see it at all!! Someone told me to check Dillards and Macy's, I went in and asked for a sample and got it for free, you only need a little and once it dries it doesnt smear. I was shocked at how well it worked. When you ask for a sample just tell them you want to try it before the wedding...little goes a long way!

Davidandnicole10

I used Dermablend to cover my very dark and bright tattoo between my shoulder blades, you could'nt see it at all!! Someone told me to check Dillards and Macy's, I went in and asked for a sample and got it for free, you only need a little and once it dries it doesnt smear. I was shocked at how well it worked. When you ask for a sample just tell them you want to try it before the wedding...little goes a long way!

heathertims

I'm a makeup Artist, and have had a good amount of experience covering tattoos. It is a VERY difficult undertaking. You will need something that is 100% budge proof to hold us in the sun and with the friction of a bolero. 
1st. I DO NOT suggest the KVD tattoo Concealer, as it doesn't even come remotely close to covering tattoos. Her foundation actually has a much higher coverage.

I would suggest looking to dermablend(which i've only ever heard about, never used), or Cover FX, Or makeup forever pan sticks. 

Your first step will be to neutralize the color. So, your tattoo seems to have a lot of blue it in. You will need to put something orange over that. There is an AMAZING Makeup forever cream blush in a bright orange that is amazing for this kind of thing. You only need a teeny bit. Literally go over all the blue places with a teeny bit of product. It doesn't need to be opaque, but a veil on top. Then you must set that with a Micro fine setting powder. Laura Mericer Makes a FANTASTIC setting powder (she has two, its the lightly yellowy one... universal??). Put the powder on a blush brush and press and roll it into the skin. Next take your concealing product, and apply it with a flat concealer blush by pressing and rolling. Do not blend on top of the tattoo at all because you will move the product under. Only blend on the edges. You might need 2-3 layers of the concealer, so set with that setting powder in between each step. Finish with a good setting spray, and maybe a bit of bronzer all over. 
If you can get your hands on a airbrush machine, even better! 

I would go to you local Sephora, and try these products out with one of their color consultants. 

The absolute best case scenario would be to have a make up artist do this, as its a pain in the butt to do yourself, and on the big day. If you get a MUA ask for a trial, and make sure she has a lot of experience in this area. Many MUA's know how to put a pretty face together, but have no real experience in color correction. 

I'm in the same boat as you. I have a tattoo on my back I got when I was young. I dont care for it, but more than that, it looks weird in my dress. I would rather it not be there. I have a very very talent MUA friend who will be covering my tattoo that day. 

Good luck! 

beautifulmama28

i have two major pieces on my shoulder blades that extend up to the top of my shoulders and almost down mid back...

I personally would never cover mine, I love them and they remind me of certain times in my life/what I was going through, etc (mine are actually of a religious nature though).

My grandfather is a methodist minister, he will be there plus we are having a church wedding...I am wearing a bolero for the ceremony but mainly because my mother really wanted to make me one (and she has had no real part in my planning process because she is far away).

I think sometimes the at home spray tan people /companies carry a product that can be good or any makeup artist, 

I think yours is awesome though, I think you should not cover it

heathertims

OH! There is also a product by makeup forever (and i think benefit made one at one point) that will make basically anything and everything waterproof! It's called eye seal, and it comes in a teeny tiny little bottle. Add it to your concealer and that baby aint goin anywhere! Just a few drops should do it 

tesgirl123

I don't have any tattoos, but I have a skin condition that causes pigment issues so I have used the Dermablend makeup.   The stuff works and as long as you used the setting powder it shouldn't come off unless you are seriously rubbing up against someone.    It takes practice to apply it well though and from the location you will likely need help applying it..

Another suggestion would be to try a lace capelet or something that will disguise the area but be cool enough for your Hawaiian location. 

April3Raven

All the makeup artists I know recommend Dermablend. I have dark ink that Kat Von D's stuff couldn't touch (I guarantee that the photo that she used for advertising was not only her product). Even with Dermablend, you have to use many layers, and even then you can still faintly see it. I haven't decided if I am going to go through that process again when I get married or just have the photographer photoshop them out altogether. I was young when I started, and while I have some ink that I love, there is some that I don't. I think you can try the dermablend at sephora, so you can get an idea of the shade or shades you need. 

Stinalove44

ive herd that if u go over the dark lines and such with red lipstick and them cover them with concealer it works really well.  cuz the red hides the black and the concealer is made to cover redness.

Shocker929

Hi! I too have tattoo's that I would like to cover for the fact that I've seen women in their gorgeous wedding gowns and then look like trash for some out of place single tattoo showing. Which is exactly what I'm afraid of on my wedding day. I have a butterfly tattoo at the base of my neck and a small tattoo that (fingers crossed) will be covered by the strap of my dress. The only other tattoos that will be visible on my day are the ones on the insides of BOTH wrists, a star behind my right ear, and BOTH feet are completely covered.

 

So with that said, my parent's are very ANTI-tattoo, and they want me to cover ALL of them. Which I'm not going to, only because I don't want any makeup to get on my dress, and simply because I'm proud of ALL of my ink. So I want you to seriously think about this and is it something that you folks will be able to get over if you DON'T cover them. I know it's hard, because you want to please everyone. What about pleasing yourself?! I wish you luck. Do you plan on posting pictures of your BIG day? I would really like to see how everything turns out for you. Again, best of luck.

feuerrader24

Hello, I can undersd where you are coming from. I have a half sleeve on my right arm plus another tattoo on my shoulder blade. My mother ddn't even ask me about covering my tattooes up, she just assumed that is what I wanted. When I told her I wasn't planning on covering anything, I did get the whole, "but what about your family" line, to which I shrugged off. I figure my entire family knows I have tattooes, they have seen them many times, and they know I am a bit different anyway, so why would I conform to their expectations today? I even have my father's buy-in, who, even though he doesn't like tattooes, has told me on many occasions that he thinks mine are beautiful. So, if I was in your situation, I would say OH WELL! Deal with it or don't show up. But...I know not everyone has that attitude.

I have a friend who has used the Hard Candy stuff with success, but she was only covering a small tattoo on her wrist. I would be worried that just about anything you use would potentially rub off or sweat off. Maybe consult with a professional makeup artist and do a few trial runs? You don't want to wait until the day before to test out the coverup, just incase something is amiss. I would probably hire someone to cover it up the day of as well, since that is something I personally would not want to attempt (and blunder) myself. Good luck!

[Deleted User]

Try Smart Cover makeup. I used it on my sister and it worked great! I was covering up some really dark raised eczema bumps on her leg because she wanted to wear a dress for her graduation without it showing. I even got the wrong color (ordering last minute on ebay) and just used a little powder on top and it looked like she had flawless legs. It was so perfect, I had to use some on the other leg.

AndreaV26

I say go ahead and rock it! It's you, it's part of who you are. You're an adult. If you're parents are paying, that's maybe one thing. In my case, they aren't. And even if they were, they know I wouldn't ever cover them. Everyone coming to my wedding knows me, knows about the tattoos, so it's not like it's a big shock.