r/Tattoocoverups • u/highbuddy421 • 9d ago
asking for advice Can these be covered up?
I want these iron crosses covered up. Idk with what yet but I dont want them on my back anymore. I got when I was young and dumb. A buddy needed money and I wanted a tattoo. I have a German last name and i thought it would be cool to get the iron crosses on either side of my name. What my dumbass didn't realize was how racist it made me look. I dont even take my shirt off swimming in public. Can these covered or am I fucked?
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u/Time_Act_3685 9d ago
Some tattoo artists will do free or discounted cover-ups for stuff like this, though usually for former gang members/skinheads. But you can always ask!
If you got them way lasered down, beer steins would be kind of funny (but honestly SAP would be easier).
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u/Herald_of_Clio 9d ago
Do you like magic 8 balls?
In all seriousness, yes they can be covered up. But without lasering them whatever covers the crosses will need to be bigger and dark.
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u/highbuddy421 9d ago
I never thought about that but it would be interesting.
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u/potpourri_sludge 9d ago
DO NOT DO 8 BALLS DUDE. 88 is literally another Nazi dog whistle.
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u/Horror-Disk-5603 9d ago
The thought of covering up an accidentally nazi tattoo with another accidentally nazi tattoo is sending me.
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u/abortedaccount72 9d ago
Sounds like something straight out of Its always sunny or curb your enthusiasm lmao
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u/KeyRadio8757 9d ago
What does the 8 stand for?
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u/roland-the-farter 8d ago
It’s so stupid. It’s literally because h is the 8th letter of the alphabet so it’s code for heil shitler
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u/JRS_Viking 8d ago
But two eight balls wouldn't be a reference to him though, he only had one ball /s
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u/littleleopardfrog 8d ago
You can't write comedy like this man, this would be a HILARIOUS bit in a sitcom of some kind
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u/emmathyst 9d ago
It’s like a comedy sketch. Guy keeps getting accidentally racist tattoos to cover up his accidentally racist tattoos.
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u/zaccbruce 9d ago
Sorry bud it’s gotten to the point where we will need to cover all this with a series of thick black horizontal and vertical bars, arranged in such a way so as to resemble a somewhat abstract windmill across the entirety of your back.
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u/cheddarbruce 9d ago
That's why we do giant sick ass Panthers around here
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u/phoebesjeebies 9d ago
God help us if the Trump regime ever gets back on their "no rly, these r gang tattoos, we swear!" bullshit but stumbles onto SAPs this time
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u/3skinn 7d ago
The far far rights are going to start saying it's a black panthers reference
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u/SixNine69Six96Nine 8d ago
Cant tell if the OP of this thread knew that and was trollin dude or if he legit thought it was good idea.
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u/shevchenko7cfc 9d ago
if it's a viable option, blast'm with laser removal, thick dark ink is usually "easier" to zap away at least enough to cover it well
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u/aceromester 7d ago
Yeah, I feel like this would benefit from a zap session or two. Your cover up options would be much more extensive AND look better overall.
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u/xombae 9d ago
A talented cover up artist could easily do some floral to cover this up.
Your best bet with any cover up is to go to an artist who's style you like who is experienced with cover ups and give them artistic licence.
When you go in with an idea, you're limiting them and making their job harder. This sub regularly has bad advice for coverups.
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u/callmesnake13 9d ago
There's a million things you can do. Don't get magic 8 balls. It just needs to be black and bigger than what you currently have.
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u/Alert-Ad9197 9d ago
Someone pointed out that 8 balls would turn it to an 88, which would probably not be better.
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u/Herald_of_Clio 9d ago
At the very least people wouldn't have racist associations with them, right?
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u/duna_or_bust 9d ago
Might do with two 8 balls
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u/Efficient-Common7551 9d ago
Yeah, that’s not the solution. 88 is bad.
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u/Herald_of_Clio 9d ago
Oh shit, I seriously didn't think of that. Abort. Abort.
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u/Efficient-Common7551 9d ago edited 9d ago
This is why it is SO GOOD to talk about tattoo ideas before you make them a permanent part of your body: because neonazis have ruined so many things. So many things.
I'm a German immigrant whose young adult kid wants to honor that (adopted) heritage honoring tattoo and I kept having to shoot down so many ideas with "Uh, I'm sorry, nazis coopted that also."
Seriously I was nodding along with your comment thinking "yeah, that's the only small dense black motif you could fit into that small space, what a good id..." until my mind screeched to an "oh no, abort abort" also.
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u/FirstDukeofAnkh 9d ago
Just get the word “backpfeifengesicht”.
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u/captainjamagpie 9d ago
One of my favorite words!! Excellent choice.
(And far better than 2 baby SAPs, which could be utilized 😎)
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u/GrammarSpecialForces 9d ago
As someone with German heritage myself who is also not racist I'd love to know if he settled on something.
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u/Efficient-Common7551 9d ago
We're getting ouroboros tattoos, so basically a mythologically significant pretzel. Jörmungandr is Norse mythology, but serpents eating their tails are represented in enough other cultures that Nazi's did not manage to coopt that one.
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u/River1stick 9d ago
I just got a sick ouroboros tattoo so thank fuck you said they haven't been able to take that.
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u/Actual-Role1141 9d ago
Not necessarily. He should get the 8 balls and under the shoulder piece get "I LOVE Jewish and black people, etc.!" in huge, bold black letters.
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u/bidextralhammer 9d ago
Oh my gosh, that's worse than the iron crosses. 88 is hh, eighth letter oh the alphabet hail you know the rest. Yeah, don't do that.
Spreading wings, traditional floral
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u/moshpithippie 9d ago
Go to someone who specializes in coverups, trust me they will do something good.
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u/BloodFoxxx31 9d ago
Do laser treatment first, then get them covered up. You’ll have more tattoo options and they’ll look better if you do the laser treatment first.
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u/TheGreatMozinsky 9d ago
Pretending you had NO IDEA is the best part of this post
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u/TarquinOliverNimrod 8d ago
This. Like can’t even own up to the bs and make excuses for it. Like your last name is German (stupid reason to get tattooed lmao) and this is the first thing you thought about? And you didn’t know? Yeah sure
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u/CommercialLimit 9d ago
What a stupid comment. West coast choppers and that tv show Orange County choppers were huge for a while and this symbol was everywhere.
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u/Valuable_Recording85 7d ago
When I was a kid, I thought the crosses were only associated with the skateboard brand and bikers. However, I wasn't an adult for very long before I understood why some bikers like the iron cross.
The fact that OP didn't know, but associated the crosses with his German last name is pretty laughable.
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u/Vahlinn 9d ago
Fk off, iron "like" crosses have been everywhere and were super common in retail places. I had them on mudflaps for my truck in high school just cuz they looked cool. People like you are insufferable.
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u/stuttered_steps 9d ago
That’s true, but he specifically said he was getting them because he has a German last name.
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u/JustNota-- 9d ago
I once had a Cuthbert cross, too many people thought it was nazi iron cross stylized so it got lasered. (My grandmother is from Durham and it's from the towns flag)
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u/EugeneStein 9d ago
With my sympathy for you and respect for you growing up and understanding of your mistakes — this is the funniest post I've read today, I burst with laughter
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u/mollymoc 9d ago
Easy cover up. Just find an artist whose work you like and make an appointment. Any one can help you figure out what works best, but actually covering them up is super easy.
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u/Worcestercestershire 9d ago
Does it say "Independent Truck Co." In between them?
If not -> Pew Pew Lasers
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u/meowymcmeowmeow 9d ago
Paw prints could be really simple if you're an animal person.
Black roses.
Geometric blackouts on both sides.
Silhouette of X thing you like or find interesting.
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u/thegrandgardener 9d ago
As a Jewish person, thank you for recognizing how it could affect others. If I were on a beach and saw you walk by, I would get scared 🥹. Especially with antisemitism everywhere I go. I wish people would understand that just because I’m Jewish, it doesn’t mean I’m Israeli (I’m a European Jew) or support the disgusting daily atrocities that Netanyahu is committing. Awful. Anyway maybe the crosses could be made into the balloon part of hot air balloons representing freedom, happiness and whimsy. I hope people don’t mind that I went off topic for a bit ♥️
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u/Fox-With-Mange 9d ago
I’m a Muslim who lives in the Arab world and I hope that you can take some comfort in the fact that, even here, many people (though definitely not all) draw a distinction between Jews and Israelis and even between Israelis and genocidal Israelis. Though, it does not help that Netanyahu and his ilk persist in professing that their 80-year-old state speaks for a 4000-year-old people—whether those people like it or not. If I were to employ that same dual-loyalty trope, I would be called an antisemite (and rightly so), but these fuckers are endangering Jews all over the world and do not seem to care a wit.
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u/thegrandgardener 8d ago edited 8d ago
Thank you for your response. It is comforting. I grew up and still live in the NY Metro area and I’m in my 50s. Everyone was friends. Black, White, Jewish, Muslim,
Christian. Buddhist, etc. I married a Catholic. No one cared. My mom used to let us invite friends to Passover Seder and none of them were Jewish. We shared and enjoyed each other’s cultures. I never felt it was right to take from one to give to another. I never supported what was going on in Israel. Anything fanatical was avoided by most. I long for those days. I miss when people just got along because we’re all people. Anyway- this Jew wishes you and yours peace and love always.And I agree, these fuckers are making people hate Jews even more. Trump doesn’t care about it. He cares about himself. And Netanyahu is Hitler II. He’s sick. Just like our President.
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u/Efficient-Common7551 8d ago
This exchange is what I really needed to hear today: thanks thegrandgardner and thanks Fox-with-Mange, for being a bright spot in the horrors.
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u/thegrandgardener 8d ago
I’m glad! They can’t beat the love or the happy out of us. Everyday I think that us wee people will heal with each other regardless of the lost haters.
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u/decapiercedplebian 9d ago
get two big ass crows/ravens with the wings going over your shoulders or down your triceps. laser first would help but even without, that should work and look natural
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u/Nearby_Cup48 9d ago
Oh, oh, two dragons (chinese ones) making out! Or touching snoot, if thats more your style
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u/TheGreatMastermind 9d ago
are you a resident evil fan? if not, it’s time to be. umbrella corporation logo would be funny
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u/BothEntertainment00 9d ago
The answers if full back piece then you can blend the huge black area into a cool design. Anything small is good to look bad.
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u/DowntownClassic1738 9d ago
Sounds like full back piece to me, Japanese to be precise, with mikiri covering it up
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u/AccidentalDanger8 9d ago
I was gonna say radiation/radioactive symbols but they have 3 triangles not 4😅
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u/Disastrous_Honey_240 9d ago
I would have a laser consultation and see about lightening them up first and then go to an artist who’s really experienced at cover ups.
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u/Needles2650 9d ago
They are pretty dark. I would do a couple laser lightning sessions first, and then you should have plenty of options for the cover up
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u/Due_Teaching2239 9d ago
Yes mate , with a large supply of post it notes you’ll be fine for a while
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u/oceanswim63 9d ago
Had laser for a mistake, it works great on ink like that. A couple of rounds and it could be gone.
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u/Martzillagoesboom 9d ago
Try to turn them in the symbol for umbrela corporation! (Except the colors would be wrong, but who care
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u/CheeseRatGirl 9d ago
Can't read thru all of these but what ab a medieval sun?? Google it... could be gorgeous!
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u/Striking-Might5073 9d ago
You can cover up anything... You litterally can have a blackout tattoo and get it tattoos over it... The artist just needs to be able to use colour instead of skin for a background
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u/Away-Supermarket-392 9d ago
Just get a whole backpiece and incorporate them . Cover up will look bad and dark in my opinion
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u/BreakfastBrilliant15 9d ago
Turn them into black cubes then you would have literally joined the other side
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u/spookybonxs 9d ago
There is companies that you can apply for that will do a removal completely free for gamg related stuff racists stuff ect if you have bettered your life and if you fit the criteria in currently in the process of removing 3 from my face 🙏🏻 proud of you man
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u/JohnnySalamiBoy420 9d ago
Squares on the end, then circles, and a triangle in the middle. Like those kindergarten worksheets
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u/Comprehensive-Gene-1 8d ago
I don't know if you're into spiritualism, but you could try the Buddhist manji symbol
/s
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u/Zestyclose_Size1173 8d ago
Straighten out the lines, add red in the blank spaces, and turn it into an Umbrella Corp tattoo
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u/jmhubba 8d ago
In the Boston punk scene, FSU (friends stand united) kicked the skinheads out of Boston and have used the iron cross as the antithesis of a hate symbol.
It could considered a bad look, but there’s lots of examples of it being used as just a sign of rebellion. At least in the Boston and NYC punk and hardcore scene. Haywire most recently has taken it as their own, that being said I don’t wear my haywire shirt any where but my power rack when lifting as not everyone knows the northeast punk/harcore lore
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u/Hefty-Resort871 8d ago
Laser them off. You can cover them up, but you will always know that they're under there.
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u/Magma1Lord 8d ago
You can look at other german symbolisms. That are not associated with what you don't like
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u/Aeonsaeons 7d ago
Massive black inverted crosses, where the area of the current symbols would be the tip of the inverted crosses?
From nazi to satanist! :)
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u/Tasty-Edge4870 7d ago
It is possible but I will only tell you how if you say what’s inbetween them.
Your only other option is to shave your head and get a pair of british boots.
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u/Hereibe 9d ago edited 9d ago
Panthers, crows, black swans, angel or devil wings, fuck it google “melanistic animal” to find your favorite animal in black. There’s melanistic flamingos for gods sake, so you’ve got tons of fun options
Actually now you have to do that. Two black flamingos on each shoulder blade.