The tattoo. Directions to cover it

I have a few tattoos. They all have meaning to me however, they look like garbage. My main tat was done by someone learning. HUGE mistake. I love it but hate it. I will love it more when I get it re-done.  With my dress being short, I was basically embarrassed to have this tattoo showing on my big day. I started to research. A fellow WBC bride by the name of  vintageglamourbride  posted an awesome tutorial and I decided to try it.
All the products shown and used here are from Mehron. Their prices are VERY reasonable and you will see by my results that I HIGHLY recommend them for tattoo cover up materials. They had super fast delivery and awesome phone customer service.

Lets start with what I purchased as advise by vintage glamor bride

Number 1: Tattoo CoveRing™Number 2: ProColorRing™ Neutralizer
Number 3: Natural Sea Sponge Applicator 
Number 4: Colorset™ Powder
Number 5:  Barrier Spray 
Number 6: Latex Foam Sponge Applicator

Here are the directions that I followed:
If your tattoo is in an awkward area, ask a friend to help. I had my best friend (who is also an artist) to help with the back of my arm. It made the hour long cover up much faster!
I'm sure none of you have the same size tattoo I have that you want to cover, so this should be a cake walk!

#1) Shave you peach fuzz. The Makeup will make all your hairs sticky and noticeable. Mist with the Mehron Barrier Spray. I personally suggest moisturizing the area with a good lotion before any application, however make sure you do it a few HOURS before your starting process.

#2) Using the natural sea sponge (I used it dry) take the colour that best suits your complexion and dab it on the area. You only need the smallest about to cover. It has the consistency of toothpaste so dabbing needs to be quite aggressive. Keep patting and alternate colours if needed to achieve a more natural look.
***you should just focus on covering the tattoo right now, not blending***

#3) Once you have you tattoo covered with the product evenly let it sit for a few minutes. (it won't dry as it's grease based, but I always find it help to let it rest and soak into itself)

#4) Take a latex wedge sponge and blend the outside areas of the coverup application. I liked to smudge it around (only on the edged)
***it may not blend perfect, but we will fix that!****

#5) Take a piece of aluminum foil and place it on the counter. Using the Mehron setting powder dust the powder over your coverup and let the foil catch the excess so you are able to reuse it!
You need to smack the powder into your skin letting the grease absorb. Keep smacking until the area is no longer sticky. Again, let it sit for a few minutes.

#6) Lightly mist the area with the Barrier Spray. (LIGHTLY!) Too much spray and you're back at step #5. At this step you should be able to touch the coverup and not have it smudge or transfer.

#7) After the cover up is dry you will apply colour correctors if needed.

COLOUR LESSON:
Red neutralizes green (vice versa)
Blue neutralizes orange (vice versa)
Yellow neutralizes purple (vice versa)

Take a look at you covered area. Does it look dead and ashy? Does it look orange or pinkish?
Using the colour correctors change the undertones of the makeup.

I found that I had to use a green corrector for my arm and applied under inside lighting.
It's important to apply these steps in the lighting that you chose to be in all day. Is your reception outdoors? apply by the window. Indoors? apply under fluorescent lighting.
Unfortunately you can't have both, that's how colour works and reflects. Most of my outdoor photo shots didn't really show the makeup as horrible as it looked under the natural light (so that was a bonus!)

#8) Once you have your undertone under control apply your liquid foundation. This foundation is usually darker than what you would normally use since you are applying it to "neutral" skin tone. I opted for a very orange looking foundation and then adjusted it as needed further with correctors. (I have NOT used the foundation as of yet. I personally skipped this process for now)

Apply the foundation quickly as it dries fast and can go blotchy. Apply with the latex wedge sponge.

***get a matte finish foundation, no sparkles or highlighters etc***

#9) After your foundation has dried dust the are with powder. I prefer loose but pressed works as well. I have tried both translucent and coloured. I preferred the coloured for myself. Try them both and see what works for you.

#10) Spray the entire area with aerosol hairspray. I used an unscented Dove product. Spray evenly and generously. If you spray too much and it drips you will have streaking. (Again, I have not done this step yet. I am still in the practice phase of what techniques work best for me)

Spray as much as you like throughout the day as needed.

Practice with different products and techniques. Everyone has a different tattoo with different ink pigments and compositions. It's important to try it a few times to get it right!


Now without further delay my before and after pictures from using ONLY the above listed products and the above technique:

Pretty awful right? I have no idea why I let a non professional do this to me..anyways thats the before. Here is the after:

Now I only covered a portion of the tat so people could see the comparison. I do not have the color matched up 100% yet. This was my first attempt at doing this. Tomorrow I will do it again but outside for natural light since my ceremony is outside.
Overall, I am VERY pleased. Even if I can not match it 100% my photographer has photoshop skill and can blend any additional flaws.

Make sure if you do this to practice so on your big day you know exactly which technique and colors work for you. Also I suggest doing some test pictures inside and outside to see how it photographs.
Below are pictures from Vintage Glamour Brides work on her cover up

BEFORE

AFTER: