When it comes to these black out sleeves, since the designs are fairly uncomplicated, the biggest determining factor is time. Despite the fact that these sleeves are mostly black ink, the density with which the ink has to be packed to create such fully saturated black means that an artist will have to make several passes over each area, extending the timeframe.  

For one of these full sleeves expect to pay at least $1000 USD, although again, this will vary from shop to shop.  

Is a blackout tattoo a cost effective alternative to laser removal? 

One reason that many people choose to apply blackout sleeves is to cover up existing tattoos: maybe they are gang related, or memorialize a failed relationship. Whatever the reasons, sometimes people would rather cover their ink than look at it for one more day. But why not use a laser removal treatment? 

The reality is that one is not equal to the other, and it depends on the person and the tattoo. It wouldn’t make a lot of sense to black out an entire arm to cover a medium size tattoo and it is a safe bet that walking around with a “murdered out” arm is not to everyone’s tastes. That being said, many people find this dark aesthetic appealing and it does fall in line with their sensibilities.  

For those that love tattoos enjoy the idea of blackout sleeves and simply want to forget their older ink by covering it up, this is a great choice. For people who have a smaller tattoo that they regret, laser removal is a better alternative.