Cover-Up
Reviving old brows without erasing them — our signature correction that reads the color and redesigns
A cover-up isn't blindly laying new color over brows that have already been pigmented once — it's a corrective procedure that reads the remaining color, technique, and the depth the pigment sits at, and redesigns from there. Color that has shifted red (iron oxide) or blue (carbon black) over time will read as a double line if simply covered, so CYAN sets the direction not only by the current state but by anticipating how the color will shift a year out. This is the area CYAN has worked with the longest and most deeply.
Who is this for?
It suits those whose old brow tattoo has turned red or blue, has smudged or become uneven left to right, who want to naturally update an old design to fit their face today, or who want to refine a procedure done elsewhere. That said, the approach changes with the remaining color, depth, and skin condition, so an accurate judgment is confirmed in an in-person consultation.
Even with discoloration, red and blue are approached differently
The colors old brows shift to fall broadly into two. A red-orange cast is often the iron oxide in the pigment oxidizing over time, while a grey or bluish cast is often carbon-black-type pigment showing through from depth. The two need different colors laid over them and respond differently to laser, so the approach can't be the same. CYAN first sorts the remaining color into these two, then chooses color by calculating how the new color will blend on top. You can read a deeper explanation of why color shifts in our guide.
Cover or laser first — we don't reflexively recommend a cover-up
If the remaining color is dark or deep, laying new color over it can read as a double line or turn muddy. In those cases, lightening the color with laser first gives a far cleaner result. Conversely, if it has nearly faded to just a trace, it's often prettiest to draw fresh on clean skin rather than cover. So CYAN doesn't recommend a cover-up to everyone who comes in — we read the remaining color and tell you honestly whether laser first is the better path.
We choose the color for a year from now, not today
What makes cover-ups hard is that the color you see now isn't the end. The remaining color keeps shifting, and as it blends with the new color it changes again over 1–2 years. So we don't pick the color that looks prettiest in the mirror today — we choose color and density anticipating how both colors will look once settled. This sense for reading a year ahead is why CYAN has worked with cover-ups most deeply.
A clear brown finish — when it's possible and when it isn't
Many people come in wanting to tidy discolored brows into a clear brown. CYAN aims for a clear brown finish using a method the founder researched directly, but we don't promise it's possible in every case. If the remaining color is dark or deep, you may not reach the tone you want in one go, and a staged approach or pairing with laser may be needed. How clear we can get can only be told accurately once we see the condition.
Hard to promise from photos — which is why in-person matters
Cover-ups have many variables — remaining color, depth of shade, the depth it sits at, skin condition — so a single photo can't accurately judge it. The same "it went red" splits, depending on depth, between covering and needing laser. So the final judgment is always made in person. It's a procedure that has to be seen in the consultation, case by case, so rather than deciding in advance we look at the condition together and choose the best path.
Style Options
Tell us the mood you have in mind — in your consultation we tailor it to your face shape, skin tone, and lifestyle.
The Process
Consultation & Diagnosis
We read the remaining color, intensity, shape, and position, along with the depth the pigment sits at. We distinguish a red cast (iron oxide) from a grey or blue cast (carbon black), and anticipate changes a year out before starting.
Deciding the Direction
We decide whether it's fine to cover directly, or better to lighten with laser first. When drawing fresh on clean skin would be prettier, we sometimes recommend removal first instead of a cover-up.
Design & Procedure
We reshape to fit your face balance today and build color in stages rather than overloading it in one pass. Partway through, we have you sit up to recheck symmetry and density.
Touch-Up
Because the remaining color and new color blend with high variability, a touch-up locks in density and color. A touch-up within 3 months is KRW 50,000.
Why CYAN
Design that reads your impression
Our founder is a nationally certified clinical psychologist and art-therapy counselor. We don't just set a shape — we read the impression your face conveys and design what truly suits you.
0.1mm nano-milled needle, developed in-house
Rather than settling for conventional OEM, we took part directly in developing 0.1mm nano-milled needles at a GMP-certified factory. The precision of the tool shapes the delicacy of the result.
30,000+ clinical cases
Over 30,000 clinical procedures have built our standard for safety and natural results.
A technique Japanese clinics came to learn
As a Korean instructor who taught powder brow and cover-up techniques to clinic medical staff in Japan, our founder has run formal classes.
Frequently Asked Questions
My old brow tattoo went red — can't you just cover it?
Blindly laying new color over a red cast can read as a double line or turn muddy. CYAN first sorts whether the remaining color is iron-oxide-type (red/orange), looks at the depth and intensity, then decides whether to cover directly or lighten with laser first. The approach changes with the condition, so it needs to be confirmed in the consultation.
Which is better, a cover-up or laser removal?
It's case by case. If the remaining color is faint and only the shape needs work, a cover-up is enough; but if the color is dark or deep, lightening it with laser first gives a far cleaner result. If it's nearly gone, drawing fresh is often prettier. CYAN doesn't reflexively push a cover-up — we read the condition and tell you honestly.
Can it be tidied cleanly into a clear brown?
It's the finish we aim for, but we don't promise it's possible in every case. If the remaining color is dark or deep, you may not reach the tone you want in one go, and a staged approach or pairing with laser may be needed. How clear we can get can only be advised accurately after seeing the condition in person.
Do you also work on procedures done elsewhere?
Yes, many people come to refine work done at other studios. That said, which pigment was used and how deep it went greatly affects the result, and that can't be known without seeing it — so we set the direction after looking at the remaining color and condition in person.
What does it cost?
Because difficulty varies greatly with the remaining color and condition, the base procedure price is given after we see the condition in the consultation. A touch-up within 3 months of the first procedure is KRW 50,000.