A tattoo artist who specializes in scar coverups shares 7 of her favorite pieces, from vibrant arm sleeves to post-mastectomy florals

Adriana Hallow on left; A tattoo sleeve she designed and tattooed on right.Adriana Hallow

• Scars can take a long time to fade, and cause an emotional toll.
• Tattoo artist Adriana Hallow prioritizes scar coverups for clients, saying it "changes their lives."

There are a few ways to fade a scar. Depending on the type (and your budget), you can invest in laser treatments, microneedling kits, or a prescription cream from your dermatologist.

Or, you can go the opposite route: Get a vibrant tattoo to cover it up.

For Adriana Hallow, an NYC-based tattoo artist at Inkology, scar coverups are some of her favorite sessions — so much so that she gives booking priority to those clients.

Hallow, who taught herself how to tattoo after taking a break from design school, remembered her first scar coverup requests and finding the work particularly fulfilling. "Every time I tattoo someone, I'm making an effect on their life," she told Insider. "But when you're tattooing someone's scars, it really changes their lives."

Because her designs often require multiple appointments, she'll see people before their tattoos are fully finished — and they're usually beaming from the first session.

"Most people are just really, really happy," she said. "They feel liberated and it's like a weight just lifted off of them."