Kat Von D says she's 'not as thrilled' about tattooing as she was early in her career (2024)

In an interview with music producer Alex Crescioni that was shared on Monday, Von D talked about her sobriety, her family life, and her wide-spanning career.

When asked if she misses tattooing now that she's focused on her music and fashion businesses, Von D said her relationship with the craft is a lot different than it used to be.

"I'm not as thrilled about it as I was in my 20s per se, but I still love it and I still want to be able to do it," Von D said about tattooing. "I just know I don't want to do it as a job."

Von D also said she stopped charging clients for her work during the final years that her studio High Voltage Tattoo was in business.

Advertisem*nt

"The last decade of my career, I was just tattooing people I loved, or friends of friends, or if somebody had a moving story," she said. "But I stopped making it a means a long time ago."

The tattoo artist noted that she finds it more fulfilling to tattoo as a means of connection with others — especially after finding fame via a TV show about her work.

Von D first entered the spotlight in 2005 when she filled in for tattoo artist Daren Brass on the TLC series "Miami Ink" after he got injured.

Related stories

After leaving the show in 2007 due to issues with other cast members, Von D was given her own spin-off series called "LA Ink," which she starred in for four seasons.

Advertisem*nt

"I think there's a dynamic shift that happens once you're on TV doing it," she told Crescioni. "There's a certain expectation that people have from you when you're getting tattooed. How do I explain it? Like people aren't really coming to get a tattoo per se but have an experience, and that's just a lot of pressure that takes away from the process for me."

Kat Von D says she's 'not as thrilled' about tattooing as she was early in her career (1)

The revelation might not be surprising to fans who are familiar with Von D's life changes in recent years.

Von D purchased a Vevay, Indiana, home in 2020, closed her Los Angeles tattoo shop in 2021, and made the move permanent after selling her California mansion in 2023.

She previously hinted at founding an Indiana tattoo studio in 2020 but told Crescioni that while "it would be nice to open up a shop," her plans have changed.

Advertisem*nt

"It's a tiny town of 1,200 people, so they don't even have a mayor or anything like that," she said of Vevay. "There's no Uber, there's no Postmates, there's no billboards, there's no bus — I think there's one stoplight and a gas station. So it's quite small, which I love."

"But I feel like we need, like, restaurants. I don't think the town needs a tattoo shop, you know?" she said. "I think there are other things that I would want to bring to the table prior to opening up a shop, but I don't know right now."

Von D has also recently shared her personal tattoo transformation with the world.

Days after sharing that she'd been baptized in her local church, the "Vampire" musician revealed that she's spent almost 40 hours so far "blacking out" her body with solid ink to cover tattoos she no longer wants.

Kat Von D says she's 'not as thrilled' about tattooing as she was early in her career (2024)

FAQs

Kat Von D says she's 'not as thrilled' about tattooing as she was early in her career? ›

"I'm not as thrilled about it as I was in my twenties per se, but I still love it and I still want to be able to do it," Von D remarked in an interview with music producer Alex Crescioni. "I just know I don't want to do it as a job."

Why is Kat Von D blocking out her tattoos? ›

Kat Von D says she's spent almost 40 hours so far 'blacking out' her body to cover tattoos she no longer wants. Kat Von D said she'd spent almost 40 hours getting blackout ink to cover her famous tattoos. She said her old designs no longer represented her, and she liked the sleek blackout aesthetic.

What famous people has Kat Von D tattooed? ›

At one point in her career, Von D was the go-to tattoo artist for celebrities. Von D's rolodex of celebrity clients include Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Harry Styles, Demi Lovato, and Dave Grohl, among others.

Why is everyone blacking out their tattoos? ›

History. Modern blackout tattoos are influenced by traditional Polynesian tattoos and graphic art. Their designs also often incorporate aspects of neo-tribal tattoos. The technique originated as an alternative method of covering up unwanted tattoos, instead of the more expensive tattoo removal.

Who is the famous female tattoo artist Kat? ›

Katherine von Drachenberg (born March 8, 1982), known professionally as Kat Von D, is a Mexican-American tattoo artist, television personality, entrepreneur and recording artist.

Why did Kat Von D stop tattooing? ›

"I'm not as thrilled about it as I was in my 20s per se, but I still love it and I still want to be able to do it," Von D said about tattooing. "I just know I don't want to do it as a job."

Why did Kat Von D leave KVD Beauty? ›

At the time, Von D said she could no longer raise her child and manage her multiple business ventures "at the maximum capacity" while still being a part of the company. She clarified in her Instagram post that the company would rebrand and call itself KVD Vegan Beauty going forward.

Are black tattoos bad for you? ›

When it comes to cancer, black ink can be especially dangerous because it contains a very high level of benzo(a)pyrene. Benzo(a)pyrene is currently listed as a carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).

What does a full black arm tattoo mean? ›

Blackout tattooing has roots in Polynesian, South Asian, and Sub-Saharan African body art. Blackout tattoos were known to symbolize strength and status. In 2010, blackout tattoos regained popularity in South Asia as interest in reviving ancient art increased.

Are tattoos fading in popularity? ›

Tattoos have experienced a rise in popularity largely since the 1970s but more abruptly in the last 15 to 20 years—21% of people said they had tattoos in 2012 and 30% said they were inked in 2019. The last two decades have led to a more commonplace acceptance of tattoos in churches, schools and the workplace.

Who is the most tattooed female actress? ›

Top Tattooed Actresses
  1. Angelina Jolie. Actress. Producer. Director Maleficent (2014) ...
  2. Lady Gaga. Music Artist. Actress. ...
  3. Lena Dunham. Producer. Writer. ...
  4. Megan Fox. Actress. Producer. ...
  5. Christina Aguilera. Music Artist. Actress. ...
  6. Scarlett Johansson. Actress. Producer. ...
  7. Miley Cyrus. Music Artist. Actress. ...
  8. Chelsea Tighe. Actress. Producer.

What actress is married to a tattoo artist? ›

— -- Lake Bell met her husband -- tattoo- and fine-artist Scott Campbell -- while preparing for a role.

When did Kat leave black ink? ›

She said, after deep reflection, she decided to leave the show in 2017 to focus on building her own brand and business. “I'd always wanted my own, and I knew the only way to make that happen was to let go of what was holding me back.” Since then, she has successfully opened the doors to Enigma Tattoo in Beverly Hills.

Can you remove blackout tattoos? ›

The good news is that black ink is the easiest for lasers to remove, so you don't have to be concerned about the darkness of the pigment. For specific information on your personal blackout tattoo removal process, though, it's imperative you consult your technician/medical professional.

Can you tattoo over black ink? ›

In conclusion, tattooing over black ink is possible, but requires careful planning, high-quality ink, and proper skin preparation. By following best practices and using the right type of ink, tattoo artists can successfully cover up existing tattoos and provide their clients with the desired look.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Sen. Ignacio Ratke

Last Updated:

Views: 5881

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (76 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Sen. Ignacio Ratke

Birthday: 1999-05-27

Address: Apt. 171 8116 Bailey Via, Roberthaven, GA 58289

Phone: +2585395768220

Job: Lead Liaison

Hobby: Lockpicking, LARPing, Lego building, Lapidary, Macrame, Book restoration, Bodybuilding

Introduction: My name is Sen. Ignacio Ratke, I am a adventurous, zealous, outstanding, agreeable, precious, excited, gifted person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.