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