Kat Von D has shared an update on her all-black tattoo transformation.
In October of last year, tattoo artist and TV personality Kat Von D revealed that she’d be covering her plentiful tats with solid black ink.
At the time, the 42-year-old shared a video of the blackout process on Instagram, showing solid black ink covering her ribcage and back, and revealed that she’d had nearly 40 hours of work done.
Now, in an interview with Inked Magazine, she’s spoken out about the decision to cover her iconic tattoos and shown the final result in a dramatic photoshoot.
“I think I had been fed up with a lot of the tattoos I got over the years for a long time,” Kat confessed.
Kat Von D has been working with tattoo artist Hoode Philly to black out many of her famous tattoos (Instagram/@thekatvond
So, she got in touch with Philadelphia-based artist Hoode Philly – who specializes in blackout tattooing.
“I just couldn’t explain how satisfying it was to see all the messes he would clean up with his blackout tattoo work,” she explained.
“I think at that time I thought I would just black out an arm, but shortly after, I knew I would end up tattooing my whole body.”
Kat also revealed the primary reason why she decided to black out most of her tattoos, explaining that they ‘represented a part of my life that no longer aligns with who I am today.’
She continued: “Some people are fine with keeping these types of landmarks in time on them – I personally grew tired of waking up to them, and seeing those constant reminders every time I looked in a mirror.
“Also, I really love the aesthetic. I know it’s not for everyone but it is very satisfying to me to see a clean slate when I look down onto my arms.”
Kat Von D with her previous tattoos at Mercy For Animals’ annual Hidden Heroes Gala at Vibiana in 2017 (Michael Tullberg/Getty Images)
But, this isn’t the only transformation the LA Ink star has undergone recently.
In 2023, Kat decided to get baptized into the Christian church, renouncing her previous association with witchcraft and the occult.
Speaking on the Relatable with Allie Beth Stuckey podcast, she said: “I was just searching for answers and meaning in so many of the wrong places like most people do.
“I don’t want these crutches in my life anymore, and that’s what really I saw them as. I just want Jesus, and it’s a very narrow road. I feel like all these other, these breathing techniques, or spell work, nature worship, all these things, they’re just crutches. They’re not really my answer.
“And so for me, I would rather eliminate any distractions. And this is just what works for me.”