Kat Von D covered half her arm with black ink to conceal tattoos that 'meant nothing' to her

• Kat Von D revealed via Instagram that she covered half her arm with black ink to conceal tattoos that "meant nothing" to her.
• The artist said she originally got the tattoos when she used to drink, though she now says she's 13 years sober.
• Von D added she previously tried to remove the tattoos with lasers but that they were too dark and made of too many layers to do so properly.
• The tattoo artist also said at the start of her TV career that she didn't regret any of her old tattoos.

Kat Von D has said in the past that she doesn't regret any of her tattoos, but that doesn't mean she's opposed to covering old ones.

On Tuesday, the artist took to Instagram with a video of her arm that was partially covered in new black ink. According to Von D, she got the blackout design from the artist HoodeTattoos to conceal older tattoos that she got when she used to drink. Von D says she's now 13 years sober. She added that the older art "meant nothing" to her.

"Feels so good to finally cover up so many of the tattoos I got back when I used to drink," Von D wrote in her Instagram caption. "Those tattoos meant nothing to me but landmarks in dark times, and I'm so lucky to have the best blackout artist @hoode215 cover them up for me!"

"Now my arm looks so nice and clean, and the portrait of my Father stands out even more," she added.

Von D went on to ask viewers to consider that "not everyone connects with the same things" before feeling "inspired to negatively criticize" her new tattoo.

"I've been tattooing well over 2 decades and have seen so many tattoos in my lifetime that I personally would never get, yet feel happy for the wearer because it means something to them," she said. "I don't think there should be room for criticism when it comes to self-expression, and a tattoo is personal to the person wearing it. So thank you ahead of time for being respectful. Much love!"

Von D said she originally considered removing her old tattoos but chose to cover them instead

Von D told a fan who asked about her cover-up that she tried to remove her older tattoos with lasers in the past but they were too dark or had too many layers to do so properly.

"I actually did try lasering a few times and sadly they were just either too dark or had layers upon layers of tattoos that would have been too hard on my skin to remove," Von D said. "But I also love the simplistic look of this so it was a win-win."

Another fan pointed out that Von D appeared to have added some black ink to her leg, to which Von D replied: "I did!"

She also told an Instagram user there was one type of tattoo she likely would not get on her body: an ignorant-style design. PopSugar previously reported ignorant-style tattoos were inspired by underground art and prison tattoos. They often feature cartoon-style illustrations, dry humor, and ironic messages.

"Next up, ignorant style," the Instagram user wrote.

"F--- no!" Von D replied.

This isn't the first time the tattoo artist has covered old designs

In November 2019, Von D revealed on Instagram that she had partially covered her other arm in black ink with the help of the same tattoo artist.

"I'm so in love with my new blacked-out arm tattooed by @hoode215!" she wrote. "Can't believe it only took him 1.5 hours - and it's the most consistent, true black I have ever seen! I feel so lucky to have @hoode215 guest spotting here at @highvoltagetat and excited to have him come back in regular basis!"

Cosmopolitan UK reported at the time that "some fans questioned Von D's decision to black out her entire arm" in Instagram comments that appeared to be deleted.

At the time, according to the publication, Von D responded by writing: "PS. it's all good if you don't like my tattoo, because I do! I had so many old crappy tattoos that over the years I tried lasering, then covered up that it just felt like a blurry mess. Having it all blacked out so beautifully looks so clean and smooth and I love that! It's not for everybody, but I'm just so grateful that artists like @hoode215 exist and are masters of their craft!"

Von D has said in the past that she doesn't regret her old tattoos

Von D told PR.com in 2008 that while she used to give herself tattoos, she later began collecting body art from 30 to 40 artists around the world. According to TatRing, some of her pieces include Beethoven's initials, portraits of her mom and sister, multiple flowers, and numerous nods to her exes. Her most notable tattoo is perhaps the string of stars around her left eye.

Still, Von D said at the time that she didn't regret any of her ink.

She told Inked magazine in 2008: "I have lots of people's names on me and it's not so much like, 'Oh, I'm gonna regret my ex-husband's name on my neck.' It's more like a time in my life that I don't regret. I don't regret my divorce either. I'll rock it forever."

• Read more:
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• Here's everything you need to know about KVD Vegan Beauty now that Kat Von D has left the company
• Kat Von D donated her supply of gloves to a local hospital, and now she's encouraging others in the tattoo industry to do the same
• Kat Von D says she was 'kidnapped and locked up' at the same boarding school Paris Hilton attended