Instagram | @katvond

Kat Von D Replies To 'Blackout' Tattoo Sleeve Backlash

Earlier this month, celebrity tattoo artist Kat Von D debuted her new 'blackout' style tattoo sleeve to very mixed reactions on Instagram.

"I'm so in love with my new blacked out arm tattoo," she wrote.

She told fans she got the ink to cover up old 'crappy' tattoos.

However, soon after showing off her new sleeve, Kat had to defend her decision in a lengthy Instagram post.

Instagram | @katvond

"Having been in the tattoo industry for the greater part of my life, I’ve seen countless tattoos of all types of styles — but NEVER have I felt inspired to tell anyone 'that’s ugly' or 'you’re stupid.' Tattoos are funny in the sense that ultimately it is one of the most intimately personal things we can do for ourselves," she started.

"But even though tattoos are an outward expression, they really aren’t for anyone else other than the person wearing it."

Instagram | @katvond

She continued, "With that being said, I do love sharing and giving the world a window into aspects of my life — especially when it involves something/someone that inspires me. But just because I choose to share my experiences, it shouldn’t be an invitation for such negativity."

"Yes, I did decide to black out a large portion of old, crappy tattoos on my arm that I posted yesterday, and regardless of what people might think about it, I absolutely LOVE how simple and clean it looks now."

Instagram | @katvond

"So, to respond to a lot of the noise that clogged up my comment section in my last post:

•No, it doesn’t matter that you don’t like the way my arm looks. To each their own.

•No, this isn’t bad for my health [but thank you for caring!] When done correctly, tattoos don’t penetrate passed the second dermis layer of skin. During the healing process, our skin naturally filters out any excess pigment through our pores. And no, there is no lead, plastics, toxins in the professional-grade tattoo pigments that we use. Nowadays you can even find vegan-friendly pigments that works just as well, too.

•No, this isn’t a lazy attempt at a coverup. It actually takes an extremely skilled artist that specializes in blacking out tattoos.

•Before you label something “ugly” or “horrible” try to remember that beauty is subjective. Your idea of a dream tattoo, might be someone else’s idea of a nightmare."

She concluded, "Even if it’s something you would never get, there’s no denying the simplistic esthetic to this style of tattooing really is beautiful in its own way."

Instagram | @katvond

What do you think of Kat's tattoo? Let us know in the comments below!

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