Jeffree Star is not only famous for his YouTube channel and eponymous makeup brand, but also for his eye-catching looks. Anyone who has ever watched one of Star’s YouTube videos or seen a photo of the beauty guru will have noticed his androgynous and bold makeup creations, but also what appear to be tattoos, which might leave people wondering if Jeffree Star actually has tattoos or if they are temporary.
Jeffree Star does have multiple tattoos. In fact, the beauty guru has over 100 tattoos on his body, which include everything from Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe to a portrait of his late grandmother.
Read more below about Jeffree Star’s tattoos, the reason behind them and how hard it is for the makeup mogul to cover them up when needed.
Troubled Childhood and Self Harm Scars
Jeffree Star was born Jeffrey Lynn Steininger Jr. on November 15, 1985. Star had a tumultuous childhood, with his father committing suicide when Jeffree was six, and leaving Star to be raised by his mother and grandparents.
Star’s interest in makeup started early, but he was also dealing with personal demons, and he began self-harming in high school. While filming with fellow guru, Shane Dawson, Star revealed this to the public for the first time, saying, “I was just floating, I didn’t know how to articulate my thoughts and my feelings so I just held everything in. I was my own cutting board.”
Star’s interest in tattoos began as a way to cover the scars of his cutting, with Star disclosing that he has over 5,000 scars on his legs alone. Tired of covering up with long sleeves and pants, Star opted to cover himself in works of art.
Kat Von D. and Expressive Ink
Most of Jeffree Star’s tattoos were done by former bff Kat Von D. Though the pair had a major falling out, Star does not regret having his tattoos done by Von D., saying, “No matter what happened, no matter what she did to me . . . I respect her artwork, I think that she is one of the best portrait tattoo artists in the entire world . . . I am just blessed and honored to be covered by her work and I will never be ashamed of that.”
With so many tattoos to choose from, it would be impossible to discuss them all, but some of Star’s more famous tattoos include a portrait of Audrey Hepburn and one of Kurt Cobain wearing a crown of thorns, as well as a giant shark on the makeup mogul’s stomach.
You can see Jeffree Star discuss his tattoos in-depth in the below YouTube video.
Cosmetic Concealment and Family Bonding
Given that Jeffree Star is a social media influencer and beauty guru, he often has to cover some of his tattoos for the makeup looks he creates or the photo shoots he takes part in, often requiring the skills of Star’s longtime friend and personal makeup artist, Lipstick Nick.
Covering all of Star’s tattoos is a long and arduous process, that requires layering red concealer with multiple shades of foundation, followed by contouring. The end effect, however, is stellar, with Star sharing a tattoo-free look to Instagram.
Though Star may be running out of space on his body for more tattoos, he isn’t afraid to encourage others to get inked instead, flying out a tattoo artist to his house so his then-boyfriend, Nathan Scwandt’s mother could get a tattoo. Star referred to the event as “family bonding” in a social media post.
There’s no guarantee Jeffree Star will not get another tattoo in the future, seeing as he loves adorning his body with artwork that is meaningful to him. Just like the bold and eccentric makeup looks he creates, Star’s tattoos are an iconic part of his persona, and something he is proud to show off.