Von D has a sister named Karoline and a brother named Michael. She moved with her family to the Los Angeles area at age 4 and grew up in Colton, California. She credits the prominent Latino culture of Los Angeles as being a major influence drawing tattoos in her art and style. She got her first tattoo at 14 and quit school at 16 to become a tattoo artist. Von D was asked to work at 305 Ink in Miami when Darren Brass broke his elbow, preventing him from tattooing. She had a falling out with Ami James which led to her being asked to leave the shop. Accomplished in December 2007, it involved a Con D-designed logo for the city of Los Angeles, with proceeds going to the children ‘s-blindness charity Vitamin Angels. Her record was subsequently broken by her ex-husband, Oliver Peck (415); Derek Kastning, from Rat-a-Tac-Tat Tattoo in Tyler, Texas, on October 27, 2008 (726); John McManus (775); and, on November 16, 2008, Hollis Cantrell, at Artistic Tattoo in Phoenix, Arizona, with 801.
