Celeb tattoo artist reveals everything to know before getting ink

EXCLUSIVE: The artist behind Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, and Chrissy Teigen’s tattoos reveals everything you need to know before getting ink, including the design that will NEVER go out of style

  • Daniel Winter (a.k.a. winterstone) is Hollywood’s go-to tattoo artist known for  precise line work 
  • One of his favorite trending tattoos right now is micro hearts, and rates the back of the arm as a top spot to show off your art
  • He believes the cursive font will always stand the test of time, and a black and white piece is timeless

Daniel Winter (a.k.a. winterstone) is Hollywood’s go-to tattoo artist

Daniel Winter (a.k.a. winterstone) is Hollywood’s go-to tattoo artist.

His signature aesthetic consists of precise black lines and intricate details, all of which coalesce into something elegant and powerful once completed. 

Based in Los Angeles, California, Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Chrissy Teigen and John Legend, are just a few top-tier celebs to sit in his chair.

‘I love that they trust me with their art and allow me to play a part in marking important milestones of their lives,’ he told DailyMail.com.

‘John Legend and Chrissy Teigen are two names that come to mind, who have trusted me to share their family’s story in a special way.’

Winterstone reveals everything you need to consider before getting inked. 

‘John Legend and Chrissy Teigen are two names that come to mind, who have trusted me to share their family’s story in a special way’

His celebrity clientele 

The couple, who lost their baby boy after 20 weeks of pregnancy, memorialized him by getting ‘Jack’ tattooed on their wrists.

Chrissy has several tattoos by winterstone, including an elephant on her inner wrist, tiny dots arranged vertically on her fingers and words down her back.

She shared the meaning behind her elephant ink on Instagram. The caption read, “In my past life I was an elephant,” written out in Thai.

Her back tat reads ‘Ooh Laa,’ a tribute to John’s song of the same name, that he wrote about her.  

Less is known about the meaning behind the dots on her hands, but three dots in succession, otherwise known as an ‘ellipsis’ can have a spiritual meaning. 

Used grammatically it indicates that the sentence is not complete; three dot tattoos can symbolize life, death, and reincarnation.

John and Chrissy both have a matching “Jack” tattoo on their wrists to memorialize their son that died


Chrissy has several tattoos by winterstone, including an elephant on her wrist and tiny dots arranged vertically on her fingers

While all of winterstone’s work is meaningful and special to him, ‘Lady Gaga’s La Vie En Rose tattoo will always be an all time favorite of mine,’ he said.

The rose holds its place as one of the most timeless motifs, but the long-stemmed flower climbing up the Grammy-winning artist’s spine takes the cake.

On that day, winterstone also inked the star and her friend with matching tattoos that spelled the word “Gaga” in musical notes.

Demi Lovato commissioned the artist to create a detailed, long-stem rose on her pointer finger. She told fans she’s “obsessed.”

While all of winterstone’s work is meaningful to him, ‘Lady Gaga’s La Vie En Rose tattoo will always be an all time favorite of mine,’ he said

On that day, winterstone also inked the star and her friend with matching tattoos that spelled the word “Gaga” in musical notes

Demi Lovato commissioned the artist to create a detailed, long-stem rose on her pointer finger

Trends vs. classics 

Just like fashion, tattoo trends come and go. Case in point: tribal motifs and tramp stamps that were popular back in the ’90s.

‘These trends are influenced by people seeing art that they love on someone else and wanting to replicate that style in some way for their tattoo,’ explained the artist.

‘One of my favorite trending tattoos right now is micro hearts.

‘There are so many fun ways to switch up the design and placement of a tiny heart, and it carries a different meaning for everyone.’ 

While he’s privy to what’s in, winterstone’s tattoos would never be described as trendy.  His recognizable black and white aesthetic is for the client who desires something classic.

‘As an artist, I’ve always been drawn to a black and white aesthetic. I think the color black speaks for itself – it’s simple, but striking and powerful at the same time. 

‘I love that a fine line, black tattoo will never go out of style.’

 Specializing in precise line work in black and white, winterstone’s tattoos wouldn’t be described as trendy. His aesthetic is for the client who desires something classic that never goes out of style


‘One of my favorite trending tattoos right now is micro hearts,’ said Stone. ‘There are so many fun ways to switch up the design and placement of a tiny heart, and it carries a different meaning for everyone’

Chrissy’s back tat reads ‘Ooh Laa,’ a tribute to John’s song of the same name, that he wrote about her

Word tattoos and fine lines

‘One of my favorite things about fine line tattoos is that it doesn’t feel like a short term trend,’ said winterstone.

‘It’s a timeless style that suits so many designs – whether you’re looking for words, nature, or a silhouette. I see this as a style of tattooing that is going to be around for the long run.’

Choosing a timeless piece of art that you will appreciate for the rest of your life can be tough. 

There are many things to consider, including placement, style, theme and size, but Stone reveals the most important thing to know is the meaning behind it. 

‘Tattoos are not just a form of art – each design tells a story and allows that person to carry an important part of their lives with them forever. 

‘When thinking about a tattoo with words, it’s important to consider the significance of what this word or phrase means to you and take into consideration the permanence of the art.’

Since Miley Cyrus got her first tattoo back in 2010, the words “Just Breathe” on her rib cage, the “Midnight Sky” singer’s word tattoo collection is ever-growing.

Winterstone inked “freedom” in cursive on her right hand and “I’m proud of U, Yoko” on her left shoulder. 

According to the caption on Miley’s Instagram, the sweet sentiment is actually a copy of a handwritten note that Yoko Ono once wrote her.

Winterstone inked “freedom” in cursive on Miley Cyrus’ right hand and “I’m proud of U, Yoko” on her left shoulder

Since Miley Cyrus got her first tattoo back in 2010, the words “Just Breathe” on her rib cage, the “Midnight Sky” singer’s word tattoo collection is ever-growing

Font and placement matter

Actress Jordana Bewster recently visited winterstone for two new designs, a line drawing of a heart and the letter “m” in script, just after marrying Mason Morfit in September 2022. 

‘I personally love my cursive font. To me, it’s just one of the most beautiful styles out there and will always stand the test of time.’

While the artist doesn’t think there are rules to follow regarding tattoo placement, ‘I do think that each tattoo should have its own real estate to stand on its own and make an impact, so I would just suggest not clumping them too close together.’

‘The back of the arm is one of my favorite tattoo spots, I think it’s a super cool place to show off your art.

‘I love the look of a finger tattoo, but they tend to fade faster and require more maintenance. This isn’t necessarily a regret, but something I typically give clients a heads up on since they require a bit more care and upkeep.’

According to the caption on Miley’s Instagram, the sweet sentinment is actually a copy of a handwritten note that Yoko Ono once wrote her

Actress Jordana Bewster visited winterstone for two new designs recently


Jordana got a line drawing of a heart and the letter “m” in script, just after marrying Mason Morfit in September 2022

Know your artist’s niche 

Tattooing dates back thousands of years. The earliest evidence of the ancient art form was first discovered on human remains in Egypt.

Then, tattoos were created using simple tools such as bone needles and ink, and often associated with religious worship. 

Thanks to technology, tattoos today are a mainstream form of body art. Artistry has become more refined and artists have developed their own unique styles.

‘I found my niche very early on as an artist,’ said winterstone. ‘ I have always loved the look of fine, very precise lines and really honed in on perfecting that style.

‘There’s no room for error when tattooing this way, it takes an incredible amount of attention to detail and I think clients have a sense of appreciation for the artistry that it takes. 

‘I also think it rose in popularity because the designs are universally beautiful and timeless, it’s a style that really suits anybody.’

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