Viewers know beloved HGTV star David Bromstad for his distinctive look, but some fans have pointed out that something is missing from his appearance during his shows. On December 4th, 2025, a fan-based Reddit thread begged the question: “Why don’t we see David’s face tattoos?”
Although his face appears ink-free on-screen and in highly polished social media photos, more candid shots clearly show a small lightning bolt and heart beneath his right eye. Since Bromstad proudly shows off the rest of his tattoos, why are these so rarely seen? Luckily, Redditors have a few theories.
Fans Believe Hiding the Tattoos is a Network Request
GettyAlthough tattoos in general are more mainstream now, some people still find face ink questionable. With that in mind, several Redditors in the thread theorized that Bromstad covers his face tattoos for HGTV and its target audience. “My guess is that they do ask him to cover them,” one fan wrote.
Meanwhile, another commentator suggested that covering the tattoos may be easier for makeup artists because of their placement. “I think it’s probably mostly about the heavy makeup needed for TV lighting,” they wrote. “It’s got to be hard to work around two small tattoos, so they work over them.” Bromstad hasn’t specifically addressed why he covers his face tattoos as of this writing. Still, his 50th birthday Instagram post shows that he is clearly comfortable showing them off in certain situations.
Bromstad has Some Seriously Impressive Ink
GettyBromstad’s colorful, stylish wardrobe certainly sets him apart from his HGTV colleagues, but his massive tattoo collection is what really makes him stand out from the crowd. Over the years, his collection has grown before HGTV viewers’ eyes. An article on HGTV’s website outlined some of the star’s most noteworthy tattoos, which include several homages to Disney. For example, Bromstad has a classic Mickey Mouse tattooed on his shoulder and a massive Cinderella castle piece on his thigh.
In speaking with H&H Tattoo Co. Orlando, Bromstad shared how he approaches getting tattoos. “I literally stay up at night thinking and researching what I can do next, what area I can have tattooed that’s interesting, different, and fun,” he said. “It’s a creative outlet.” He also shared that his interest in tattoos began when he was just 16. Clearly, it has blossomed into a lifelong passion.
Your body is not appealing with all the ugly tattoos
I agree. Hard to watch, He is good looking without them