Best Shows For Fans Of Ink Master
Big tattoos, big egos, big prizes, and big drama — those are just a few things you'll find on "Ink Master," the reality TV tattoo competition that pits some of the best tattoo artists in the country against one another for a shot at $100,000, a feature in "Inked Magazine" and, of course, the coveted title of Ink Master.
The beloved ink-filled reality show first aired in 2012, judged by rockstar Dave Navarro and tattoo industry professionals Oliver Peck and Chris Núñez. It ran for an impressive 13 seasons, but the tat show was canceled back in 2020. However, as Deadline reports, an "Ink Master" season 14 is confirmed, but details like a release date and who will replace Peck as judge have yet to be released.
Fans of "Ink Master" don't have to wait until its 14th season premiere to get a fix of tattoo entertainment, though. Instead, they can watch one of the highly entertaining shows listed here.
Ink Master: Redemption
Fans of "Ink Master" know that, sometimes, the human canvases get pretty bad tats. You can't help but feel for the artists who blew their shot at $100,000 — and, of course, the people who got the bad ink in the first place. If only there was a show that gives the artists the chance to redeem themselves and the canvases to get ink they actually likev...voh wait, there is: "Ink Master: Redemption."
A spin-off of the original, "Ink Master: Redemption" features Dave Navarro, Oliver Peck, and Chris Núñez in the judges' seats as artists fight to redeem themselves and their art. "Ink Master" fans will root for their favorite eliminated artists to succeed — and their least favorite artists to get the ax again.
Now, "Ink Master" fans know there's no shortage of drama on the tattoo reality TV show, and the same goes for its spin-off. Inked Magazine lists some of the craziest moments from the show, including seasons three and four contestant Kyle Dunbar (who famously feuded with Núñez) confronting the canvas who said he'd meet Dunbar halfway on his tattoo idea — if he split the $100,000 with him. Yikes.
Needless to say, "Ink Master: Redemption" has the same drama and fire fans of "Ink Master" know and love. All four seasons are available for streaming on Paramount+.
Ink Master: Angels
"Ink Master" has seen killer tattoos from incredible female artists — four of whom star in the spin-off "Ink Master: Angels." Season eight winner Ryan Ashley and season eight contestants Kelly Doty, Nikki Simpson, and Gia Rose tour the country and spotlight some of the nation's most talented tattoo artists. The kicker? These artists get to compete for a shot to be on a future season of "Ink Master." The lady-led spin-off premiered in October 2017 and lasted for two seasons.
"Ink Master: Angels" is an extra special spin-off, as it embraces the strong friendship Ashely, Doty, Simpson, and Rose formed during their season. Speaking to Forbes in 2017, Simpson said of their alliance, "We were each other's support system in that environment, because it is a very difficult scenario to be in. We all definitely respected each other and found each other to be very talented, very driven women, so we identified with each other in that way." That unwavering support paid off; three of the four women made it to the final five, with Ashley taking home the grand prize.
Needless to say, the work these women do is incredible — and "Ink Master" fans will enjoy seeing them compete again. Both seasons are available to stream on Paramount+.
Tattoo Nightmares
No one goes into a tattoo shop and thinks, "This is going to be the worst tattoo I'll ever get." But, unfortunately, bad ink happens. People typically have three choices here: suck it up and deal with the tat, cough up the money to get it removed, or get it covered up (if possible). The show "Tattoo Nightmares" centers around that cover up option.
According to IMBd, "Tattoo Nightmares" is about three talented tattoo artists (including "Ink Master" season one contestant Tommy Helm) who specialize in covering up embarrassingly bad ink. Viewers get to see the nitty-gritty process of doing cover ups on some truly cringe-worthy tattoos. The show premiered in 2012 and lasted for four seasons.
Tattoo buffs loved the show and tuned in every week to see the latest batch of bad tats. According to a press release from Spike TV (which became Paramount Network in 2018), "Tattoo Nightmares" averaged 1.5 million viewers when it premiered in October 2012. Deadline reports that the show was such a success that Spike TV ordered a spin off called "Tattoo Nightmares Miami," which aired in 2014 but lasted only one season. The spin off also featured a former "Ink Master" contestant: Clint Cummings, who competed in season two.
Fans of "Ink Master" are sure to be blown away by the cover ups these tattoo pros pull off. Streaming is available by renting or buying the show on iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, and Vudu.
Miami Ink
Fun fact for all the "Ink Master" fans out there: Before Chris Núñez was a series judge, he was on "Miami Ink," a TLC reality show about five tattoo artists working at a tattoo shop in Miami Beach. The show ran for six seasons from 2005 to 2008. Tattoo enthusiasts clearly couldn't get enough, as evidenced by several spinoffs, including "NY Ink," "London Ink," and "LA Ink."
"Miami Ink" didn't just show the tattoo artists doing their work; it told the stories behind the tattoos people got, which added a personal touch to a generally rough-and-tough process. Did people butt heads? Sure. Were beautiful tattoos created? Absolutely. Is it entertaining to see everything unfold? You bet. The show obviously resonated with the tattoo community based on its success, and many cast members are either still inking or own their own tattoo shops (via Inked Magazine).
Right now, "Miami Ink" is available to stream on Discovery+, and you can buy all six seasons on Amazon Prime video.
LA Ink
"LA Ink" follows renowned tattoo artist Kat Von D, who rose to fame on "Miami Ink," returning to her hometown of Los Angeles to open her own tattoo shop. The show premiered in 2007 and ran for four seasons.
Similar to "Miami Ink," "LA Ink" gave the audience an inside look at the opening of a tattoo shop — and all that comes with it. The audience saw High Voltage Tattoo open, welcoming in clients and hearing the deeply personal tales behind their desired ink. The show saw some celeb clients, too, like "Ink Master" judge Dave Navarro, "Jackass" darlings Steve-O and Bam Margera, and a slew of rockers.
Between the sick tattoos, the celebrity clientele, and, of course, the delicious drama, "LA Ink" is a show that tattoos enthusiasts of any level can enjoy. However, there's some bad news for "LA Ink" fans itching to get a jaw-dropping tattoo at High Voltage Tattoo — Kat Von D closed the West Hollywood shop in late 2021 and moved to Indiana, according to People. The shop lives on in "LA Ink" though, which is available to stream on Discovery+ and at go.tlc.com.
Black Ink Crew
Tattoo reality TV fans can still catch new weekly episodes of "Black Ink Crew," which premiered in 2012 on VH1. The show follows the daily operations (and the drama that follows) of an African American-owned tattoo shop in Harlem, according to IMDb. The show's currently airing the second half of its ninth season.
People tune in to watch the day-to-day life inside Black Ink (owned by Ceaser Emanuel) and get the scoop on what's happening in the lives of the incredible artists who tattoo there. The show is such a smash hit that it inspired two spin-offs: "Black Ink Crew Chicago," which premiered in 2015, and "Black Ink Crew: Compton," which premiered in 2019.
If you're ready for a show that's got some seriously awesome tattoos, and some serious drama, "Black Ink Crew" is right up your alley. According to The Source, the latest season follows the crew as they return to New York from an Atlanta residency, ready to tattoo again in The Big Apple. You can watch the latest season on VH1, and you can stream previous seasons on Paramount+, Netflix, and Hulu.
Bad Ink
If there's one thing tattoo aficionados know, it's that there's plenty of bad tattoos to go around — and "Bad Ink" highlights some truly gnarly ink jobs. The show consists of tattoo artist Dirk Vermin and his pal, Rob Ruckus, helping the people of Sin City turn their disastrous pieces into beautiful art. The show premiered on A&E in 2013 and ran for two seasons.
"Ink Master" fans will enjoy hearing the stories behind these terrible tats and seeing their stunning transformations. Seeing Dirk Vermin come to the rescue of these oh-so-done-wrong people is entertaining, and some of the stories behind the ink? Truly wild. Plus, it shows the miracles a good cover up tattoo artist can perform.
One thing that makes "Bad Ink" stand out from the other tattoo TV shows is the comedic chemistry between Vermin and Ruckus. Talking to The Last Vegas Review-Journal, Vermin said of the show, "It was gonna be another tattoo show. And there's nothing wrong with that. It would've still been a good tattoo show. But as Ruckus became a bigger part of it, they realized, 'Oh my God, we have comedy gold here.' And so then it became as much about the comedy as the tattooing."
Sold yet? "Bad Ink" is available to stream on Pluto TV and Tubi.
America's Worst Tattoos
Similar to "Bad Ink," "America's Worst Tattoos" highlights some of the worst — and most bizarre — tattoos out there, and the stories behind them. We're talking grammatically incorrect tattoos to straight-up ink messes. Some of those with truly terrible tats got the chance to have them fixed by talented tattoo artists, including "NY Ink" alumni Megan Massacre. The show premiered in 2012 and ran for two seasons.
Seeing these tattoos transform from total eyesores to ink excellence is truly mind-blowing. Viewers think, "There's no way this tattoo can be fixed" — and are then proven wrong by the time the credits roll. The show also features Philadelphia tattoo artist Tim Pangburn, who, according to an interview he did with The Philadelphia Inquirer, was first approached by the crew at the Philadelphia Tattoo Convention in 2012. And the rest is "America's Worst Tattoos" history.
Interested in binge watching it over the weekend? Stream it on Discovery+.
Tattoo Redo
Clearly, people really love shows about bad tattoos getting redone — and luckily for viewers, there's plenty of bad tattoos in need of revamps. A newer bad tattoo reality show to hit the streaming services is "Tattoo Redo," which premiered on Netflix in 2021. As you can probably guess, it's about a group of tattoo artists who transform bad ink into works of art. There is a unique twist, though: The canvas' new tattoo design is chosen by one of their loved ones.
"Ink Master" fans will like "Tattoo Redo" for two reasons. One, the stories behind some of these awful tattoos are wild. It's always interesting to hear the logic behind terrible ink. Second, there's some added intrigue in the fact that loved ones pick the cover-up design. The new ink is out of the canvas' hands — so they have to really trust those in their circle to deliver a great tattoo idea.
The show has received positive reviews, with Decider saying to stream it and calling it a "fun makeover show." It's available to stream on Netflix, in case you're looking to watch it ASAP.
Bondi Ink Tattoo Crew
It's tattoos from The Land Down Under! "Bondi Ink Tattoo Crew" follows tattoo artists running a successful tattoo shop in Bondi Beach, Australia. Think of it like "Miami Ink" or "NY Ink" for the Aussies. It proves that tattoo entertainment — and drama — isn't limited to the United States. It premiered in 2015 and ran for two seasons.
Speaking of "NY Ink," there's actually a connection between the show and "Bondi Ink Tattoo Crew." Megan Massacre, who appeared on "NY Ink" and "America's Worst Tattoos," stars in the show; she went down to Bondi Ink Tattoo to help the shop out during the first season and was called back in season two. According to The West Australian, in an interview with Massacre about the second season, she enjoyed her time at the shop — even if things were a little hectic. She worked at Bondi Ink Tattoo during the day, then oversaw her New York tattoo shop at night. Wow.
Those interested in seeing some sick Aussie tattoos can stream "Bondi Ink Tattoo Crew" on Crackle and fuboTV.
Cartel Crew
Alright, "Cartel Crew" is not a tattoo show, but it does feature an "Ink Master" darling: Katherine Flores, aka Tatu Baby, who competed on seasons two and three. The show follows the lives of family members of those tied to drug cartels. The VH1 reality show premiered in 2019 and, so far, has aired three seasons, with the latest season airing in 2021 (via IMDb).
Flores is on the show because her father, who was killed when she was only 4 years old, was a drug kingpin. According to Distractify, she found out about her father after bringing up his name to her friend's father, who told her to not go around sharing that information. She then talked to her mother about him and got more details.
Follow along as Flores, along with others who have cartel familial ties, try to live their lives outside of their family's legacies. "Cartel Crew" can be streamed on Apple TV.
Face Off
"Face Off" is also not a tattoo show, but it's a creative reality competition that puts special effects makeup artists to the test — just like "Ink Master" does with tattoo artists. Each challenge is meant to test the artists' technical skills and creativity as they create makeups that fit specific challenges. The beloved Syfy show ran from 2011 to 2018 for a whopping 13 seasons.
"Face Off" and "Ink Master" share plenty of similarities. Both shows showcase some of the best artists in their industries, are judged by industry pros, and each show gives the overall winner a cool $100,000 as part of the grand prize. Both shows also have a dedicated fan base. In fact, there was a petition made to get "Face Off" back on the air — and it got more than 31,000 signatures.
While there's no plans to bring back "Face Off," the show is available to stream on Peacock and the NBC app.
Skin Wars
Another show similar to "Ink Master" is "Skin Wars," a reality TV show where body paint artists compete for stardom and cash. Rebecca Romijn hosts, and RuPaul serves as one of three judges. The show first aired in 2014 and ran for three seasons. It also sparked a spin-off — "Skin Wars: Fresh Paint," which aired for a season in 2016.
Seeing these body paint artists transform the human body with a little creativity — and a whole lot of paint — is simply incredible. "Ink Master" fans are sure to enjoy the imaginative and way-cool concepts these artists come up with, from beautiful landscapes to fierce animals. The whole show is just fun, too — how can you not have fun when body paint is in the mix? It got some love while on the air, too; two of the show's seasons have an audience score above 70% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Interested in streaming "Skin Wars"? You'll find the competition on Pluto TV.
Glow Up: Britain's Next Make-Up Star
Think of it as "Ink Master" but for makeup. "Glow Up: Britain's Next Make-Up Star" features make-up artists living together and competing for their shot to land a coveted contract in the make-up industry. The show premiered in 2019 and is still producing new episodes.
Similar to "Ink Master," "Glow Up: Britain's Next Make-Up Star" features artists competing in challenges to show off their creativity and skills. It's hosted by Maya Jama, and the judges are industry experts Val Garland and Dominic Skinner, who each bring something unique to the judges' table. According to Newsweek, Skinner has been in the beauty business for more than two decades and is a global senior artist with MAC Cosmetics. Garland brings more than three decades of makeup artist experience to the competition and is the L'Oréal Paris global makeup director. Yeah, the judges know a thing or two about makeup — and their feedback on the show is superb.
Good news for Netflix users: All three seasons of the show are available to stream on the platform. Happy streaming!