Best Ink

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title: "Best Ink" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["2010s-american-reality-television-series", "2012-american-television-series-debuts", "2014-american-television-series-endings", "american-english-language-television-shows", "oxygen-(tv-channel)-original-programming", "tattooing-television-series"] topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Best_Ink" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox television"]

Field	Value
image	Best Ink Logo.jpg
genre	Reality competition
presenter	{{Plainlist
judges	{{Plainlist
country	United States
language	English
num_seasons	3
num_episodes	30
executive_producer	{{Plainlist
runtime	42 minutes
company	Bunim/Murray Productions
channel	Oxygen
first_aired
last_aired
::

| image = Best Ink Logo.jpg | caption = | alt_name = | genre = Reality competition | creator = | based_on = | developer = | writer = | director = | creative_director = | presenter = {{Plainlist|

Pete Wentz (seasons 2–3)
Kimberly Caldwell (season 1) | starring = | judges = {{Plainlist|
Joe Capobianco
Sabina Kelley
Hannah Aitchison | voices = | narrated = | theme_music_composer = | opentheme = | endtheme = | composer = | country = United States | language = English | num_seasons = 3 | num_episodes = 30 | list_episodes = | executive_producer = {{Plainlist|
Jonathan Murray
Gil Goldschein
Rick DeOliveira
Erin Cristall
Lisa Fletcher
Zach Kozek | producer = | editor = | location = | cinematography = | camera = | runtime = 42 minutes | company = Bunim/Murray Productions | channel = Oxygen | first_aired = | last_aired = | related =

Best Ink is an American reality competition series on Oxygen that judges tattoo artists. The series ran for three seasons, the first in 2012, the second in 2013, and the third in 2013–2014. The show was hosted by Kimberly Caldwell during Season 1 and by Pete Wentz in Seasons 2 and 3.

Best Ink premiered on March 27, 2012. The second season debuted on April 3, 2013. The third season debuted on December 4, 2013.

Cast

Hannah Aitchison – Judge
Kimberly Caldwell – Host (season 1)
Joe Capobianco – Judge
Sabina Kelley – Judge
Pete Wentz – Host (seasons 2–3)

Format

A group of tattoo artists from around the United States compete in various tattooing challenges. The winner of the competition wins a $100,000 cash prize and a cover article in a well-known tattoo-related magazine. After each challenge, tattoo artist and the show's judges, along with a different guest judge every week, critique the tattoos to find the contestant with the "Best Ink".

Flash challenge

Typically a non-tattooing task that tests the contestants' artistic skills using different media, subjects and "canvases." Usually the skills tested in the Flash Challenge will be a compulsory judging factor in the Elimination Tattoo.

Elimination tattoo

This stage starts with the winner of the Flash Challenge getting a privilege in this second stage. These perks can be first/only choice of which "skin" (client) they would like to tattoo or extra time, but is predetermined by the show's production team. Once each "skin" is allocated to a contestant, a consultation period between artist and "skin" is given (typically in a set amount of time) and followed by chance to create the artwork overnight before tattooing the next day. The Elimination tattoos are performed simultaneously by all contestants and within a set amount of time. The judges then critique the work, choosing the best and worst tattoos of the week. The contestant that produces the worst tattoo is eliminated from the show until the final episode where one tattoo artist is judged the winner.

Contestants

Season 1

Alexis Kovacs
Christina "Charlie" Petty
Jessica Rotwein
Jon Mesa
Kyle Giffen
Brittan "London" Reese
Meghan Pagliaroni
Nicky Hennerez
Roman Abrego
Tiffany Perez

Season 2

Alli Baker
Brittany Elliott
Carolyn “Cadaver” McKnight
Derek Rubright
DJ Tambe
Jerod Ray
Jordan "Dollarz" Ginsberg
Kelly McEvoy
Melvin Todd
Ralph Giordano
Teresa Sharpe
Tylor Schwarz

Season 3

Alayna Magnan
Amy Zager
Anthony Zamora
Carey Matthews
Danny Lepore
Darnell Waine
Izzi Echo
Joseph Matisa
Karly Cleary
Amy "May May" Yaeger
Romeo Lacoste
Rudy Hetzer
Willy Cutlip
Lara Slater

Contestant progress

Season 1

::data[format=table]

Contestant	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
Flash Challenge
*Winner *	Charlie	Roman	Kyle	Alexis	Alexis	Charlie	London	N/A
London	WIN	IN	IN	LOW	LOW	LOW	WIN	WINNER
Alexis	IN	HIGH	IN	WIN	HIGH	HIGH	IN	RUNNER-UP
Jon	HIGH	IN	BTM2	LOW	WIN	WIN	BTM2	3RD PLACE
Charlie	IN	IN	WIN	IN	BTM2	BTM2	OUT
Nicky	IN	LOW	IN	IN	IN	OUT
Kyle	IN	BTM2	IN	BTM2	OUT
Jessica	LOW	LOW	LOW	OUT
Roman	IN	WIN	OUT
Meghan	BTM2	OUT
Tiffany	OUT
::

: (WINNER) The contestant won Best Ink. : (RUNNER-UP) The contestant was the Runner-Up. : (3RD PLACE) The contestant was in 3rd Place. : (WIN) The contestant won best tattoo of the week. : (HIGH) The contestant had one of the best tattoos of the week, but did not win. : (IN) The contestant was safe. : (LOW) The contestant had one of the best tattoos of the week, but was voted into the bottom. : (LOW) The contestant had one of the worst tattoos of the week, but was the first to be called safe. : (BTM2) The contestant had one of the worst tattoos of the week and was the last to be called safe. : (OUT) The contestant was eliminated from the competition.

Season 2

::data[format=table]

Contestant	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Flash Challenge
*Winner *	Melvin	Jerod	DJ	Dollarz	Tylor	Jerod	Teresa	DJ	Jerod	N/A
Teresa	HIGH	IN	WIN	HIGH	WIN	HIGH	HIGH	IN	BTM2	WINNER
DJ	WIN	IN	IN	WIN	HIGH	HIGH	WIN	HIGH	WIN	RUNNER-UP
Jerod	IN	HIGH	LOW	BTM2	HIGH	LOW	IN	WIN	WIN	3RD PLACE
Alli	IN	IN	IN	HIGH	IN	IN	BTM2	BTM2	OUT
Brittany	IN	WIN	IN	IN	BTM2	WIN	IN	OUT
Derek	HIGH	IN	HIGH	LOW	LOW	BTM2	OUT
Tylor	IN	HIGH	IN	IN	IN	OUT
Ralph	IN	IN	HIGH	IN	OUT
Dollarz	IN	LOW	BTM2	OUT
Kelly	BTM2	BTM2	OUT
Melvin	LOW	OUT
Carolyn	OUT
::

Bold The contestant won immunity the previous week and was automatically safe the preceding week. : (WINNER) The contestant won Best Ink. : (RUNNER-UP) The contestant was the runner-up. : (3RD PLACE) The contestant was in 3rd Place. : (WIN) The contestant won best tattoo of the week, and received automatic immunity for the next week's Ink Challenge. : (WIN) The contestant won best tattoo of the week, but did not receive automatic immunity for the next week's Ink Challenge. : (HIGH) The contestant had one of the best tattoos of the week, but did not win. : (IN) The contestant was safe. : (LOW) The contestant had one of the worst tattoos of the week, but was the first to be called safe. : (BTM2) The contestant had one of the worst tattoos of the week and was the last to be called safe. : (OUT) The contestant was eliminated from the competition.

Season 3

::data[format=table]

Contestant	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
Flash Challenge
*Winner *	Amy	May
May	Willy	Darnell	Joe	Danny	Darnell	Karly	Alayna	Karly	Darnell	N/A
Karly	WIN	IN	IN	HIGH	IN	IN	WIN	WIN	IN	BTM2	WIN	WINNER
Darnell	HIGH	IN	IN	WIN	IN	IN	HIGH	IN	WIN	HIGH	BTM2	RUNNER-UP
Alayna	IN	IN	IN	LOW	WIN	IN	HIGH	HIGH	HIGH	IN	WIN	3RD PLACE
Willy	IN	WIN	HIGH	IN	HIGH	HIGH	LOW	HIGH	IN	WIN	OUT
Lara	LOW	IN	IN	IN	IN	HIGH	BTM2	LOW	BTM2	OUT
Joe	IN	HIGH	WIN	HIGH	HIGH	WIN	LOW	BTM2	OUT
Romeo	IN	IN	IN	IN	IN	BTM2	HIGH	OUT
Danny	IN	IN	IN	BTM2	BTM2	LOW	OUT
May May	HIGH	LOW	LOW	IN	LOW	OUT
Anthony	IN	BTM2	IN	IN	OUT
Amy	IN	HIGH	BTM2	OUT
Izzi	BTM2	IN	OUT
Rudy	IN	OUT
Carey	OUT
::

: Joe was originally supposed to be in the bottom 3, but since he had won the Ink Challenge the previous week he was automatically safe.

Episodes

Series overview

Season 1 (2012)

Season 2 (2013)

Season 3 (2013–14)

References

"Best Ink 2: Coming this Spring!".
"Best Ink Episode: "Something to Hide"".
Bibel, Sara. "'Best Ink' Season 2 to Premiere Wednesday, April 3 on Oxygen". TV by the Numbers.
(February 19, 2013). "Tattoos and Art Collide When Oxygen's "Best Ink" Returns for Season Two with New Host Pete Wentz on Wednesday, April 3, at 10 PM ET/PT". The Futon Critic.
Kondolojy, Amanda. (October 22, 2013). "'Best Ink' Season Three Premieres Wednesday, December 4 at 10PM". TV by the Numbers.
[http://best-ink.oxygen.com/blogs/Best-Ink-returns-with-new-host-Pete-Wentz], Season 2 Contestants
(March 28, 2012). "Tuesday's Cable Ratings: "Tosh.0" Continues Demo Reign". The Futon Critic.
(April 4, 2012). "Tuesday's Cable Ratings: "Tosh.0" Wraps Spring Run on Top". The Futon Critic.
(April 11, 2012). "Tuesday's Cable Ratings: "Deadliest Catch," NBA Top Charts". The Futon Critic.
(April 18, 2012). "Tuesday's Cable Ratings: "Deadliest Catch," NBA Share Top Honors". The Futon Critic.
(April 25, 2012}}{{Dead link). "Tuesday's Cable Ratings: Another Week, Another "Deadliest" Win". The Futon Critic.
(May 2, 2012). "Tuesday's Cable Ratings: NBA Playoffs Continue Surge on TNT". The Futon Critic.
(May 10, 2012). "Tuesday's Cable Ratings: NBA Playoffs, "Deadliest Catch" Lead the Night". The Futon Critic.
(May 16, 2012). "Tuesday's Cable Ratings: NBA Playoffs Continue TNT's Reign". The Futon Critic.
(April 4, 2013). "Wednesday's Cable Ratings: "Duck Dynasty" Still Unstoppable for A&E". The Futon Critic.
(April 11, 2013). "Wednesday's Cable Ratings: A&E's "Duck Dynasty" Overshadows the Competition". The Futon Critic.
(April 18, 2013). "Wednesday's Cable Ratings: "Duck Dynasty" Crushes the Competition". The Futon Critic.
(April 25, 2013). "Wednesday's Cable Ratings: "Duck Dynasty" Goes Out on Top for A&E". The Futon Critic.
(May 2, 2013). "Wednesday's Cable Ratings: TNT Rides NBA Playoffs to Top Spots". The Futon Critic.
(May 9, 2013). "Wednesday's Cable Ratings: NBA Playoffs, "Psych" Top Charts". The Futon Critic.
(May 16, 2013). "Wednesday's Cable Ratings: TNT Tops Third Consecutive Night with NBA Playoffs". The Futon Critic.
(May 23, 2013). "Wednesday's Cable Ratings: Pacers/Heat Opener Dominates for TNT". The Futon Critic.
(May 30, 2013). "Wednesday's Cable Ratings: Blackhawks/Red Wings Finale Tops Originals". The Futon Critic.
Kondolojy, Amanda. (January 16, 2014). "Wednesday Cable Ratings: 'Duck Dynasty' Tops Night + 'American Horror Story', 'Crazy Hearts: Nashville', & More". TV by the Numbers.
Yanan, Travis. (February 20, 2014). "Wednesday's Cable Ratings & Broadcast Finals: "Minds," "Idol" Can't Catch Winter Games". The Futon Critic.

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