The new Empire Ink Custom Black Wash Set is a collaboration between Empire Inks, Monster Kreations, and renowned tattoo artist Tony Kelly. Rather than following a traditional black wash formula, the set replaces the standard medium wash with a custom darker tone to create stronger contrast and better value separation. The result is tattoos that remain cleaner, bolder, and easier to read as they heal.
Key features:
- Custom dark wash replaces the traditional medium tone
- Stronger contrast and improved readability
- Includes Deep Mars Black, the base black used throughout the entire set
- True black wash formula with no white added
- Designed to heal more accurately to tone
- Simplified value range for a more efficient workflow
Why This Black Wash Set Is Different
Black and grey artists know that contrast is what gives a tattoo depth, readability, and longevity. While many wash systems offer multiple tones, not all of them create enough separation once the tattoo has healed.
That's exactly what Empire Inks, Monster Kreations, and Tony Kelly set out to improve with the new Custom Black Wash Set.
Instead of using a traditional medium wash, the team developed a custom dark tone that sits between a dark and medium wash. This creates a more useful value range, helping artists achieve stronger contrast and cleaner transitions without relying on unnecessary intermediate tones.
The goal is simple: make tattoos easier to read both when they're fresh and years later when they've settled into the skin.
A True Black Wash System
Another key difference is that this is a genuine black wash set.
Unlike some grey wash products that use white pigment in their formulation, the Empire Ink Custom Black Wash Set contains no white in the mix. Because of this, the washes heal more true to their intended values, giving artists greater confidence in the final healed result.
For artists who prefer the look and behaviour of traditional black washes, this is a significant advantage.
Built Around Deep Mars Black
The set also includes Deep Mars Black, which serves as the foundation of the entire wash system.
Because every wash in the set is created from the same base black, each tone works seamlessly with the next. This consistency helps eliminate guesswork and allows artists to focus on placement, contrast, and composition rather than juggling multiple formulations.
The end result is a streamlined value system designed to make black and grey tattooing more intuitive.
More Than Just a Signature Label
One thing that stands out about this collaboration is the level of involvement from Tony Kelly.
As Tony explained:
"I didn't just want a label on a set. I want everything I do to be unique and add something new."
That mindset is reflected in the design of the set. Rather than creating another artist-branded product, the focus was on solving a practical challenge that many black and grey artists face: achieving better healed contrast with a simpler, more effective range of tones.
Available Now at Starr Tattoo Supplies
If you're looking for a black wash system designed around healed readability, stronger value separation, and a simpler workflow, the Empire Ink Custom Black Wash Set is well worth a look.
Now available from Starr Tattoo Supplies, it's a collaboration that brings a genuinely fresh approach to black and grey tattooing.
