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The Tattoos Design
Della Hargrove

Della Hargrove

Tattoo Design Specialist

Tattoo artist and designer with 12+ years working across American traditional, Japanese, and modern minimalist styles. Della writes about design choices, placement, aftercare, and the meaning behind popular motifs.

Della Hargrove has been working in and writing about tattoo design for over a decade, across traditional American, Japanese (irezumi-influenced), and contemporary minimalist work. Della’s writing focuses on the practical decisions behind a good tattoo: design, placement, sizing, and the cultural context of motifs.

Areas of Expertise

  • American traditional and neo-traditional design
  • Japanese tattoo style and motif symbolism
  • Minimalist, fine-line, and single-needle work
  • Placement, sizing, and how designs age on the body
  • Aftercare and healing through the first 4 weeks

Writing Approach

Della writes the way a tattooer talks across the chair, direct about what works, honest about what doesn’t. Every design article names a real placement, a real size range, and the cultural roots of the motif. Aftercare guidance comes with timelines, not vague “follow your artist’s instructions” platitudes.

Articles by Della Hargrove (77)

A leg with a clear Arabic script tattoo displayed prominently on the skin.
Editorial close-up of a crown tattoo on skin, showcasing bold linework and subtle shading across the design
A dramatic spider tattoo on forearm, showcasing bold black linework and subtle shading.
A person's upper arm with a colorful cross tattoo featuring flames, leaves, and a blank banner.
Editorial close-up of a forearm displaying a bold elephant tattoo in blackline style with subtle shading.
Editorial close-up of a forearm with a Luna moth tattoo in a softly lit studio
A person with a colorful broken heart tattoo on their upper back.
Editorial wide shot of a forearm dice tattoo, single tattoo, neutral background
Laugh Now Cry Later tattoo in black-and-gray realism, two theater-mask silhouettes on a single forearm
Editorial close-up of a sunflower tattoo on healed skin, showcasing bold linework and rich color saturation.
Editorial close-up of a heartbeat tattoo on forearm showing crisp black linework and a small heart at the end
Editorial close-up of a dove tattoo on a forearm captured in soft studio light