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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 (187)

An ankle bears an 'In loving memory' tattoo framed by flowers, above a black shoe.
A small moon and branch tattoo on the inside of an ankle.
A person's lower leg bears a cursive 'better days ahead' tattoo.
A person's lower leg with a quote tattoo reading 'Not all who wander are lost.'
A small fine-line pair of angel wings tattooed on the back of a person's lower leg.
A woman with a colorful mandala tattoo on her upper arm.
A person has a sea turtle tattoo with waves across their upper chest and shoulder.
A person has a bee and flower tattoo across the upper chest and shoulder.
A curled orange fox tattoo with leaves on a person's shoulder.
An owl tattoo with a crescent moon and stars sits just below a person's collarbone.
A detailed black scorpion tattoo on a person's upper arm.
A sacred heart tattoo with a crown of thorns and flames is inked on a person's upper thigh.
Mini Fine-Line Botanical Flash Sheet