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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)

Three different ankle tattoos are shown close-up on separate feet: an anchor, an arrow, and a tree.
A black sun tattoo is inked on the side of a person's ankle.
A crescent moon and stars tattoo on a person's leg.
A person with a large 'Stay Wild' script tattoo across their upper back.
A realistic angel wing tattoo is inked on a person's forearm against a neutral background.
A person displays a colorful traditional ship tattoo on their upper shoulder.
A geometric mandala tattoo on the inside of a person's wrist.
A person's chest with a colorful Japanese dragon and koi fish tattoo design.
A vibrant neo traditional tattoo of a dagger, rose, and snake on a person's ribcage.
Two forearms side by side, each with the same small fine-line constellation tattoo of three stars joined by a thin line.
A person in a black tank top with a cyber sigilism tattoo on their shoulder.
A geometric and lotus spine tattoo on a person's bare back.
Mini Fine-Line Botanical Flash Sheet