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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 (167)

A traditional-style tattoo of a dagger through a rose on a person's leg.
A foot with a bold black tribal-style tattoo encircling the ankle, shown against a plain background.
A person's side showing a fine line botanical tattoo on their ribcage.
A colorful butterfly tattoo on a person's skin.
A simple shark tattoo is inked on a person's upper back near the shoulder.
A person with a lotus flower, wave, and semicolon tattoo on their upper arm.
A simple phoenix tattoo is inked at the center of a person's upper chest.
A detailed lion tattoo is displayed on a person's upper thigh.
Minimalist mountain and wave tattoo on the side of an ankle.
A person with an intricate geometric tattoo on their chest.
A person displays a detailed sleeve tattoo featuring a woman, skull, wolf, ship, and pocket watch.
A close-up of a thumb with a solid black band tattooed around it.
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