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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)

Hero magnolia tattoo on forearm in editorial close-up, clean linework and shading
A solid black heart tattoo on a person's upper chest near the collarbone.
A floral ornamental tattoo is inked across the lower back on bare skin.
Editorial close-up of a cactus tattoo on forearm in blackwork
Hero close-up of a forearm with a frog tattoo, editorial lighting highlighting linework and ink depth
Editorial close-up of a large lighthouse tattoo wrapping around a forearm, photographed in soft studio light
A semicolon tattoo on a forearm, resting on a neutral surface with soft studio lighting and visible ink saturation.
Editorial wide shot of a healed forearm compass tattoo with rope coil and traditional shading
A close-up of a calf with a black Norse knotwork and Valknut tattoo against a blurred indoor floor.
A realistic clock tattoo with Roman numerals is inked on a person's calf.
Editorial close-up of a Grim Reaper forearm tattoo, showcasing core symbolism and editorial aesthetic
Editorial close-up of a forearm dragon tattoo in black-and-gray style, showing bold linework and subtle shading