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 (125)
Evil Eye Tattoo: Meaning, Nazar Designs, Size, Cost
The Nazar repels envy, not casts it. Placement, sizing from 1 inch up, cobalt color rules, and 2025 US costs before you book your evil eye tattoo.
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Side Rib Tattoo: Ideas, Pain and Placement Guide
Thin skin, bone proximity, and 20,000 daily breaths make a rib tattoo one of the hardest placements to sit - and to heal. Here's what actually works.
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Sacred Geometry Tattoo: Symbols, Sizes, Cost, Aging
From Metatron's Cube to Fibonacci spirals, here's what each sacred geometry tattoo means, the minimum sizes that age well, and 2026 pricing.
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Breast Tattoos: Placement, Pain, Survivor Ink and Designs
Sternum to scar-cover: breast tattoos span decorative and post-mastectomy work. Know the timing rules, pain realities, and how to vet the right artist.
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Joker tattoo: meaning, size rules, costs, aftercare
Most Joker portraits blur because they're too small. This joker tattoo guide covers designs, hand placement risks, and 2025 pricing.
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Pennywise Tattoo: Styles, Sizing, Cost and Aftercare
A $2,000 Pennywise tattoo buys 8-13 hours of work. Here's how style, placement and red-ink fade decide whether yours ages well or turns to mush.
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Glitter Tattoos: Wear Time, Kits, Safety and Removal
Glitter tattoos last 1-3 days on the face and 5-7 on the shoulder; skip craft glitter near the eyes, and lift the design off with oil in 2-3 passes.
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Temporary Tattoos: Types, Wear Time and Safety Guide
From 3-day stickers to 15-month dermal inks, temporary tattoos split into four categories with very different costs, wear times, and skin risks.
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Tramp Stamp Tattoo Ideas: Designs That Age Well
Not all tramp stamp tattoo ideas hold up a decade out - here's which styles, sizes, and line weights actually last, and what the stigma gets wrong.
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Marquesan Tattoos: Patterns, Meanings and Placement
Upside-down enata marks defeated enemies - one orientation rule in Marquesan tattoos that changes meaning entirely. Know this before you sit.
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2025 Tattoo Stencil Printer Guide: Costs and Workflow
Most tattoo stencil printer mistakes are file prep and paper loading: use 300 dpi B&W, carbon toward head, then let it dry 5+ min, 2025
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Tattoo Stencil Guide: Printers, Gels, Application
Most tattoo stencil failures trace to one mistake: too much gel. Here's the printer, paper, and 7-step sequence that actually holds 4-8 hours.
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