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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 (125)

Editorial close-up of a forearm with a Nazar Evil Eye tattoo in studio lighting
A minimalist line tattoo on a person's ribcage.
Editorial close-up of a sacred geometry tattoo on forearm showing layered symbols
A person with a large black geometric flower tattoo across their chest.
Editorial close-up of a Joker forearm tattoo, hero image for the guide
Editorial hero shot of a Pennywise tattoo on forearm blending black-and-gray portrait with a red balloon
Editorial close-up of a forearm with a glitter tattoo, showing texture and sparkle
Editorial close-up of a healed temporary tattoo on forearm with crisp linework and natural skin texture
A simple black line tattoo circles around a person's ankle against a neutral background.
A person displays a large Marquesan-style tattoo covering their upper thigh against a plain background.
Editorial close-up of a tattooed forearm in a studio, stencil transfer being prepared by a nearby stencil printer
Editorial close-up of a forearm with a crisp stencil on the skin, illustrating stencil planning for a tattoo