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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)

Editorial close-up of a hummingbird tattoo on forearm, crisp linework and saturated ink on natural skin.
Editorial close-up of a healed dragonfly tattoo on forearm, highlighting black linework and subtle shading
Editorial close-up of a forearm with a lock-and-key tattoo in black ink
A detailed anchor tattoo with a rope is inked on bare skin.
Editorial featured forearm tattoo shot: a skull-and-hourglass Memento Mori motif in blackwork.
Editorial close-up of a forearm hourglass tattoo with ornate filigree
A vibrant orange koi fish tattooed on a person's forearm inside a tattoo studio.
A person with a large skeleton hand tattoo across their upper back and shoulder.
A healed rose tattoo on a forearm, 16:9 landscape, showcasing bold linework and saturated red petals
Editorial close-up of a single daisy tattoo on a forearm, showing crisp black linework and subtle shading
Editorial close-up of a bold wolf tattoo on a forearm, blackwork style, soft studio lighting
Editorial close-up of a Narcissus flower tattoo on forearm in studio light