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)
12-Month birth flowers tattoo list with sizing tips
Surprising rule: most months have 2 blooms. This birth flowers tattoo guide lists all 12, plus sizing and aftercare so it heals clean.
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Chrysanthemum Tattoo: Meaning, Size and Cost by Style
Spacing petals over detail is what keeps a chrysanthemum tattoo readable at ten years; here is how Japanese, fine-line and realism styles age.
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Poppy Tattoo: Meaning, Color, Size and Cost
Detail under 1 inch blurs in 1-3 years and saturated reds fade without daily SPF, so size and color choices decide how a poppy tattoo ages.
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Carnation Tattoo: Meaning by Color, Size, Cost
One color flips the message from love to rejection. Sizing, $500 examples and aging tips for your carnation tattoo before the stencil is cut.
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Daffodil Tattoo: Meaning, Cost and How It Ages
Yellow ink fades faster than almost any color, so plan a touch-up in 3-7 years. Meanings, sizing and placement notes before you book a daffodil tattoo.
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Flower Tattoo Ideas: Meaning, Placement, Style, Cost
From peony sleeves to 1.5-inch wildflowers, here's how meaning, placement, and style decide which flower tattoo ideas actually age well.
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Tattoo Flu: Symptoms, 24-72h Timeline, Treatment
Northwestern Medicine confirms tattoo flu is an immune response, not a virus. Onset 12-24h, peaks day 2, gone by 72h - here's the fix.
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Tattoo for Sensitive Skin: Ink, Numbing, Aftercare
Reactive skin needs 3-6 weeks to resurface, not 2: how to pick a tattoo for sensitive skin, patch-test inks, and brief your artist.
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Sternum Tattoo: Pain, Cost, Healing, and Aging Rules
High-pain placement: ribcage ≈ sternum. Get sternum tattoo sizing, bra logistics, Ocrevus cautions, and aftercare timing updated for 2026.
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Sun Protection for Tattoo: New Ink to Healed Rules
Biggest fade trigger is daily UVA, even through car windows. Use sun protection for tattoo by healing stage, with timing and UPF options, 2026.
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American Traditional Tattoo Styles: Rules, Cost, Sleeves
Why american traditional tattoo styles still read at 20 years: one line weight, 4-color palette, $1,500-$6,000 sleeves, and the motifs that hold.
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Tattoo Gun Kit: Machines, Inks, Cost, Legality
Most $60 tattoo gun kits ship with practice-only ink. Here's the realistic $250-$400 floor, machine types, and what no box includes.
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