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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 forearm with a single healed tattoo in black linework
Editorial close-up forearm tattoo study showing a single cohesive botanical-geometric design
Editorial close-up of a healed forearm tattoo in black geometric linework, soft studio light
Editorial cover shot of a healed forearm tattoo with a display of needle configurations in soft focus
Editorial close-up of a forearm tattoo showing a subtle blowout edge under soft studio lighting
Editorial studio scene showing a tattoo session setup
Editorial wide shot inside a tattoo studio focusing on a forearm tattoo with care tools nearby
Editorial hero shot of a tattooed forearm with a small bead of fragrance-free lotion, styled for the feature.
Tattooed forearm in a studio, highlighting saturated linework and healed skin for a calm meditation on pain
Feature image: healed forearm tattoo macro shot in editorial studio lighting
Editorial close-up shot featuring peony tattoos on forearm and shoulder, highlighting linework and color saturation
Hero editorial close-up of a healed cherry blossom tattoo on the forearm in soft studio light