diff --git a/db_test.go b/db_test.go
index 689b4b76b..691c21d7e 100644
--- a/db_test.go
+++ b/db_test.go
@@ -213,31 +213,48 @@ func TestDBAppenderAddRef(t *testing.T) {
 func TestDeleteSimple(t *testing.T) {
 	numSamples := int64(10)
 
-	db, close := openTestDB(t, nil)
-	defer close()
-	defer db.Close()
-
-	app := db.Appender()
-
-	smpls := make([]float64, numSamples)
-	for i := int64(0); i < numSamples; i++ {
-		smpls[i] = rand.Float64()
-		app.Add(labels.Labels{{"a", "b"}}, i, smpls[i])
-	}
-
-	testutil.Ok(t, app.Commit())
 	cases := []struct {
 		intervals Intervals
 		remaint   []int64
 	}{
+		{
+			intervals: Intervals{{0, 3}},
+			remaint:   []int64{4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9},
+		},
+		{
+			intervals: Intervals{{1, 3}},
+			remaint:   []int64{0, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9},
+		},
 		{
 			intervals: Intervals{{1, 3}, {4, 7}},
 			remaint:   []int64{0, 8, 9},
 		},
+		{
+			intervals: Intervals{{1, 3}, {4, 700}},
+			remaint:   []int64{0},
+		},
+		{ // This case is to ensure that labels and symbols are deleted.
+			intervals: Intervals{{0, 9}},
+			remaint:   []int64{},
+		},
 	}
 
 Outer:
 	for _, c := range cases {
+		db, close := openTestDB(t, nil)
+		defer close()
+		defer db.Close()
+
+		app := db.Appender()
+
+		smpls := make([]float64, numSamples)
+		for i := int64(0); i < numSamples; i++ {
+			smpls[i] = rand.Float64()
+			app.Add(labels.Labels{{"a", "b"}}, i, smpls[i])
+		}
+
+		testutil.Ok(t, app.Commit())
+
 		// TODO(gouthamve): Reset the tombstones somehow.
 		// Delete the ranges.
 		for _, r := range c.intervals {
@@ -260,9 +277,20 @@ Outer:
 			newSeries(map[string]string{"a": "b"}, expSamples),
 		})
 
+		lns, err := q.LabelNames()
+		testutil.Ok(t, err)
+		lvs, err := q.LabelValues("a")
+		testutil.Ok(t, err)
 		if len(expSamples) == 0 {
+			testutil.Equals(t, 0, len(lns))
+			testutil.Equals(t, 0, len(lvs))
 			testutil.Assert(t, res.Next() == false, "")
 			continue
+		} else {
+			testutil.Equals(t, 1, len(lns))
+			testutil.Equals(t, 1, len(lvs))
+			testutil.Equals(t, "a", lns[0])
+			testutil.Equals(t, "b", lvs[0])
 		}
 
 		for {
diff --git a/head.go b/head.go
index 8f22d2ba6..c63c3a86e 100644
--- a/head.go
+++ b/head.go
@@ -48,6 +48,10 @@ var (
 	// ErrOutOfBounds is returned if an appended sample is out of the
 	// writable time range.
 	ErrOutOfBounds = errors.New("out of bounds")
+
+	// emptyTombstoneReader is a no-op Tombstone Reader.
+	// This is used by head to satisfy the Tombstones() function call.
+	emptyTombstoneReader = newMemTombstones()
 )
 
 // Head handles reads and writes of time series data within a time window.
@@ -71,8 +75,6 @@ type Head struct {
 	values  map[string]stringset // label names to possible values
 
 	postings *index.MemPostings // postings lists for terms
-
-	tombstones *memTombstones
 }
 
 type headMetrics struct {
@@ -231,7 +233,6 @@ func NewHead(r prometheus.Registerer, l log.Logger, wal *wal.WAL, chunkRange int
 		values:     map[string]stringset{},
 		symbols:    map[string]struct{}{},
 		postings:   index.NewUnorderedMemPostings(),
-		tombstones: newMemTombstones(),
 	}
 	h.metrics = newHeadMetrics(h, r)
 
@@ -334,12 +335,14 @@ func (h *Head) loadWAL(r *wal.Reader) error {
 	}
 
 	var (
-		dec     RecordDecoder
-		series  []RefSeries
-		samples []RefSample
-		tstones []Stone
-		err     error
+		dec       RecordDecoder
+		series    []RefSeries
+		samples   []RefSample
+		tstones   []Stone
+		allStones = newMemTombstones()
+		err       error
 	)
+	defer allStones.Close()
 	for r.Next() {
 		series, samples, tstones = series[:0], samples[:0], tstones[:0]
 		rec := r.Record()
@@ -413,7 +416,7 @@ func (h *Head) loadWAL(r *wal.Reader) error {
 					if itv.Maxt < h.minValidTime {
 						continue
 					}
-					h.tombstones.addInterval(s.ref, itv)
+					allStones.addInterval(s.ref, itv)
 				}
 			}
 		default:
@@ -436,6 +439,12 @@ func (h *Head) loadWAL(r *wal.Reader) error {
 	}
 	wg.Wait()
 
+	if err := allStones.Iter(func(ref uint64, dranges Intervals) error {
+		return h.chunkRewrite(ref, dranges)
+	}); err != nil {
+		return errors.Wrap(r.Err(), "deleting samples from tombstones")
+	}
+
 	if unknownRefs > 0 {
 		level.Warn(h.logger).Log("msg", "unknown series references", "count", unknownRefs)
 	}
@@ -604,7 +613,7 @@ func (h *rangeHead) Chunks() (ChunkReader, error) {
 }
 
 func (h *rangeHead) Tombstones() (TombstoneReader, error) {
-	return h.head.tombstones, nil
+	return emptyTombstoneReader, nil
 }
 
 // initAppender is a helper to initialize the time bounds of the head
@@ -849,7 +858,7 @@ func (h *Head) Delete(mint, maxt int64, ms ...labels.Matcher) error {
 	}
 
 	var stones []Stone
-
+	dirty := false
 	for p.Next() {
 		series := h.series.getByID(p.At())
 
@@ -859,22 +868,61 @@ func (h *Head) Delete(mint, maxt int64, ms ...labels.Matcher) error {
 		}
 		// Delete only until the current values and not beyond.
 		t0, t1 = clampInterval(mint, maxt, t0, t1)
-		stones = append(stones, Stone{p.At(), Intervals{{t0, t1}}})
+		if h.wal != nil {
+			stones = append(stones, Stone{p.At(), Intervals{{t0, t1}}})
+		}
+		if err := h.chunkRewrite(p.At(), Intervals{{t0, t1}}); err != nil {
+			return errors.Wrap(err, "delete samples")
+		}
+		dirty = true
 	}
-
 	if p.Err() != nil {
 		return p.Err()
 	}
 	var enc RecordEncoder
-
 	if h.wal != nil {
+		// Although we don't store the stones in the head
+		// we need to write them  to the WAL to mark these as deleted
+		// after a restart while loeading the WAL.
 		if err := h.wal.Log(enc.Tombstones(stones, nil)); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 	}
-	for _, s := range stones {
-		h.tombstones.addInterval(s.ref, s.intervals[0])
+	if dirty {
+		h.gc()
 	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// chunkRewrite re-writes the chunks which overlaps with deleted ranges
+// and removes the samples in the deleted ranges.
+// Chunks is deleted if no samples are left at the end.
+func (h *Head) chunkRewrite(ref uint64, dranges Intervals) (err error) {
+	if len(dranges) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	ms := h.series.getByID(ref)
+	ms.Lock()
+	defer ms.Unlock()
+	if len(ms.chunks) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	metas := ms.chunksMetas()
+	mint, maxt := metas[0].MinTime, metas[len(metas)-1].MaxTime
+	it := newChunkSeriesIterator(metas, dranges, mint, maxt)
+
+	ms.reset()
+	for it.Next() {
+		t, v := it.At()
+		ok, _ := ms.append(t, v)
+		if !ok {
+			level.Warn(h.logger).Log("msg", "failed to add sample during delete")
+		}
+	}
+
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -926,7 +974,7 @@ func (h *Head) gc() {
 
 // Tombstones returns a new reader over the head's tombstones
 func (h *Head) Tombstones() (TombstoneReader, error) {
-	return h.tombstones, nil
+	return emptyTombstoneReader, nil
 }
 
 // Index returns an IndexReader against the block.
@@ -1406,6 +1454,16 @@ type memSeries struct {
 	app chunkenc.Appender // Current appender for the chunk.
 }
 
+func newMemSeries(lset labels.Labels, id uint64, chunkRange int64) *memSeries {
+	s := &memSeries{
+		lset:       lset,
+		ref:        id,
+		chunkRange: chunkRange,
+		nextAt:     math.MinInt64,
+	}
+	return s
+}
+
 func (s *memSeries) minTime() int64 {
 	if len(s.chunks) == 0 {
 		return math.MinInt64
@@ -1442,14 +1500,24 @@ func (s *memSeries) cut(mint int64) *memChunk {
 	return c
 }
 
-func newMemSeries(lset labels.Labels, id uint64, chunkRange int64) *memSeries {
-	s := &memSeries{
-		lset:       lset,
-		ref:        id,
-		chunkRange: chunkRange,
-		nextAt:     math.MinInt64,
+func (s *memSeries) chunksMetas() []chunks.Meta {
+	metas := make([]chunks.Meta, 0, len(s.chunks))
+	for _, chk := range s.chunks {
+		metas = append(metas, chunks.Meta{Chunk: chk.chunk, MinTime: chk.minTime, MaxTime: chk.maxTime})
 	}
-	return s
+	return metas
+}
+
+// reset re-initialises all the variable in the memSeries except 'lset', 'ref',
+// and 'chunkRange', like how it would appear after 'newMemSeries(...)'.
+func (s *memSeries) reset() {
+	s.chunks = nil
+	s.headChunk = nil
+	s.firstChunkID = 0
+	s.nextAt = math.MinInt64
+	s.sampleBuf = [4]sample{}
+	s.pendingCommit = false
+	s.app = nil
 }
 
 // appendable checks whether the given sample is valid for appending to the series.
diff --git a/head_test.go b/head_test.go
index 2a232331e..99b3895ee 100644
--- a/head_test.go
+++ b/head_test.go
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import (
 	"math"
 	"math/rand"
 	"os"
+	"path"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"sort"
 	"testing"
@@ -296,94 +297,158 @@ func TestHeadDeleteSeriesWithoutSamples(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestHeadDeleteSimple(t *testing.T) {
-	numSamples := int64(10)
-
-	head, err := NewHead(nil, nil, nil, 1000)
-	testutil.Ok(t, err)
-	defer head.Close()
-
-	app := head.Appender()
-
-	smpls := make([]float64, numSamples)
-	for i := int64(0); i < numSamples; i++ {
-		smpls[i] = rand.Float64()
-		app.Add(labels.Labels{{"a", "b"}}, i, smpls[i])
+	buildSmpls := func(s []int64) []sample {
+		ss := make([]sample, 0, len(s))
+		for _, t := range s {
+			ss = append(ss, sample{t: t, v: float64(t)})
+		}
+		return ss
 	}
+	smplsAll := buildSmpls([]int64{0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9})
+	lblDefault := labels.Label{"a", "b"}
 
-	testutil.Ok(t, app.Commit())
 	cases := []struct {
-		intervals Intervals
-		remaint   []int64
+		dranges  Intervals
+		smplsExp []sample
 	}{
 		{
-			intervals: Intervals{{0, 3}},
-			remaint:   []int64{4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9},
+			dranges:  Intervals{{0, 3}},
+			smplsExp: buildSmpls([]int64{4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9}),
 		},
 		{
-			intervals: Intervals{{1, 3}},
-			remaint:   []int64{0, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9},
+			dranges:  Intervals{{1, 3}},
+			smplsExp: buildSmpls([]int64{0, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9}),
 		},
 		{
-			intervals: Intervals{{1, 3}, {4, 7}},
-			remaint:   []int64{0, 8, 9},
+			dranges:  Intervals{{1, 3}, {4, 7}},
+			smplsExp: buildSmpls([]int64{0, 8, 9}),
 		},
 		{
-			intervals: Intervals{{1, 3}, {4, 700}},
-			remaint:   []int64{0},
+			dranges:  Intervals{{1, 3}, {4, 700}},
+			smplsExp: buildSmpls([]int64{0}),
 		},
-		{
-			intervals: Intervals{{0, 9}},
-			remaint:   []int64{},
+		{ // This case is to ensure that labels and symbols are deleted.
+			dranges:  Intervals{{0, 9}},
+			smplsExp: buildSmpls([]int64{}),
 		},
 	}
 
 Outer:
 	for _, c := range cases {
-		// Reset the tombstones.
-		head.tombstones = newMemTombstones()
+		dir, err := ioutil.TempDir("", "test_wal_reload")
+		testutil.Ok(t, err)
+		defer os.RemoveAll(dir)
+
+		w, err := wal.New(nil, nil, path.Join(dir, "wal"))
+		testutil.Ok(t, err)
+
+		head, err := NewHead(nil, nil, w, 1000)
+		testutil.Ok(t, err)
+
+		app := head.Appender()
+		for _, smpl := range smplsAll {
+			_, err = app.Add(labels.Labels{lblDefault}, smpl.t, smpl.v)
+			testutil.Ok(t, err)
+
+		}
+		testutil.Ok(t, app.Commit())
 
 		// Delete the ranges.
-		for _, r := range c.intervals {
-			testutil.Ok(t, head.Delete(r.Mint, r.Maxt, labels.NewEqualMatcher("a", "b")))
+		for _, r := range c.dranges {
+			testutil.Ok(t, head.Delete(r.Mint, r.Maxt, labels.NewEqualMatcher(lblDefault.Name, lblDefault.Value)))
 		}
 
-		// Compare the result.
-		q, err := NewBlockQuerier(head, head.MinTime(), head.MaxTime())
+		// Compare the samples for both heads - before and after the reload.
+		reloadedW, err := wal.New(nil, nil, w.Dir()) // Use a new wal to ensure deleted samples are gone even after a reload.
 		testutil.Ok(t, err)
-		res, err := q.Select(labels.NewEqualMatcher("a", "b"))
+		reloadedHead, err := NewHead(nil, nil, reloadedW, 1000)
 		testutil.Ok(t, err)
+		testutil.Ok(t, reloadedHead.Init(0))
+		for _, h := range []*Head{head, reloadedHead} {
+			indexr, err := h.Index()
+			testutil.Ok(t, err)
+			// Use an emptyTombstoneReader explicitly to get all the samples.
+			css, err := LookupChunkSeries(indexr, emptyTombstoneReader, labels.NewEqualMatcher(lblDefault.Name, lblDefault.Value))
+			testutil.Ok(t, err)
 
-		expSamples := make([]tsdbutil.Sample, 0, len(c.remaint))
-		for _, ts := range c.remaint {
-			expSamples = append(expSamples, sample{ts, smpls[ts]})
-		}
+			// Getting the actual samples.
+			actSamples := make([]sample, 0)
+			for css.Next() {
+				lblsAct, chkMetas, intv := css.At()
+				testutil.Equals(t, labels.Labels{lblDefault}, lblsAct)
+				testutil.Equals(t, 0, len(intv))
 
-		expss := newMockSeriesSet([]Series{
-			newSeries(map[string]string{"a": "b"}, expSamples),
-		})
-
-		if len(expSamples) == 0 {
-			testutil.Assert(t, res.Next() == false, "")
-			continue
-		}
-
-		for {
-			eok, rok := expss.Next(), res.Next()
-			testutil.Equals(t, eok, rok)
-
-			if !eok {
-				continue Outer
+				chunkr, err := h.Chunks()
+				testutil.Ok(t, err)
+				for _, meta := range chkMetas {
+					chk, err := chunkr.Chunk(meta.Ref)
+					testutil.Ok(t, err)
+					ii := chk.Iterator()
+					for ii.Next() {
+						t, v := ii.At()
+						actSamples = append(actSamples, sample{t: t, v: v})
+					}
+				}
 			}
-			sexp := expss.At()
-			sres := res.At()
 
-			testutil.Equals(t, sexp.Labels(), sres.Labels())
+			testutil.Ok(t, css.Err())
+			testutil.Equals(t, c.smplsExp, actSamples)
+		}
 
-			smplExp, errExp := expandSeriesIterator(sexp.Iterator())
-			smplRes, errRes := expandSeriesIterator(sres.Iterator())
+		// Compare the query results for both heads - before and after the reload.
+		expSeriesSet := newMockSeriesSet([]Series{
+			newSeries(map[string]string{lblDefault.Name: lblDefault.Value}, func() []tsdbutil.Sample {
+				ss := make([]tsdbutil.Sample, 0, len(c.smplsExp))
+				for _, s := range c.smplsExp {
+					ss = append(ss, s)
+				}
+				return ss
+			}(),
+			),
+		})
+		for _, h := range []*Head{head, reloadedHead} {
+			q, err := NewBlockQuerier(h, h.MinTime(), h.MaxTime())
+			testutil.Ok(t, err)
+			actSeriesSet, err := q.Select(labels.NewEqualMatcher(lblDefault.Name, lblDefault.Value))
+			testutil.Ok(t, err)
 
-			testutil.Equals(t, errExp, errRes)
-			testutil.Equals(t, smplExp, smplRes)
+			lns, err := q.LabelNames()
+			testutil.Ok(t, err)
+			lvs, err := q.LabelValues(lblDefault.Name)
+			testutil.Ok(t, err)
+			// When all samples are deleted we expect that no labels should exist either.
+			if len(c.smplsExp) == 0 {
+				testutil.Equals(t, 0, len(lns))
+				testutil.Equals(t, 0, len(lvs))
+				testutil.Assert(t, actSeriesSet.Next() == false, "")
+				testutil.Ok(t, h.Close())
+				continue
+			} else {
+				testutil.Equals(t, 1, len(lns))
+				testutil.Equals(t, 1, len(lvs))
+				testutil.Equals(t, lblDefault.Name, lns[0])
+				testutil.Equals(t, lblDefault.Value, lvs[0])
+			}
+
+			for {
+				eok, rok := expSeriesSet.Next(), actSeriesSet.Next()
+				testutil.Equals(t, eok, rok)
+
+				if !eok {
+					testutil.Ok(t, h.Close())
+					continue Outer
+				}
+				expSeries := expSeriesSet.At()
+				actSeries := actSeriesSet.At()
+
+				testutil.Equals(t, expSeries.Labels(), actSeries.Labels())
+
+				smplExp, errExp := expandSeriesIterator(expSeries.Iterator())
+				smplRes, errRes := expandSeriesIterator(actSeries.Iterator())
+
+				testutil.Equals(t, errExp, errRes)
+				testutil.Equals(t, smplExp, smplRes)
+			}
 		}
 	}
 }
@@ -524,8 +589,6 @@ func TestDelete_e2e(t *testing.T) {
 		// TODO: Add Regexp Matchers.
 	}
 	for _, del := range dels {
-		// Reset the deletes everytime.
-		hb.tombstones = newMemTombstones()
 		for _, r := range del.drange {
 			testutil.Ok(t, hb.Delete(r.Mint, r.Maxt, del.ms...))
 		}
@@ -945,4 +1008,5 @@ func TestWalRepair(t *testing.T) {
 			testutil.Equals(t, test.expRecs, actRec, "Wrong number of intact records")
 		})
 	}
+
 }
diff --git a/testutil/testutil.go b/testutil/testutil.go
index 06b9747ca..03784e7f2 100644
--- a/testutil/testutil.go
+++ b/testutil/testutil.go
@@ -66,6 +66,15 @@ func Equals(tb testing.TB, exp, act interface{}, msgAndArgs ...interface{}) {
 	}
 }
 
+// NotEquals fails the test if exp is equal to act.
+func NotEquals(tb testing.TB, exp, act interface{}) {
+	if reflect.DeepEqual(exp, act) {
+		_, file, line, _ := runtime.Caller(1)
+		fmt.Printf("\033[31m%s:%d: Expected different exp and got\n\n\texp: %#v\n\n\tgot: %#v\033[39m\n\n", filepath.Base(file), line, exp, act)
+		tb.FailNow()
+	}
+}
+
 func formatMessage(msgAndArgs []interface{}) string {
 	if len(msgAndArgs) == 0 {
 		return ""