Tagz Tattoo Shop
Tattoo FAQ for Our Mesa, AZ Shop
Custom black & grey realism, sleeves, and large-scale work. Walk-ins welcome, financing available.
- Free consultations
- Open since 2025
- 18+ with a valid photo ID
- 2735 E Main St #9, Mesa
4.9 on Google · 88 reviews
Free consultation: tell us your tattoo idea
Consultations are free.
Reviewed and updated September 23, 2026
These are the questions we hear most at our Mesa shop at 2735 E Main St, Suite 9; if yours is not here, bring it to a free tattoo consultation and ask the artist directly. For payment plans, our tattoo financing page walks through the setup.
Booking and consultations
How does booking work at Tagz?
Once the direction is set, a separate non-refundable, non-transferable deposit holds your date and comes off your final total.
Can I talk this through with an artist first?
Yes. Consultations are free. Bring your references and we will map the design to your body, talk through placement and flow, and give you a straight answer on what it takes.
Do I need the design finalized before I book?
No. Bring your references to a free consultation, where we map the design to your body, talk through placement and flow, and set expectations before you book. Custom work is drawn for you, not pulled off a wall.
Do I need an appointment if I am driving into Mesa?
No. Same-day walk-ins go in whenever a chair is open. For a big custom piece or a cover-up, call first so you get the artist who fits your style and a time that is actually free.
Is the consultation free if I am driving into Mesa from out of town?
Yes. Consults are free for everyone, every day. A deposit only comes up once you decide to book, and it comes off the total.
What should I bring to a tattoo consultation in Mesa?
Reference images, even rough ones, and clothing that lets the artist see the spot you want tattooed; for cover-ups, come as you are so the artist can examine the old work under shop light. If you have a budget range in mind, say so early and the artist will design to it.
What if I need to reschedule my appointment?
Call the shop as early as you can and talk to your artist, since reschedules with real notice are usually workable. A no-show with no word forfeits the deposit, because the artist's reserved time is already spent.
Deposits and financing
How does the deposit work?
The deposit is separate, non-refundable and non-transferable, and it comes off your final total. It holds your date on the calendar.
Can I pay for a bigger piece over time?
Financing is available through Get Tatted Now, Pay Later. Ask when you book and we will walk you through it.
Can I pay for a large memorial piece in Mesa over time?
Yes. A deposit holds the appointment and comes off the total. For bigger multi-session work we run Get Tatted NOW, Pay LATER, a soft credit check that does not affect your score, paid monthly or every couple of weeks. Call the shop for a real number on your piece.
If I use financing, do I still owe a deposit to book?
No. Once you and your artist have talked through the date or dates for your project, you check out using the Shop Pay option on the specific project you want to book. After you set up your payment plan with the financing company, we get you scheduled in. There is no separate deposit to pay on top of that.
Does checking financing affect my credit score?
No. Checking how much you qualify for runs a soft credit pull, which does not affect your credit score. It only tells you the amount you are approved for, so there is no downside to finding out where you stand before you commit.
Styles and custom work
What makes a tattoo custom instead of flash?
Flash is a pre-drawn design off the wall that anyone can pick. A custom tattoo is drawn from scratch for you, built around your idea, your body, and the placement you want, so it takes more time up front.
How long does a custom design take before I can get tattooed?
It depends on the size and the artist's schedule: a smaller custom piece might be drawn in a few days; a large, detailed design like a portrait or a full sleeve can take a couple of weeks. You always see the finished drawing and can request changes before anything becomes permanent.
Does black and grey age better than color in Arizona?
Generally yes. Black ink is the most stable pigment there is, so black and grey work softens gracefully rather than fading unevenly the way lighter color pigments can under relentless sun. Sunscreen once healed still helps every tattoo last, whatever the style.
Should a Mesa memorial tattoo be black and grey or color?
Black and grey holds up better: color skin tones shift and lighten as they age and a face can go patchy years later. Black and grey reads a face through shadow and contrast and ages like a photograph; it is also our core style.
What photo should I bring to the Mesa shop for a memorial portrait?
The sharpest, best-lit one you have, with the face large in the frame. If the only photo is old, bring it anyway, and bring several if you can. Two together often give the artist more to work from than one on its own. Nobody can add detail that was never in the picture, so more reference is always better.
Can you tattoo a pet as a memorial piece in Mesa, AZ?
Yes. Pet portraits are part of the same work, and the same rules apply. Bring the clearest photos you have, expect an honest conversation about size, and plan on black and grey if you want it to age well.
How big does a Mesa memorial portrait need to be?
Bigger than most people picture: a face needs room for the eyes and the shading, and shrunk too small the detail muddies as it heals and the lines spread. The artist will give you an honest minimum size at the consult so the piece holds up over time.
Can any tattoo be covered up?
Most can, but the old tattoo sets the limits because ink only goes darker, never lighter; dark, dense pieces are harder and sometimes need lightening with laser at a dedicated laser studio first. The only way to know is to have an artist read the existing tattoo in person at a free consultation.
Pain, prep and aftercare
Does getting a tattoo hurt?
It is not painless, but most people handle it fine; the sensation is a consistent scratching or vibrating pressure. Some body areas are more sensitive than others, with ribs and anywhere close to bone tending to be sharper than forearms or calves.
Can I use sunscreen on my new tattoo if I have to be outside?
Not until it is fully healed and done peeling, because sunscreen is not made for broken skin and will irritate the wound. Until then, protection means shade and loose clothing over the piece. After the heal, SPF 30 or higher every time it sees sun.
Does the dry Arizona air change how I should moisturize?
It mostly means staying consistent. Between the desert air and constant air conditioning, skin here runs dry, so two or three thin applications of fragrance free lotion a day works better than one thick one. Never cake it on.
My tattoo looks dull and cloudy in week three. Is it ruined?
Almost certainly not. A milky, dull layer over the ink after the peel is a normal stage while the deeper skin finishes healing, and the brightness comes back over the following weeks. If it stays patchy after six weeks, come by and let us look at it.
About the shop
Coming in from another East Valley town? See the towns we tattoo clients from.
Do I have to be 18 to get tattooed at Tagz in Mesa, AZ?
Yes. You must be 18 or older with a valid photo ID. We don't tattoo anyone under 18, even with a parent's consent.
Where is the Tagz Tattoo shop in Mesa, AZ, exactly?
2735 E Main St #9, Mesa, AZ 85213, in the strip center at the corner of Main Street and Lindsay Road. The door faces Main and parking is easy.
Can I choose which artist does my tattoo in Mesa?
Yes. Name the artist when you call, text, or walk in and we book you with them; walk-ins without a preference get the first open chair. If your piece fits one artist's lane better, the consult will say so honestly.
Real work, done in-house in Mesa
Custom black and grey, sleeves, chest and hand pieces, all tattooed by our own artists at 2735 E Main St. Come see the room before you book.
4.9★Google rating
88Google reviews
7 daysOpen every day
Inside our Mesa tattoo studio
A look inside the shop and a few recent pieces. See more, healed and fresh, on TikTok and YouTube at @agtattoos.
Main floor of the Tagz Tattoo shop in Mesa, AZ
AG tattooing a client at Tagz Tattoo in Mesa, AZ
The Big Room at Tagz Tattoo in Mesa
Black and grey archangel forearm tattoo
Private tattoo room at Tagz Tattoo
Realistic black widow spider leg tattoo
Tattoo stations inside the Tagz Tattoo studio
Black and grey clown leg tattoo with cards and cash
Black and grey butterfly tattoo on the upper arm
What clients say about Tagz Tattoo in Mesa
4.9★ average from 88 Google reviews
★★★★★
Just had my upper arm done with AG at TAGZ!!! It was an incredible experience. AG is an incredible artist, and was absolutely amazing. I am so happy with my piece. The shop is clean, and well layed out. TAGZ has thought of everything. Amazing experience. I will never go anywhere else for my future work.
★★★★★
Couldn’t say enough good things about this shop. From the environment to the artist, this shop is great. My artist was Eddy and he gave me a tattoo I’ve been waiting to get cause I needed the right person and the right Shop to do it since this piece was very important to me. It came out perfect. Couldn’t ask for a better experience.
★★★★★
This shop is top notch and full of amazing Artists and you will not be disappointed! ! Yesterday was my 3rd Session with Pricilla to finish my three quarter outdoor arm sleeve. This project a year and half ago and all I had was an idea in my mind and she put it to skin!
★★★★★
Best tattoo shop in AZ ! The quality, style and art work is immaculate! I had the pleasure of meeting AG (owner) and his style of work is magnificent. All the artist in shop have their own style so if you looking for talent, go to TAGZ TATTOO. I also noticed AG has a barbershop on the opposite side of the building and the haircuts are very professional and stylish. I would say this tattoo/Barbershop is A1! I highly recommend getting a tattoo from AG or any of the artists in house. Be a part of the family and join AGs movements.
Driving Directions
Driving directions to our tattoo shop in Mesa, AZ
Our shop sits at 2735 E Main St #9, Mesa, AZ 85213, on East Main just past Lindsay Rd. Tap any card below for turn by turn directions from nearby East Valley towns.
From Tempe
- Roads we run
- Apache Boulevard, Main Street
- Landmarks on the way
- Gilbert Road/Main Street light rail station
- Straight-line distance
- 9.9 miles to the shop, not a drive time
From Gilbert
- Roads we run
- Gilbert Road, Main Street
- Landmarks on the way
- Gilbert Road/Main Street light rail station
- Straight-line distance
- 4.4 miles to the shop, not a drive time
From Chandler
- Roads we run
- Chandler Boulevard, Gilbert Road, Ray Road, Lindsay Road
- Straight-line distance
- 8.7 miles to the shop, not a drive time
Roads come from an OpenStreetMap route between each town centre and our door. Distances are straight-line, so read them as how far apart the places sit, not as drive time.
Finding the shop in Mesa, and what we work with
We are at 2735 E Main St, Suite 9, Mesa, AZ 85213, in Maricopa County, on the East Main corridor between Lindsay Road and Val Vista Drive.
- Aftercare we actually stock. Mad Rabbit foam wash, glide, soothing gel and patches are sold at the front counter, so you can walk out with the same aftercare your artist tells you to use.
- Shop Pay. The Get Tatted Now, Pay Later plans run on Shop Pay at checkout, which is why the payment split happens on the product page rather than through a separate lender in the shop.
- Arizona age law. A.R.S. §13-3721 is the statute that governs tattooing anyone under eighteen in this state. We go further than the statute does: eighteen and over with a valid photo ID, no exceptions.
- Valley Metro. Route and station times for the Main Street line are on the Valley Metro maps and schedules page at valleymetro.org if you are planning the trip in from Tempe or west Mesa.
