yeah it's a thing here, called "rezeptur" or "herstellung" - basically any apotheke can mix stuff on-site. for non-prescription stuff you'd just walk in and ask if they do individual preparations. eisenberg apotheke near alexanderplatz is pretty known for it, they've got a proper lab in the back. just keep in mind it might not be that much cheaper than the packaged stuff since they charge for the labor and the base ingredients

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fwiw not all pharmacies are set up for this, some smaller ones just order from wholesalers. if you want a place that actually does compounding regularly try apotheke am fehrbelliner platz in wedding, they've got a sign out front saying "rezeptur" and the pharmacist there is pretty old school about it. for something like a basic pain cream or a mouthwash they'll mix it while you wait, usually 10-15 mins tops. just be aware the base they use might have a slight smell or texture difference from the commercial stuff, that's normal

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imo the price thing is a bit hit or miss, some pharmacies will charge you like 5 euros for mixing a basic cream and others will ask 15. i'd call ahead and ask for a price estimate before you go in, especially if it's something simple like a salve or a tincture. the apotheke on weserstr in neukölln does custom stuff too and they're pretty upfront about costs, no hidden fees. just be specific about what you want, like tell them the active ingredient and the base, they'll prob have it on hand

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i'd say skip the big names and look at studiowest in prenzlauer berg, they do amazing japanese style but the waitlist is like 6 months. if u want something quicker, the artists at bitterlich tattoo in mitte are super underrated, especially for fine line. and honestly, walk past the instagram hype, go to a shop in person and ask to see their portfolio book, that's where the real stuff is.

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The Berlin tattoo scene is pretty spread out, so it depends on what style you're after. For fine line and minimalist work, I'd look at A Fine Line in Kreuzberg, they're booked out weeks in advance for a reason. If you want bold traditional, check out Die Wilde Ecke in Neukölln, they've been around forever and the artists there are solid. Honestly, your best bet is to scroll through Instagram and find someone whose healed work you like, not just the fresh photos, because that's where the real skill shows.

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One thing nobody's mentioned yet is the tattoo convention at Arena Berlin, usually in early summer. It's a good way to see a bunch of styles in one afternoon and talk to artists face to face without committing to a shop. I found my guy there three years ago, he works out of a tiny studio near Boxhagener Platz and does amazing neo-traditional, but he rarely posts on Instagram so you'd never discover him otherwise. Bring cash if you go, a lot of the booths only take that on the day.

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