Spray tan in Bensonhurst, for prom, sweet 16s and weddings

Bensonhurst celebrates loudly and often. Communions, sweet 16s, proms, engagement parties at a catering hall, weddings with three hundred guests. When there’s a photographer involved, someone in the family usually wants a tan.

Rosie’s studio isn’t on 86th Street, but it’s close. It’s in Midwood, across Ocean Parkway, and most Bensonhurst clients get there in one straight drive along Kings Highway. This page covers Bensonhurst, Bath Beach and the blocks up toward Bay Parkway and 18th Avenue.

The route east

Kings Highway is the obvious route: one road from Bensonhurst into Midwood. Avenue P works too, and it’s often quieter in the evening. Either way, you cross McDonald Avenue and Ocean Parkway, and you’re in Midwood. Rosie texts the exact address once you’ve booked.

On the train, the N stops at Kings Highway and is the closest line to Midwood. The D under 86th Street isn’t much help for this trip. Most clients drive or get dropped off by a parent, which is also the best way to protect fresh color on the way home.

Prom season

From early May to the end of June, prom is on every teenager’s calendar. A few things make the difference between a good prom tan and one you regret:

• Timing. Two days before. A tan the night before can still be developing and smell of solution at the party; a tan a week before has started to fade.
• Shade. Prom photos mostly use flash, which is unforgiving of a shade that’s too deep. If it’s your first tan, go one step lighter than you think.
• The dress. Light colors, especially white and pastels, show any rubbing at the straps. Rinse well after 8 hours and pat dry, and it won’t transfer.
• Booking. Prom weekends fill early, and Saturdays are never available, because the studio is closed for Shabbat. Plan for a Wednesday or Thursday tan.

Sweet 16s and big birthdays

A sweet 16 often means the birthday girl and her closest friends all want color for the same night. If there are five or more of you, Rosie can come to the house, and it becomes part of the party. Parents usually organize it: call with the date, the address and the number of girls, and Rosie will quote it. Details are on the mobile spray tan page.

For a smaller group, the studio is quicker. Two or three friends can book back to back on a weekday afternoon after school.

Weddings with a big guest list

The bride

Bensonhurst brides often marry in large catering halls with warm lighting and a lot of flash photography. That’s good news for a tan, which looks rich under warm light. The plan is a trial four to six weeks ahead ($120), then the wedding tan two days before. A $150 deposit holds the date. See the bridal hub for the full timeline.

The rest of the family

Mothers, godmothers and bridesmaids usually book too. Bridal party tans are $120 per person. Mothers often want something gentler than the bride; the mother of the bride page explains how Rosie approaches it.

Communions and confirmations

Spring in Bensonhurst also means first communions and confirmations, with the whole family dressed up and photographed outside the church. The child usually doesn’t need a tan. The mothers, godmothers and grandmothers who will be standing next to a white dress in the photos often do. A light tan or Face Only takes away the winter pallor without competing with the dress. These are usually Saturday or Sunday events, so a Thursday or Friday-morning tan is right.

Getting home without smudges

The ride home matters more than people expect. Car seats, seatbelts and tight jeans all press against fresh color. Bring a loose cotton dress or wide pants and a dark top, take off rings and bracelets, and keep your hands relaxed rather than gripping a phone the whole way. If you’re picking up a teenager after prom prep, put a towel on the back seat.

Late summer on 18th Avenue

August in Bensonhurst means street festivals, backyard parties and the last beach weekends at Coney Island. A tan in mid-August can carry you through Labor Day with good moisturizer. The Spray Tan + session ($150) includes a take-home kit with tan-safe soap, an extender and natural lotions, which helps the color last through a hot, sweaty week.

Coming from the Bay Ridge end of the neighborhood? The Bay Ridge page covers the drive from there. If you’re closer to Ocean Parkway, the Ocean Parkway and Gravesend page is the better fit.