Expansion · Waitlist open
Spray Tan NYC: The Custom Airbrush Guide
Let’s be straightforward: Sunkiss Studios doesn’t have a New York location — yet. We’re a custom airbrush studio in Falls Church, Virginia, rated 5.0 across 94 Google reviews, and New York is first on our expansion map. Until we open, here’s an honest guide to getting a great custom tan in the city — what it should cost, what separates an artist from a booth, and the standards we’ll be bringing with us.
In the DC area instead? Book Your Session at our Falls Church studio.
How much does a spray tan cost in NYC?
A custom airbrush spray tan in New York City costs $69–$95 at an independent studio, with express rapid-rinse versions running $83–$110. Mobile house calls in Manhattan start around $175 — roughly 2.3 times the studio price. Automated booth sessions at chains cost about $30, but use one pre-mixed solution for every body. Most NYC independents sell six-session packages ($390–$450) rather than monthly memberships.
| Service tier | Typical NYC price | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Custom airbrush studio session | $69 – $95 | The Manhattan independent-studio anchor |
| Express / rapid-rinse upgrade | $83 – $110 | Faster first-rinse formulas |
| Mobile house call (Manhattan) | $175+ | Roughly 2.3× the studio price; extra guests ~$75 each |
| Session packages | $390 – $450 / 6-pack | Most NYC independents sell packs, not memberships |
| Automated booth (chains) | ~$30 | One pre-mixed solution, no artist, no custom blend |
Ranges observed across leading Manhattan studios, August 2026. Individual studios set their own prices.
What should you look for in a custom spray tan studio in NYC?
Look for a studio that custom-blends solution to your undertone, publishes its prices, applies by hand rather than booth, gives you exact rinse timing for the formula used, and keeps visible hygiene standards. New York has excellent veteran artists — some studios have sprayed for two decades — but the market still hides prices and books by contact form surprisingly often. Hold out for all five of the standards below.
A real consultation, not a color chart
The artist should assess your undertone and blend a formula for you before anyone picks up an airbrush. If the “consultation” is choosing light, medium, or dark from a laminated card, you are buying a booth tan applied by hand.
Published prices
New York’s best studios put exact prices on the page. Treat unpublished pricing as a yellow flag — it usually means the number changes depending on who asks.
An artist, never a machine
Hand-applied airbrush work follows your body’s contours — shoulders, knees, collarbones — where fixed-nozzle booths streak. Ask who is actually spraying you and how long they have been doing it.
A real rinse-time answer
A pro tells you exactly when to shower for the formula they used — standard develop or rapid — and sends you home with aftercare instructions. “Just wait a while” is not an answer.
Hygiene you can see
Fresh tent or sanitized room per client, clean equipment, single-use accessories. A premium price should come with a visibly premium standard.
The Sunkiss standard
What we’ll bring to New York
Your custom tan, sprayed by an artist — never a machine. In Falls Church, every session starts with an undertone consultation and a formula blended for that client alone, followed by pH-balancing prep, hand airbrushing, and a finishing powder to set the color. It’s why our review score has stayed at 5.0 across 94 reviews.
The NYC studio will run the same menu philosophy: published prices, a signature custom session, a rapid-rinse option for same-evening plans, and photo-ready contouring — the same services on our Falls Church menu today. Browse our gallery to see the results across every skin tone, or read the spray tan FAQ for prep and aftercare answers that apply in any city.
Join the New York waitlist
Waitlist members are the first to hear when we sign a New York location, the first offered opening-week appointments, and the first to receive founding-client offers. No spam — just the launch news, when there is news.
Also expanding to Miami and Los Angeles.