Honey Hue

Honey Hue Tans is a custom spray tan business operated by Kelp & Klouds LLC, which also brands its tans as Hot Girl Spray Tans. The studio is on West Parkwood inside Park District Executive Suites in Friendswood, and parking is free and right out front.

Every tan starts with an assessment of skin tone and skin type, and the formula is blended to suit before application. Formulas come from Sainte Cacao, the business's own professional line, and are applied with an extraction system that removes overspray. The business describes its technique as proprietary, says it has built its reputation on it, and says it draws on more than a decade of professional expertise in color theory. It also says it has more than 150 five-star reviews.

The Usual is a custom color blended for the client's skin tone, skin type and desired result, and takes about 15 minutes at $65. The Extra adds hydration to the formula, which suits dry or mature skin, and takes about 15 minutes at $75. The Event adds contour, placing depth where the client wants definition, and is finished with firming serum and highlighting. It takes about 30 minutes at $110. A first visit includes a color consultation to set the formula.

The studio also offers Refined Tan at $65, which includes a consultation before a custom-blended formula is applied, Luminous Tan at $75, which adds hyaluronic acid infusion, a dry oil application and translucent setting powder, and Sculpted at $110, with strategic contouring, firming serum and a highlighting finish.

Mobile appointments cover Friendswood, League City, Pearland, Clear Lake, Webster, Kemah, Seabrook, Dickinson and Alvin. Mobile prices are $115 for The Usual, $125 for The Extra and $160 for The Event, and include travel. Pearland mobile bookings include a $40 travel fee within the price. Setup and packing usually take under 30 minutes in total. The space needs about six feet of open floor and a nearby outlet. Pearland clients can also book the studio, about a 15-minute drive away.

The Spray Tan Membership costs $30 per month, charged automatically. Members get 50% off every regular-priced spray tan at the studio with no cap on the number of tans. It has a three-month minimum, after which members can cancel at any time. Membership covers studio appointments in Friendswood only, and mobile appointments are charged at standard mobile rates.

Before a session, clients are asked to exfoliate the day before, shave or wax 24 to 48 hours ahead, and take a lukewarm shower no less than 2 to 4 hours before. Arrive with clean, dry skin and no lotion, oil, deodorant, perfume, makeup or jewelry, including wedding rings. Avoid facials, chemical peels, retinol, AHA or BHA products and self-tanners beforehand. Wear dark, loose clothing and bring dark flip-flops or loose shoes and a hair tie. The first rinse uses lukewarm water and hands only, followed by patting dry, and the exact timing is given at the consultation. The bronze cosmetic layer rinses off, and the tan keeps developing for about 24 hours. During that time, avoid workouts, swimming, hot tubs and tight clothing or shoes. The aftercare guide recommends SPF 30+ sunscreen, since a spray tan gives minimal sun protection.

The studio sells a tan-extending moisturizer, a sulfate-free body wash, a gradual tanning lotion and an exfoliating mitt. Its approved products page lists body washes and lotions recommended for use with spray tans, which the site says were tested with professional spray tan formulas. That page uses affiliate links, and the business earns a commission on purchases made through them.

Each tan is built from a skin tone and skin type assessment, a custom-blended formula, and extraction application that removes overspray.