By Sarah Fertsch
Staff Writer
It’s the stuff of fairy tales and sailor legends and Disney movies. It’s written across T-shirts, made into plush toys and wished upon stars by little girls. The only way for mermaids to be real is through magic.
Not anymore thanks to Bowfish Studios. Through beautiful makeup, colorful hair and a translucent tail, kids can transform from mere humans to mermaids.
Bowfish Studios was inspired by Caitlyn Quirk, who in 2017 established Bowfish Kids on Asbury Avenue in Ocean City. The store offered unique children’s fashion from toddlers to tweens, but Quirk wanted to provide a special experience through her brand.
She hired McKenna Robel, a recent high school graduate who loved hair and makeup. By brainstorming together, the partners decided to set up a fantasy salon within Bowfish Kids called Bowfish Studios.
The studio dolls up little girls (and the occasional boy) in the style of either a unicorn, fairy, pirate, dragon or of course, a mermaid. Quirk, Robel and their stylists paint iridescent scales and sparkles onto faces, style their hair (traditionally in a braid), do their nails and add a themed accessory such as a unicorn horn or starfish.
To fully transform into a mermaid, parents can sign up their little one for Mermaid Day Camp. Bowfish Studios partners with the Ocean City Paddle Company and Peace of Wood during a few dates in the summer. Between 9:15 and 11:15 a.m., children over 8 years old will learn to stand-up paddleboard, do a craft on repurposed wood, and swim with a mermaid tail.
“It’s a weird experience to swim with a tail, mainly because you can’t separate your knees,” said Robel. “It’s surprisingly a really great ab workout.”
Participants are required to wear a life jacket at all times around the water. The mermaids are transported via boat across the bay to a lagoon, which has weaker currents than the open water.
Only 12 children are allowed per camp, making each day more personal. Parents must ensure that their child has a fitted tail in the color of their choice, but don’t worry, Bowfish Studios has plenty of sizes and colors for everyone available for purchase.
This year, Bowfish Studios is expanding to include Bowfish Braid Co. inside Stainton’s By the Sea on the Ocean City Boardwalk. This mini-salon allows people of all ages to get makeovers and fantasy-themed hairdos. Bowfish is known for its long braid extensions, which are available in an array of colors, including ombre and rainbow options.
“Although we usually style girls between the ages of 3 and 11, we want to encourage adults to get the makeover of their dreams. Why should little girls have all the fun?” said Robel.
During the off-season, Bowfish hosts birthday parties almost every weekend. The company even offers corporate events, just in case your accounting team has been dreaming of becoming mermaids and pirates.
Bowfish prides itself on its focus on sustainability, using recycled plastic, goodie bags with flower growing kits, and utilizing biodegradable cotton swabs, paper sticks and body glitter.
“Our slogan is ‘Bring imagination to life’,” said Robel. “We want people to live their best life, even if that means adding a unicorn horn or a mermaid tail.”
For more information on makeovers, events and camps, check out Bowfish Studios online at bowfishstudios.com.
PRICING: For mermaid camp, parents can expect to pay $125 for three hours for their child. A simple braid is around $25, and an extension braid costs $35. You can choose between makeover packages, with the style package including a simple braid, nail care, themed makeup and a themed accessory for $55. For $75, you can purchase the dress-up package, which comes with a Bowfish shirt, dress-up upgrade and a glitter tattoo along with the style package offerings. There are plenty of add-ons to choose from, too.
