Tips on how to get a good spray tan
Solution:
Now it doesn't really matter who's solution you use though some are better than others but you should be able to get a good tan out of most products on the market today. A great tan is 50/50 meaning that 50% is the person applying it and the other 50% is the product. When looking for a solution is is best to ask what's in it and what the DHA content is usually 8-10% is best for tanning. Brownallyear has organic dha meaning it is derived from a plant and the other stuff in it is all safe.
2 HOUR tanning can be achieved by applying a heap of tan then washing but there are many other products that have some chemicals in it that do make you darker quicker, make sure you do your research before getting one of these.
The Tan
Applying the tan is of great importance not only getting it even but making sure you dont put too much on or not enough for each skin type, this usually takes practice and it is always safe with a new client to put less on and tell them to come back if they want more. Very pale pale skin people can never be black, even though they want to be this is not a reality. Someone with more melanin in their skin will go darker than the friend who doesn't. Often you might get two girls turn up that are both white but one will turn out darker than the other because we all have different skin types. Usually after applying the product you should be able to see what it looks like on the skin therefore can establish if they can have more or not.
Bronzer
IMO (in my opinion) having a tan with a bronzer in it helps with even coverage, as it lets you see where you have been and when to add more.
Shading the body
This part is really important for a great tan and no one ever tells you this, but if you shade the body in certain parts when applying the tan it looks super natural like you had been at the beach. Try to imagine your at the beach all day and you come home a little sunburnt, where is that sunburn? Usually on the arms, shoulders and legs. So when applying the tan finish with another light dusting on the shoulders and arms and top of the back and your client will look super natural. Shading is very important to a great tan.
Remember
Spray tanning can be fun and easy but you do need to put a little bit of love into it. There are a lot of people who purchase a machine and start up and really have no idea and this causes some bad tans. Have pride in your work practice on family and friends and try different techniques, we all have a style but you can achieve a great tan if you spend a little time researching different solutions and applications. Also remember it is 50/50 so get practicing.
Streaky Tans
Streaky tans are usually caused by application. Good lighting on the body is essential and being able to see where the product has gone is always great so you dont miss any spots. Some clients like to go out a couple of hours after being tanned this is not great news because if they spill drink, sweat or wear very tight clothing that can affect the outcome of the tan. I had one lady who went out a couple of hours after her tan in a lace dress and while sitting at dinner that night the tan got scratched off from the lace on the backs of her legs and that is entirely the clients fault. If your client comes back with lighter bits on their body then that is the result of two things, one being the tanners fault for not putting an even coverage over the body or two the client has gone to sleep to soon or been sitting in the same position for a while with their legs crossed. This causes the tan (DHA) to heat up and either make the tan browner in the heated place or if sweaty it would take the tan off. ALWAYS check the client front and back when finished to make sure you have them covered. Get them to move their arms up and down and customize the tan as you see fit.
The client
All clients are not created equal. Every client has a different skin type and every client wants something different from their tan. There are a few questions you can ask to establish this. First ask them if they have ever had a spray tan before? this will tell you a lot and it also tells you to make sure you do a very natural tan so not to freak them out first time round, remember they are used to being white, they always want more 2nd and 3rd time round but make sure you get them coming back 2nd and 3rd time round. If they have had a spray tan before how did they like it and do they like to be natural or as dark as possible without being un-natural. These questions tell you a lot about what they like. If someone says natural then certainly dont do too much and if they say "oh I love it really dark, yes I've had tans before I have two coats" then you can be safe this client doesn't care what colour they are as long as its not white. If your client says they would like to be as brown as possible without being fake looking then thats the medium tan. So below is a list of how I would spray those 3 types of people.
NATURAL
the natural client would have a light dusting over their body, gun turned down to a fine mist and approx 30-60 cms away from the body spraying.
MEDIUM
The medium client who likes to be as brown as possible is as above but shading the body making the shoulders arms and tummy a little darker than the rest. Shading is important here.
DARK
Doesn't really matter with this client, two coats on, they will love it, they wont be white thats all that matters.
Now it doesn't really matter who's solution you use though some are better than others but you should be able to get a good tan out of most products on the market today. A great tan is 50/50 meaning that 50% is the person applying it and the other 50% is the product. When looking for a solution is is best to ask what's in it and what the DHA content is usually 8-10% is best for tanning. Brownallyear has organic dha meaning it is derived from a plant and the other stuff in it is all safe.
2 HOUR tanning can be achieved by applying a heap of tan then washing but there are many other products that have some chemicals in it that do make you darker quicker, make sure you do your research before getting one of these.
The Tan
Applying the tan is of great importance not only getting it even but making sure you dont put too much on or not enough for each skin type, this usually takes practice and it is always safe with a new client to put less on and tell them to come back if they want more. Very pale pale skin people can never be black, even though they want to be this is not a reality. Someone with more melanin in their skin will go darker than the friend who doesn't. Often you might get two girls turn up that are both white but one will turn out darker than the other because we all have different skin types. Usually after applying the product you should be able to see what it looks like on the skin therefore can establish if they can have more or not.
Bronzer
IMO (in my opinion) having a tan with a bronzer in it helps with even coverage, as it lets you see where you have been and when to add more.
Shading the body
This part is really important for a great tan and no one ever tells you this, but if you shade the body in certain parts when applying the tan it looks super natural like you had been at the beach. Try to imagine your at the beach all day and you come home a little sunburnt, where is that sunburn? Usually on the arms, shoulders and legs. So when applying the tan finish with another light dusting on the shoulders and arms and top of the back and your client will look super natural. Shading is very important to a great tan.
Remember
Spray tanning can be fun and easy but you do need to put a little bit of love into it. There are a lot of people who purchase a machine and start up and really have no idea and this causes some bad tans. Have pride in your work practice on family and friends and try different techniques, we all have a style but you can achieve a great tan if you spend a little time researching different solutions and applications. Also remember it is 50/50 so get practicing.
Streaky Tans
Streaky tans are usually caused by application. Good lighting on the body is essential and being able to see where the product has gone is always great so you dont miss any spots. Some clients like to go out a couple of hours after being tanned this is not great news because if they spill drink, sweat or wear very tight clothing that can affect the outcome of the tan. I had one lady who went out a couple of hours after her tan in a lace dress and while sitting at dinner that night the tan got scratched off from the lace on the backs of her legs and that is entirely the clients fault. If your client comes back with lighter bits on their body then that is the result of two things, one being the tanners fault for not putting an even coverage over the body or two the client has gone to sleep to soon or been sitting in the same position for a while with their legs crossed. This causes the tan (DHA) to heat up and either make the tan browner in the heated place or if sweaty it would take the tan off. ALWAYS check the client front and back when finished to make sure you have them covered. Get them to move their arms up and down and customize the tan as you see fit.
The client
All clients are not created equal. Every client has a different skin type and every client wants something different from their tan. There are a few questions you can ask to establish this. First ask them if they have ever had a spray tan before? this will tell you a lot and it also tells you to make sure you do a very natural tan so not to freak them out first time round, remember they are used to being white, they always want more 2nd and 3rd time round but make sure you get them coming back 2nd and 3rd time round. If they have had a spray tan before how did they like it and do they like to be natural or as dark as possible without being un-natural. These questions tell you a lot about what they like. If someone says natural then certainly dont do too much and if they say "oh I love it really dark, yes I've had tans before I have two coats" then you can be safe this client doesn't care what colour they are as long as its not white. If your client says they would like to be as brown as possible without being fake looking then thats the medium tan. So below is a list of how I would spray those 3 types of people.
NATURAL
the natural client would have a light dusting over their body, gun turned down to a fine mist and approx 30-60 cms away from the body spraying.
MEDIUM
The medium client who likes to be as brown as possible is as above but shading the body making the shoulders arms and tummy a little darker than the rest. Shading is important here.
DARK
Doesn't really matter with this client, two coats on, they will love it, they wont be white thats all that matters.
