The Professional Spray Tanning Guide: Science, Prep, and Aftercare

Thinking about starting a spray tan business? Tanning Buyers Group is your best source for spray tan supplies. We offer a special account specifically tailored to spray tan artists that provides access to everything you may need coupled with industry best pricing. That is a fantastic move. The spray tan industry is high-margin, relatively low-overhead, and relies heavily on repeat business—making it a dream for someone with a knack for marketing and a steady hand.

Whether you're going mobile or opening a storefront, here is a breakdown of how to get glowing.

1. The Legal & Logistics Phase

Before you pick up a spray gun, you need to protect yourself and your brand.

• Business Structure: Register as an LLC to protect your personal assets.

• Insurance: This is non-negotiable. You need Professional Liability Insurance (in case of skin reactions) and General Liability.

• Certifications: While not always legally required depending on your location, getting certified shows clients you understand skin undertones, DHA percentages, and FDA safety guidelines.

2. Essential Equipment

Don't skimp on the machine; it’s the heart of your business.

3. Creating and pricing your menu of services

The most successful businesses don't just offer "a tan." They offer competitive results.

• Research Th Field: Call all your possible competitors and create a spreadsheet of pricing and services.

• The Signature Glow: Standard 8-hour development time.

• The Express: Rinse in 1–4 hours (huge seller for busy people).

• Bridal Packages: Includes a trial tan and the wedding day tan.

• Mobile Surcharge: If you’re traveling to them, ensure your gas, time, and wear-and-tear are covered.

4. How to achieve success

The market can be crowded, so your customer experience is what will keep people coming back.

• The Prep & Aftercare Guide: Send a text or email the day before with instructions (exfoliate, no lotion, loose clothes). Half of a good tan is the client’s prep!

• Finishing Powder: Use a soft brush and setting powder on sticky areas (elbows, behind knees) after the tan. It’s a luxury touch that clients love.

• Lighting: If you are mobile, invest in a good portable ring light. You cannot spray what you cannot see, and bathroom lighting is notoriously deceptive.

Tanning Buyers Group is an airbrush spray tan distributor wholesaler we sell airbrush spray tan solution and supplies to mobile and salon based airbrush spray tan businesses.

Airbrush spray tanning involves the guided application of a DHA formulated solution to a persons skin. The advantages of using the airbrush machine versus the automated spray booths is that a good technician can contour the quantity of spray solution used in each area to enhance or cover body features. Additionally the spray tan technician can apply a solution that provides different levels of immediate and lasting tan.

Technicians are able to take in person and online courses on solution application. A good technician makes all the difference. Spray tanning is much like being an artist. The technician needs to have an understanding of exactly how much solution to use and where.

The end result of a spray tan can be fantastic. If you want to enhance your appearance for an event spray tanning is often the best way to be certain that on a specific day you have a specific look. Additionally a spray tan done by a talented technician can make you vacation ready as well. Results last 7-10 days and by using contouring the technician can enhance or reduce features that are important to you such as cheekbones, bustline, abdominals, calves and thighs all while blending those enhancements into your overall look.

The popularity of airbrush spray tanning continues to see rapid growth and tanners look for a natural and quick way to achieve results.

Tanning Buyers Group is a wholesale distributor of the full range of sunless spray tan solutions and custom airbrush spray tanning solutions that your clients ask for.

If you own a salon or are a mobile business that offers custom airbrush spray tanning or automated spray tanning to your clients you probably know that finding the supplies you need at great prices can be difficult. Most sunless businesses are quite small and their buying power limited. As a result, these mobile entrepreneurs find themselves paying more for the goods they need to run their business. Tanning Buyers Group has access to many brands of sunless airbrush and sunless booth spray solution.

If you have a salon and do not have a sunless option or if you are thinking about starting a mobile sunless business TBG has extensive experience both hands-on and through the experiences of TBG membership. We can get help you started out right with a proper equipment, supplies and structure for success.

Spray tanning is a practical alternative to sunbathing. Sunless tanning products, also called self-tanners or tanning extenders, can give your skin a tanned look without exposing it to ultraviolet (UV) rays. Though generally recognized as safe, sunless tanning products do carry some risks, depending on how they’re used and applied. How do sunless tanning products work?

The active ingredient in most sunless tanning products is dihydroxyacetone (DHA). DHA is the only color additive approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in sunless tanning products. When applied to your skin, DHA reacts with dead cells in the outermost layer of skin (stratum corneum) to temporarily darken the skin’s appearance. The coloring doesn’t wash off, but it gradually fades as the dead skin cells slough off. In most cases, the color is completely gone after five to seven days.

Many forms of sunless tanning products are available for home-use, including lotions, creams, gels and sprays. They typically go on clear, and you might see results after about an hour. Full color appears within eight to 24 hours. Some products contain a tint, which darkens your skin right away. Besides home products, spray-on tanning is available at salons, spas and tanning businesses. These professional applications can provide an even, full-body tan. Is sunless tanning safe? Sunless tanning products are generally regarded as safe alternatives to sunbathing.

The FDA considers DHA safe when applied to your skin. Spray-on tanning or mist-on tanning from a salon or spa is typically applied to all parts of your body — including your face — to ensure an even color. This creates a potential for the product to get into and around your eyes, near your nostrils or onto your lips. The risks, if any, of inhaling or ingesting DHA are unknown, so special care is needed to be sure that your spray-on tan is safely applied. Be sure to shut your eyes and hold your breath while the tanner is applied. You may also want to request or bring along protective devices such as goggles or nose plugs.

You may have seen ads for sunless tanning pills, but these products are unsafe and aren’t approved by the FDA. Sunless tanning pills contain large amounts of the color additive canthaxanthin. When taken in large amounts, canthaxanthin settles in parts of your body, including your skin. It can turn your skin orange to brown and can cause canthaxanthin retinopathy, the formation of crystals in the retina of the eye. Tanning pills can also cause nausea, cramps and diarrhea.

Sunless tanning tips: For an even-looking tan Sunless tanning products no longer cause that orange-brown, streaky appearance. Today the products offer an even, natural-looking tan if they’re applied correctly and carefully. For best results, follow these tips:

· Choose a light- or medium-toned product, which tends to look more natural.
· Before using the product, wash and exfoliate your skin with a wash cloth or sponge to remove excess dead skin cells. Women should shave their legs for an even application.
· Apply the sunless tanning product evenly and lightly. Use less product on dry skin or thickened skin, such as over your ankles, knees and elbows. These areas tend to absorb more product.
· After you apply the product to your face and body, wash your hands with soap and water to avoid coloring your palms. Be sure to remove any product from under your fingernails. Then use a cotton ball to apply the sunless tanner to the top of each hand.
· To prevent staining your clothes, wait until the sunless tanner dries completely, about 15 to 20 minutes.

Most sunless tanning products don’t contain a sunscreen and, therefore, don’t protect your skin from the sun. If you spend time outdoors, be sure to apply a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) before going outside