To become the sunless expert you have always wanted to be, it's essential to seek out education on the tips and tricks that will elevate your spray tan game. Whether you're a seasoned pro or a newcomer to the sunless industry, these techniques will help you provide your clients with the most beautiful, natural-looking spray tans. The ultimate goal of each tanning session is to leave your clients feeling like they've just enjoyed a sun-kissed experience, radiating confidence from the inside out. By delivering a professional service that goes beyond the norm, you'll build a loyal clientele of raving fans that keeps coming back for more.

Here are five expert tips to enhance your spray tan technique so you can become the artist of choice in your town:

1. Wrists and Palms

Spray tanning the arms, wrists, and hands can be challenging for many sunless artists. If you’ve felt yourself struggling with the application on these areas of the body, you’re definitely not alone! Achieving a naturally blended tone on the inner wrist while avoiding the palms can be tricky. To avoid oversaturation on the wrists and palms when spray tanning the arms, make sure to bend the wrists away from the spray stream and stop spraying before reaching the palm. It’s also beneficial to implement a feathering technique by gradually pulling your spray gun away as you approach the wrist to create a more natural fade and prevent heavy development of color on the inner wrist near the palm that appears unnatural. The wrists and hands can be more dry than other areas on the body, so applying a barrier cream on the palms, fingernails and a thin layer of lotion on the inner wrist paired with a technique that controls the amount of solution applied to the skin is vital to preventing a sharp line of color from the wrist to the palm.

2. Overlapping Layers

Streaks are the enemy of sunless tanning, and as professionals, we aim to deliver an even, flawless glow every time. Avoiding the dreaded orange hue and streaks that so many clients fear when walking into a spray tan appointment can be achievable through careful technique. Ensure a slight overlap in each layer that is applied to the body while spraying to cover all areas of the skin. This method guarantees a consistently beautiful and even tan without any streaks or missed areas by slightly overlapping the spray stream when moving from one portion of the body to the next.

3. Avoiding the Underarm

When spraying the sides of your clients, it's essential to steer clear of the underarm area. To mimic the natural tanning process where the underarm remains lighter than the rest of the body, create an X-shaped spray pattern when applying solution to your client’s sides. This technique ensures a more natural overall appearance for the tan without a dark underarm area.

4. Mastering the Hands

Spraying the hands can be particularly challenging, especially for beginners. Issues that take place from spray tanning the hands often include oversaturation and unevenness between the fingers and creases of the knuckles. Instruct your clients to put their hands in the position of "bear claws" by slightly bending and spreading their fingers. Then, spray in an X formation across the hands for a method that evenly distributes the solution between the fingers and in the knuckle creases, preventing unnatural white creases and unevenness of color across the fingers. 

5. Enhancing the Booty

Accentuating the buttocks to create a more full and perky booty is a great way to create a jaw-dropping transformation that makes your clients feel like their most snatched version of themselves. Use a contouring technique by focusing the spray on the under area of the buttocks and creating a half moon motion following the "smile lines" or crease area under the booty to enhance the shadow of the body. This will have your clients looking in the mirror in awe at their emphasized shape. To perfect this technique, have your client slightly bend at the knees and lean forward from the waist for even spray coverage that allows the smile lines of the buttocks to dry, giving the appearance of a bronzed and sculpted physique.

These expert tips are just a glimpse of the sunless techniques that can be implemented to enhance your spray tan game. If you're ready to elevate your skills to the next level and become a true Glow Boss, explore our course options and consider our Master's Certification Training. Your journey to mastering the art of sunless tanning awaits!

Xoxo,

Kelly