A flawless spray tan doesn’t start with the gun. It starts with the solution. Color matching is one of the most underrated skills in a spray tan technician’s toolkit, and it’s one of the biggest differentiators between a result that looks natural and one that reads orange, ashy, or just slightly off. At SunFX, the philosophy is simple: no two clients are the same, and their spray tans shouldn’t be either.
Most technicians understand that different solutions have different DHA percentages. Fewer take the same level of care with undertones, and that’s where results either elevate or fall apart.
Every client walks in with a unique combination of:
Skin tone and undertone are different
Skin tone refers to how light or deep the skin is, while undertone is the subtle hue beneath the skin that influences how color develops. Both need to be considered when selecting a solution.
Two clients can have the same skin tone and need completely different solutions based on undertone alone. Applying a warm-toned solution to a client with cool undertones will almost always produce a result that reads brassy or orange, even if the DHA percentage is right. A cool or violet-based solution on a warm-toned client can develop ashier than expected and leave both of you wondering what went wrong.
Color matching closes that gap between application and result.
SunFX solutions are designed to correct, enhance, or balance undertones depending on the skin in front of you. The key is thinking about what a solution does, not just what it’s called.
Clients who tend to go overly golden or pull red need a solution that helps neutralize rather than amplifies. SunFX’s Violet Royal is built for exactly this, working to counteract brassiness and excess warmth for a cleaner, more natural result.
Warm-toned clients who naturally tan golden and want more depth respond well to a solution that enhances rather than corrects. SunFX’s Mocha Xpress amplifies existing warmth for a rich, sun-kissed finish.
For a timeless, natural-looking tan, SunFX Original is the foundation of the range. Its balanced honey-bronze finish delivers a healthy, sun-kissed glow that suits a wide variety of clients, making it an excellent everyday choice and a favourite among technicians looking for consistently natural results
Olive skin naturally contains green and golden pigments, making it one of the easiest skin tones to overtan if the wrong solution is chosen. A balanced warm-neutral formula typically enhances olive skin beautifully without looking flat or overly cool. Caribbean Chocolate is the go-to here. It’s SunFX’s most forgiving, versatile formula and a reliable starting point across a wide range of clients.
Knowing which solution direction suits each undertone is a skill that develops with practice and proper training. To go deeper on solution selection, the SunFX certification covers this in full.
Learn more via SunFX spray tan certification
Getting the undertone right is only half of the equation. SunFX solutions are formulated in three levels to help match tan depth to skin tone and client goals: Light Summer, Mid Summer, and Dark Summer, ranging from 9% to 15% DHA across the core range. For deeper results, Mocha Xpress reaches 18% Ultra and Showtime Tan reaches 18% Dark, both designed for experienced tanners or competition and stage applications.
A general guide:
The key is that undertone direction and DHA level should always be decided together, based on what’s in front of you, not what’s left on your shelf.
Browse the full SunFX spray tan solution range
The cosmetic bronzer gives you a visual reference during application, but it has nothing to do with the developed result. A solution can look deep and warm in the gun and develop completely differently on the skin. Always assess undertone and choose based on the developed color, not the guide.
Finding a solution that works on most clients and defaulting to it across the board creates a ceiling on your results. The SunFX system is built around custom solution selection. That’s not just a philosophy, it’s what separates consistent, standout results from average ones.
Dry or compromised skin absorbs solution unevenly. Areas like knees, elbows, and ankles are typically drier and thicker, making them more prone to over-development. Barrier cream, lighter passes, and the right DHA level all work together here. Even the best solution choice won’t perform well on skin that hasn’t been properly prepped.
Color matching only works if you ask the right questions first. A brief pre-appointment conversation covering skin tone, undertone, condition, and desired outcome removes most of the guesswork before you even pick up the gun.
Color theory and solution science are skills that go well beyond basic spray tan certification. If your results vary more than you’d like across different skin tones, or certain clients are consistently harder to match, structured training in solution knowledge and skin assessment makes a measurable difference.
SunFX’s online spray tan certification covers undertone assessment, solution selection, skin type considerations, and the application technique that brings it all together, giving you a clear framework for making confident color decisions with every client.
Deepen your color matching knowledge with SunFX spray tan certification
Great spray tans aren’t created by using the darkest solution or the fastest rinse time. They’re created by understanding skin. When you can confidently assess undertones, select the right formula, and match DHA to your client’s goals, every spray tan becomes more predictable, more natural, and more impressive. That’s the difference color matching makes.
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