by Kylie, CEO of SunFX
Spray tanning isn’t just about applying color – it’s about creating a flawless, confidence-boosting experience tailored to each client. Over the years, I’ve seen how small adjustments in technique can transform results from good to unforgettable. Here are the key principles I share with our SunFX professionals to elevate their craft ad to keep your clients coming back as well as introducing their friends to you.
The foundation of a flawless tan starts before the spray gun is even turned on. Educating clients to exfoliate 24 hours before their appointment, avoid heavy moisturizers, and arrive with clean, product-free skin ensures the solution bonds evenly. For techs, a light mist of prep spray evens skin pH and removes any unseen residues.
Tips & Advice:
Exfoliation matters: Encourage clients to exfoliate 24 hours before their appointment using mitts, not scrubs with oils. Oils create a barrier that prevents even DHA absorption.. SunFX body wash and body polish will not strip your skins essentials oils nor leave a grease barrier preventing even uptake of DHA.
No lotions or deodorants: Clients should avoid moisturizers, makeup, and antiperspirants on the day of the tan. These products can block solution from adhering.
Balance pH: A quick mist of SunFX Prep Spray before spraying evens out skin pH, removes any residues, and ensures the solution develops consistently.
Hair protection: Provide disposable caps for clients with light or highlighted hair to prevent staining.
A well-prepped canvas means less patchiness, longer-lasting results, and happier clients.
Shop SunFX Prep & Barrier Products to set your clients up for success.
Customization is where your artistry shines—and it starts with the SunFX professional tanning solutions lineup.
Tips & Advice:
Choose the right DHA strength:
Light-medium skin: 8–10% DHA for a natural glow.
Olive/medium skin: 10–12% DHA for a sun-kissed bronze.
Darker skin tones or deep tans: 12–14% DHA for rich depth.
Bronzer undertones: SunFX offers both warm (golden, honey tones) and cool (ash-based) bronzers. Matching undertone to client avoids orange or muddy results.
Additives & luxury touches: Enhance tans with SunFX Scent Drops (lavender, tropical, crisp & fresh, etc.) or SunFX Finishing Powder for an instant luminous finish. These create a custom “spa-like” feel.
Tan goals matter: Spend a moment understanding your clients needs. Ask clients if they want a subtle vacation glow, a bridal-ready shade, or a bold competition tan. Adjust solution choice and layering accordingly.
When clients feel their tan is uniquely designed for them, it boosts loyalty and word-of-mouth referrals.
Elevate your services with SunFX Custom Tanning Additives & Finishing Powders
Professional Spray Tan Application Methods – Achieving a natural, streak-free finish requires consistent technique, proper spray gun distance, and the right blending tools to create seamless coverage across every skin tone.
Even Flow: Keep your spray gun 4–6 inches from the skin and move in smooth, continuous strokes.
Body Mapping: Start with larger areas (back, legs, torso, arms) before refining with detail work on hands, feet, and face.
Blending Tools: Use a SunFX blending brush or blending mitt to perfect tricky areas and soften edges.
Learn more in our SunFX Spray Tan Training programs — available online or in person.
Spray Tan Finishing Techniques & Client Experience – The final moments of a spray tan appointment can make the biggest difference in how clients feel walking out the door. Beyond perfecting the tan itself, small gestures of care create a luxury experience that keeps clients coming back.
Finishing Powder: Apply a light dusting to absorb excess moisture, reduce stickiness, and leave clients feeling fresh.
Quick Drying: Use a fan or the warm air from your spray tan machine to set the tan evenly.
Detail Blending: Revisit wrists, ankles, and neckline with a blending brush for that picture-perfect finish.
Client Comfort: Offer a glass of water or herbal tea
Personalized Service: Take a moment to answer questions, recommend aftercare, and discuss maintenance tips.
Retail Opportunity: Suggest professional-grade SunFX aftercare products so clients leave with everything they need to maintain their glow.
Deliver a five-star service with SunFX Finishing Powder, Brushes & Aftercare Kits.
Technique creates results, but experience builds loyalty.
A calm, confident presence and clear instructions reassure clients that they’re in expert hands, while thoughtful extras make the service feel elevated.
Small gestures — like offering a choice of tanning scents, providing disposable garments for comfort, or giving them a complimentary glass of water post-session — turn a spray tan into a pampering experience.
Taking the time to answer questions, explain aftercare, and recommend retail products ensures clients leave not only glowing but also educated and excited to return. These touches transform a standard appointment into a five-star service, building trust and long-term loyalty.
The art of custom spray tanning is about blending science, skill, and service. When you master the technical side and pair it with a personal touch, your clients don’t just leave with great color-they leave glowing inside and out.
A custom spray tan is a personalized sunless tanning service tailored to a client’s skin tone, undertone, and desired depth of color. It involves selecting the correct DHA strength, bronzer undertone, and application technique to achieve natural, even results.
Choosing the right DHA percentage depends on the client’s natural skin tone and desired result:
Light to medium skin tones: 8–10% DHA
Medium to olive skin tones: 10–12% DHA
Darker skin tones or deep results: 12–14% DHA
Adjusting DHA strength helps prevent orange tones and uneven development.
Proper skin prep ensures even DHA absorption and longer-lasting results. Exfoliating 24 hours before the appointment, avoiding oils or lotions, and balancing skin pH removes barriers that can cause patchiness or uneven fading.
No. Clients should avoid moisturizers, oils, deodorants, and makeup on the day of their spray tan. These products can block the tanning solution from adhering evenly to the skin.
For optimal results, hold the spray gun 4–6 inches from the skin and apply the solution using smooth, continuous strokes. This distance helps prevent oversaturation, streaking, and uneven buildup.
Streak-free results come from:
Consistent gun distance and motion
Proper body mapping (starting with large areas first)
Blending hands, feet, and joints with professional blending tools
Ensuring the client’s skin is properly prepped
Technique and prep work together to create flawless results.
Finishing powders absorb excess moisture, reduce stickiness, and leave the skin feeling dry and comfortable. They also enhance the client experience by providing an instant, polished finish after the tan.
Small details elevate the experience, such as:
Offering scented tanning options
Providing disposable garments and hair protection
Using finishing powders and blending brushes
Taking time to explain aftercare and maintenance
Luxury is created through consistency, comfort, and personalization.
When clients feel their tan is designed specifically for them, they’re more likely to trust your expertise, rebook regularly, and refer friends. Customization builds emotional connection and loyalty, not just better color.
Yes. Recommending professional aftercare helps clients maintain their tan, prevents premature fading, and protects your results. Retail also supports client education and long-term satisfaction.
A standard spray tan applies the same solution to everyone. A professional custom spray tan considers skin tone, undertone, DHA strength, technique, and finishing touches to create a more natural, long-lasting, and confidence-boosting result.
body care
prep + aftercare
