Spray Tanning 101

We get the question a lot: how do our spray tans look so natural? And it’s an understandable one. After years of pop culture utilizing spray tans as a comedic trope in popular TV shows, movies, music videos, and so on… we understand the stereotype of “the bad spray tan” has to come from somewhere.

But at Honey, we make it our mission to make our spray tans as effective and custom-suited to our clients as possible. This means using a solution that adjusts to our client’s individual skin tone, and training our technicians to learn to accommodate all different sorts of body types. 

First and foremost, we have been a little braggadocious about the fact that our solution has a violet undertone. But what does that mean? You see, when the solution is sprayed onto the client’s skin, it’s not like paint being placed on the body. The solution is actively working with the existing undertones in every client’s skin. Some skin tones are naturally warm-toned, others more cool-toned. The significance of violet is that in color theory, violet is the opposite of orange. 

Meaning that violet cancels out orange tones. (See where we’re going here?) 

The violet undertones interact with the natural colors in the client’s individual skin tones and prevent any “orange,” or as some clients have lovingly named it, “the Ross Gellar look.” 

Furthermore, we always start our spray tans with a “primer.” In short, the primer helps the tan acclimate to the skin better and stay on longer. But how? The primer in question is actually called a “pH balancing spray.” This spray is doing exactly that, balancing the pH levels on the client’s skin so that the solution does a better job of adjusting to the individual client’s skin tone. 

It’s for this reason that two clients can get the exact same color and look completely different from each other, which is ultimately a good thing, since no two clients are the same. Take our founders for example, Rachel has always had a naturally darker, deeper skin tone. Where Regan has always had a much more fair complexion (the kids used to call her Casper in middle school). They both get our dark solution with a double process, and they both look like themselves – just tanner! 

In terms of body types, our spray tan specialists go through a rigorous training process in which they are intentionally given models of all different shapes, sizes, and ages so that they have experience in accommodating unique needs before they even see a paying client. We make a conscientious effort in ensuring our specialists are comfortable and trained in making our tans fit YOU, not the other way around. 

With all this being said, prep and after-care play an important role in results. Honey works with every client to ensure they are educated in how to retain the best possible results. For example, we ask that our clients shave and exfoliate at least 12 hours before their appointment. This guarantees that the skin that is being sprayed is all fresh. Our spray tan is designed to not stick to dead skin cells (which is why it doesn’t stain hair or nails). So exfoliation before a tan is essential to prevent flaking or any unevenness. 

We also ask that the client not put on any lotion or deodorant before a tan. Lotion creates a barrier that can stop the solution from adhering and processing on the skin. And spray tan on top of deodorant can turn underarms green… 

After the tan, we ask that the client waits at least eight hours before rinsing off the solution. (Fun fact: the tan does continue to process for 24 hours after the appointment, so for optimal color, we recommend waiting 12 hours before rinsing). We also ask that the client makes sure to avoid products with paraben or sulfates, as these are ingredients that are known to strip color. (It’s why your hair stylist recommends paraben-free shampoo & conditioner after you get your hair colored).

The rinsing process is vital for optimal spray tan results. Sometimes it can appear as if all the tan is coming off in the initial rinse, but this is just the top layer of bronzer. Sometimes, clients see white streaks on the backs of the arms or legs where the bronzer has not fully rinsed. We always advise these clients to hop back in the shower and rinse the areas again. (Tip: if you have a detachable shower head, take it and rinse the problem areas up close!)

We provide all these instructions and more in an email that we send to our clients to make sure that they are well informed of our best practices, but we always welcome phone calls, emails, or  text inquiries should our clients need to ask them! We also have this information available in our FAQ on our website. 

Still worried about the tan looking unnatural or have any questions? We encourage all new clients to book a trial should they need one. All of our spray tan specialists are trained to discuss color options with clients to find the best fit for their needs. We have always been committed to creating the best possible experience and results for our clients. We look forward to seeing you soon!