“My Spray Tan Didn't Develop” - How Professional Artists Can Troubleshoot the Problem
, by Alan Sweeney, 2 min reading time
"My tan hasn't developed."
It's a message most spray tan professionals will receive at some point.
But before assuming the solution hasn't worked, it's important to understand exactly what your client means.
A professional response starts with troubleshooting, not guessing.
First, Ask When They Rinsed
If you've used a rapid-developing solution, your client may expect to see their finished colour immediately after their first shower.
When the guide colour rinses away, their skin can initially appear lighter.
Depending on the solution and instructions being followed, colour may continue to develop afterwards.
This is why explaining the development process before your client leaves the salon is so important.
Check Their Preparation
Ask what was on their skin before the appointment.
Did they arrive wearing moisturiser?
Had they used body oil?
Was there deodorant or other product remaining on the skin?
Client preparation can influence your application, so clear pre-tan instructions should always form part of your service.
Consider Their Skin
Not every client's skin behaves exactly the same way.
Skin condition and individual factors can influence how a spray tan appears.
If a regular client suddenly tells you their usual tan looks different, don't immediately assume you need to apply more solution next time.
Start by looking at what may have changed.
Check Your Own Application
Troubleshooting should include the artist too.
Think about the appointment.
Was your spray pattern normal?
Was your gun working correctly?
Did you maintain your normal distance and application speed?
Did you use the correct solution?
Professionalism isn't about assuming the client did something wrong. It's about objectively looking at the entire process.
Ask About the First Shower
How your client describes their tan immediately after rinsing can give you useful information.
They may simply have watched the dark guide colour disappear and expected that colour to remain.
Explain the difference between guide colour and developed tan so they understand what they're looking at.
Keep Records
Client notes become particularly useful when you're troubleshooting.
Recording the solution used, relevant development instructions and previous results gives you something to compare against if a client experiences a different result.
Instead of guessing, you have information.
Don't Immediately Reach for More Product
If the finished result wasn't deep enough, spraying significantly more solution at the next appointment isn't automatically the answer.
Reassess the client's desired colour, preparation, skin and solution choice first.
Great spray tan artists don't panic when something goes wrong. They understand the process well enough to work out why.
And that knowledge builds trust with your clients.
Explore Lusso Tan Professional spray tan solutions, education and professional essentials at lussotanprofessional.com.