Look for FDA approval
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is your friend. They keep you from digesting poison, and that’s good in my book. If the solution you are looking at does not have FDA approval, it could mean that there are ingredients in that solution that you don’t want to tango with. Sure, you may be fine if you use it, but why bother taking the risk? Wouldn’t it be better just to have the peace of mind that comes with knowing that the solution you’re using has been approved by a trusted, scientific organization?
Look at it this way: you have two cars to choose from. One has been extensively tested and is proven both reliable and safe, the other hasn’t. Which one would you choose? If you chose the one that hasn’t been tested, remind me never to go on a road trip with you.
Less is more
If I’m going to make a healthy dinner for my family, I’m going to want to find ingredients that don’t have a lot of extra “stuff” in them. Likewise, I try to find juice that is actually made from berries, not 5% juice and 95% high fructose corn syrup—the same should be said about spray tan solution: the fewer ingredients that are in the solution, the healthier it is for you.
A lot of companies out there cut corners by putting in cheap chemicals and synthetic oils, but you’ll do fine if you just remember this: use a solution that contains the smallest ingredient list, and always always always choose a solution that is all natural (FDA approved)—if it’s all natural then it’s all healthy.
Does this tan make my butt look orange?
I hope you never hear this from a client. The point of a sunless tan is to provide a healthy alternative to the damaging ultraviolet rays of the sun (and tanning beds) while not sacrificing that beautiful, natural look. When you go to the beach to tan, do you turn orange? Maybe if you have scurvy, in which case you should eat some fruit! Orange is not natural, neither is gold for that matter—your solution should not be coloring your clients, it should be tanning them.
A scientifically crafted solution is made with the client in mind. DHA, the “stuff” that tans skin, requires very specific amounts for each skin type. Too much and your client is orange, too little and they aren’t tanned at all. Bad solution easily tans skin orange, or gold, or any other color that doesn’t look natural; good solutions are expertly crafted to ensure that your clients look like they received a natural tan.
Where did my tan go?
When you get a tan, do you want it to fade out naturally or in big patches? The answer should be painfully obvious. But that’s the point I’m trying to make: if the answer is so obvious, why would you want to go with a solution that gives you anything less than the best tan with the most even fade possible?
Fading is influenced by what you put into your solution. Some companies put oil and alcohol into their products; these work as a powerhouse to dry out your skin and cause acne breakouts. Simply put, when your skin becomes too dry it flakes off in patches and leaves any tan fading irregularly.
Your clients don’t want to look like a piece of modern art, they want to look natural—part of looking natural includes a naturally fading tan. A great spray tan solution fades naturally because it doesn’t include alcohol or oils.
Your clients shouldn’t have to sacrifice anything to get a great tan
Your clients are coming to you because they want the best experience for their money. They don’t want to be inconvenienced by their spray tan, and you want them completely satisfied and coming back for more (hopefully with friends in tow!). The worst thing that can happen is that your client can have a sticky, smelly tan that takes FOREVER to dry and ends up clogging their pores and making them breakout.
To avoid this, look for a solution that is fast-drying. This is just a convenience factor for your client, but it will make a world of difference. If they have a party to go to later in the day they aren’t going to want to worry about ruining their tan by spilling a drink on it or having to be the one person not in the pool. That’s not convenient, that’s stressful. Instead you should choose a solution that gives them a worry-free tan that looks natural and is made with natural ingredients so their skin stays clean, vibrant, and smooth.