← Spray Tan Guides

1. Step 1

   Start with undertone, not desired darkness

   Ask how the client naturally tans and what they dislike about past spray tans. Red or pink undertones usually need a green or olive base. Yellow or golden undertones often suit violet. Neutral first-time clients can start with brown. Do this before choosing DHA percentage so tone and depth are not confused.

2. Step 2

   Use green or olive for redness and fair skin

   Green-based and olive-based solutions visually balance red or pink undertones, which is why they are common for fair to light-medium clients and clients who say they pull orange. Keep the depth conservative on Fitzpatrick I-II skin; a good base cannot rescue a solution that is too dark for the client.

3. Step 3

   Use violet for yellow, golden, or brassy undertones

   Violet-based solutions help counter yellow or brassy warmth and can create a cooler deep brown result on medium, olive, and many Fitzpatrick III-IV clients. Use violet carefully on very fair skin because the same depth that looks rich on olive skin can look too strong on pale skin.

4. Step 4

   Use brown as the first-session control

   Brown or neutral bases are the safest baseline when the client is new, the event is low-risk, or you do not yet know how they fade. Treat the first session as a controlled test: record the base, DHA percentage, guide color, rinse window, and client feedback before making the next appointment darker or cooler.

5. Step 5

   Reserve red, blue, and ultra-dark bases for specific cases

   Red-based solutions can add warmth for some olive or ashy undertones. Blue or black bases are usually advanced options for deeper, cooler results or clients who consistently pull orange. Stock them only if your client mix justifies it, and document every result so staff do not choose them by trend name alone.

6. Step 6

   Separate base color from guide color in the consultation

   Explain that guide bronzer is the temporary color the client sees before rinsing, while the developed tan depends on DHA reaction plus the formula's tone system. This prevents panic when a client leaves darker than expected and helps them understand why the first rinse is normal.

7. Step 7

   Pair the base with the right rinse reminder

   Base color does not replace rinse timing. Rapid, classic, dark, and competition formulas still need solution-aware rinse windows. In Bronzly, record the solution used on the appointment so the client gets the right rinse reminder and the exact base choice stays attached to their tan history.