Answering Clients' Tanning FAQs
Ever struggle with how to best answer a question your clients ask you? Here are some of the most common tanning FAQs we have heard over the years, as well as tips on how best to answer them!
What is the best tanning lotion you stock?
The most difficult question to answer, as there really is no one size fits all lotion recommendation for your clients!
The best way to approach this is to learn more about your clients; their skin type, how they tan naturally, what they are tanning for and if they have any skin sensitivities. From this point on, you can take that information and apply it to the appropriate lotions you have in stock. This allows you to work as a matchmaker, rather than using guesswork to establish what would be best for your clients.
Key words to listen out for include: holiday, event, first time using a sunbed, want deep colour
To find out more about how to establish the best lotion for your clients, click HERE!
Do tanning nasals or injections work?
This is not something that salons should be promoting the use of. Did you know that both nasals and injections are unregulated? This means that you can’t be sure what it is your clients are putting in their body. Alongside this, although legal to purchase, it is illegal to sell or supply these to your clients.
It should also be noted that recent revelations have demonstrated many negative side effects to using nasal sprays containing melanotan, with medical professionals discouraging the use of these unregulated products.
If clients are looking to boost their tan faster, there are always ways of doing this using or switching up their tanning lotions, regular applying Tan Extenders and tanning drinks such as TanShot to improve skin condition pre, during, and post-tanning.
Can I not use the product I’ve brought with me to tan?
This question has become more and more pressing with the rise of social media ‘hacks’. Make sure you and your staff are remaining vigilant about the lotions clients are applying if they’re bringing them in from outside of your salon. Although there have always been staple products brought into salon that aren’t appropriate for tanning, such as baby oil and bryl cream, the increase in highstreet moisturisers and other inappropriate products not only mean clients are more likely to leave skin without the skincare needed during the process, but they’re also risking damaging your equipment.
The best way to address clients using the wrong products is simply by explaining the benefits of using a professional tanning lotion versus the inappropriate products:
- Improved tanning results
- Longer-lasting colour
- No drying ingredients or alcohols which can strip your tan and magnify UV
- Won’t damage your salon’s equipment
Ultimately, always remember it is your business, your equipment and your clients’ welfare you are protecting by preventing the use of specific products and you are within your rights to ban inappropriate lotions brought in.
How does the skin actually tan?
The tanning process uses both UVA and UVB to deepen its natural hue.
- UVB triggers melanocytes to release melanosomes (cells which help create melanin and allow it to move to the skin’s surface). The melanosomes release melanin in a clear form on the surface of the epidermis.
- UVA oxidises this melanin, turning it brown.
This process takes 48 hours to fully develop.
Should I moisturise / exfoliate before or after tanning?
Exfoliating is a great way to encourage a balanced tan and avoid any patchiness by removing dry and dead skin cells. However this should be done one or two days prior to tanning for best results.
There is no limit to how regularly you should moisturise to care for your tan. Moisturising before is ideal for hydrating skin. This will ensure skin is more prepared for tanning and will develop a deeper natural tan faster. What’s more, moisturising after tanning, bathing, and showering is essential for establishing the longest-lasting tan possible.
Should I shower after tanning?
For best results, you shouldn’t shower for at least four hours after tanning. This allows your lotion time to fully absorb and the active ingredients to fully work. This is especially important for Delayed Bronzers and Tingles to avoid any patchy tan development or reactivating the tingle sensation.
For those who feel like they should shower immediately after to avoid feeling smelly, it’s best to inform them of a tanning lotion’s after-tan odour properties. Did you know that all Australian Gold lotions use tea tree oil to neutralise any odours, for a fresh smell and feel post-tanning.
Why don’t my legs tan as well as the rest of me?
Did you know that different parts of your body have different levels of hydration? With this in mind, drier areas typically take more time to tan than others. For example, due to the amount of hair removal and exposure to the elements compared to other parts of the body, legs are one of the most difficult areas to tan.
A way to help combat this is to ensure legs are are hydrated as possible by moisturising, and applying leg-specific tanning lotions. Dark Legs and Smooth Legs are both designed to focus on hydrating, and providing legs with powerful natural colour boosters, alongside added bronzers for an immediate, developed glow.
What are these white marks on my body after tanning?
Pressure points are a normal occurrence for those who prefer to use a laydown sunbed. These white marks are parts of the body where there has been limited blood flow during your tanning session, such as shoulder blades and hips, where your body puts a lot of pressure.
There are different ways to help combat this:
- Occasionally switch between a stand up and laydown sunbed, to help target those pressure points
- Move about during your session, start on your back and then maybe swap over to your front mid-way through
- A tingle lotion can encourage blood flow – note this should only be tried by experienced tanners after a test patch
- Raise your heart rate before your tanning session. This encourages enhanced microcirculation on the skin for deeper, faster tan results.
