Sunless Tanning

Stand-up spray booths continue to be the most widely used sunless equipment in salons. Consumers like them because they can get tan in a matter of minutes. Salon operators like them because short session times means they can tan more clients per unit per day.

Sessions in today’s sunless stand-ups range from minutes to just a few seconds—and they can generate the same price as or much more than a traditional UV session. In other good news, these automated, mess-free moneymakers often take up the same space as a UV-tanning unit, so salons can maximize their space.

Technology in sunless spray booths is vastly improved. Some are fully automated including voice commands and touch-free technology. Some have the option of carrying more than one type of solution at once, enabling salons to serve a wide variety of clients more easily.

And as a finishing touch, today’s sunless booths have evolved on the outside too. Their sleek designs provide an attractive fixture in any salon.

Handheld sunless systems don’t have the same privacy factor as stand-up units, but customers don’t seem to mind. Many enjoy the personal attention from technicians.

These systems can be had at a fraction of the cost of stand-up units, making them affordable for a large number of salons. Salons also can get up and running quickly and easily, leading to a rapid return on investment. Plus, the salon can charge a premium for the service because it requires the constant attention of a technician who applies the sunless solution to the client.

Sunless airbrush machines are driven by an air compressor and deliver a concentrated focus of spray solution. Airbrushing can take up to 20 minutes or more because the technician covers the client’s whole body, including delicate and hard-to-tan areas, with great detail.

The new handheld method on the block is run via turbine motors. By contrast, turbine applications are much quicker—some manufacturers claim sessions as short as four minutes—and the high volume of low-pressure "soft" air flow allows solution to cover a greater area of the body more quickly. However, since these HVLP systems cover so much so fast, sometimes they aren’t suited for detailing. Some turbine spray guns can be adjusted to spray to small diameters or can be switched entirely to a gun made for body detailing.

Also, manufacturers are beginning to create hybrid handheld units to blend the best of airbrush and HVLP/turbine. At least one company already has released its first version.

Rather than the bulky machines of the early days, today’s handheld equipment is shrinking in size, making units more portable while maintaining their effectiveness. This allows salons more flexibility in terms of where to locate the airbrush or turbine, and also to use the freed space for other profit centers.