Whats better/more popular the spray gun or the airbrush for tanning?
Hi Leah
A few years ago the airbrush was the way we used to apply a spray tan or an "airbrush" tan as it used to be known as. Airbrushes are about the size of a pen and are always combined with a compressor which should sprays at a pressure of approx 20psi (pounds per square inch) therefore creating more overspray as the pressure on a HVLP system is generally set at about 1-3psi. Compressors need to have an annual safety inspection by a competent professional to ensure their safe working.
The benefits are that it is generally quieter and you can also use the airbrush to do body art, nail art etc albeit that you may have to purchase a secondary airbrush, you can do it with this system. It will usually take about 20-30 mins to do a full body tan and comes with lots of mist.
Some companies will attach a spray gun to a compressor and try to call it a HVLP system, for this they generally need a larger compressor system to ensure the pressure is great enough to create the fine mist required to do a decent application from the spray gun. I have seen two compressors, TC2000 and a TC5000, being bolted together and covered with a metal housing to form a new machine when it was then used with a spray gun. By attaching a spray gun to a compressor will NOT make the system a HVLP, this is down to the nature of your machine.
HVLP (high volume low pressure) systems work with only a spray gun, you will not be able to do any nail art etc with this system but you will have quicker applications, less overspray therefore using less product, meaning you can make more money form each bottle of tanning solution and have less cleaning to do. It is also better from point of view where there is less spray to inhale if you have not considered ventillation. These systems will not need any specific safety inspection, only the normal PAT testing which should apply annually to each portable electronic appliance within the workplace.
The industry is certainly going forward with HVLP systems and spray guns, I didn't think I would ever give up my airbrush for a system like this but personally once I tried it, I would never go back!
Are you going to Excel later this month? There will be lots of different systems on show of both varieties which you can see and try out. If you need any more info, please do not hesitate to ask.
Kind regards
Mandy x