Help - I did an uneven tan for the first time!!

[CherryBeauty]

Hi - I wonder if anyone can help me.... I have been spray tanning now for quite a wee while - I am fully trained and I use 3 different solutions all of which I am comfortable with and I am proud to say that I have never had any streaking or patchyness with any of my products. However - on Thursday I sprayed a client for the first time and despite my application being even, the colour did not take on her back at all. I visited her the next day after she contacted me to say it was uneven on her back and it was as though she had not been sprayed at all. We both agreed that her back HAD been sprayed - she recalls it and I recall vividly doing it and checking after application for even-ness.

Its a mystery as I cant work out why this has happened. I checked with my client that I did immediately before her and two clients I did later that day and everyone else was fine and with same product too - allwere very happy in fact.

Can anyone shed any light on this - maybe something similar has happened to any of you??? I haven't been able to get it out my head since I went to see her on Friday...

Thanks in advance,
Sharon

 

[Jenx]

I have had this happen before and was told there are many things that can affect the tan. Hormones, medication or even perhaps the products from showering (e.g. shampoo) may not have been washed off properly.
If the tan took in some places and not on others, but application was even, then you know it isn't your technique or product. These things are usually down to the client, some people just have areas that don't tan so well, for what ever reason. I have one who's face never keeps the tan for long, and another I who's legs wouldn't take the tan as well. That's the only two I can think of that I have had like that.
Did you try respraying the area?

Try not to worry about it, although I know you probably will I hate to think any of my tans are anything less than perfect and I am sure you are the same.
xx

 

[ukfaye]

Hi,:hug: I would say the most likely cause for this is conditioner, as it's just her back,
we tell them not to moisturise, but having conditioner running down there back is the same as moisturising.
Get her to shower with a soap with no moisturisers in and not do her hair and try again, cross fingers hun.xx

 

[tigi]

just a thought, do you start with her back?

Did you wash your gun out before you went to her? was there water left in the gun? did you run the solution through the gun before spraying?

I know this might sound a really stupid suggestion, but i have done this once when i first started out........ I forgot to run the solution through the gun! (what a dope).

If not then it may be that she had something on the skin? as faye says, maybe conditioner residue? does hse have long hair? did she use a spray in conditioner or leave in hair treatment spray?

tigi

 

[CherryBeauty]

Thanks for replies - didn't think about conditioner, thats such a good point - she told me she had followed the pre tan instructions leaflet to the letter. She does have long (and a little bit lank) hair so that may well be the answer. Will def check that out with her.

Re washing out the gun - no I had tanned someone just before with same product and it didnt need washing out yet and I did run the solution through the gun first (I always test my colour flow first on paper roll). Was such a blimmin mystery - i thought of all the usual things and couldnt come up with anything!!

I didn't tan her back again although I asked if she wanted me to. I ended up giving her her money back actually as I felt so bad - but what else could I do if she wouldn't take a re-spray? First time I have ever given a refund. :-(

Thanks for your help - will investigate further with her and hopefully she will discuss it with me.....

sxx

 

[SunSpray]

I didn't tan her back again although I asked if she wanted me to. I ended up giving her her money back actually as I felt so bad - but what else could I do if she wouldn't take a re-spray? First time I have ever given a refund. :-(

Now I know it's completely up to you how you like to deal with your clients in situations like this, but I don't think you were in any way obliged to refund her.

To be honest, this sort of thing would grate on my mind like it is yours, but I would prefer the satisfaction of re-spraying her, proving that your products are of high quality/you're a great spray tanner/this is highly unusual. By offering (insisting, even, if possible) to carry out a re-spray - at your client's convenience when this tan has faded, but with an expiry date of , say a month - you're giving yourself a much better chance of retaining her custom and equally importantly she'd think very highly of you with a better chance of onward recommendation.

I agree with the comments above - taking everything into consideration it's highly likely the problem was not caused by your application or your products.

Anyway, although it's hard not to, please don't let this bother you any longer. Sometimes these things just happen.

Now although I'm a bit tight and don't usually do loads of giveaways, would you consider sending your client a voucher for a free spray tan - with a very short expiry date (a month?). Say it's a gesture of good will and all that? She'll either take you up on it with the possibility of becoming a regular/good referrer or she'll bin it. Either way you'll end up the same or hopefully better off, and it could make you feel much better knowing that you've done everything possible to smooth out the situation.

Good luck xx