What to do first?! Spray tan training and products/equipment

[M00min]

Hi

I am just starting out as mobile and am keen to learn spray tanning in the near future but would appreciate some advice! I've only had one spray tan in my life so don't have any knowledge to start with! It was in a salon using St Tropez and I was v impressed.

1) I've researched the different brands and recommendations on here and am keen to try them, but don't have any spray tan equipment to try them out. Do you need to get your kit and your tanning products from the same suppliers?

2) I've heard some brilliant things on here about brands I'd never heard of before. Do clients tend to be spray tan snobs? Eg will brands like St Tropez always sell themselves, even if other lesser-known and/or cheaper brands are "better" in the eyes of lots of professionals? Of course I want to use the best products, but I am just starting out and wonder if using some of the bigger names will give business a boost/enable me to charge more? Several Geeks have said how they've "turned" their clients onto lesser-known brands - I'm just worried about getting those clients in the first place!

3) Is it best to train with the manufacturer of your equipment/solution? Some of the courses I've been looking into require you to have a kit before you go, but I'm hesitant to take the plunge when at this stage I have no clue what I'm doing!

4) What proportion of your clients have regular tans, compared to those who have them only for special occasions?

5) If you're mobile, did your course address the specific needs of mobile spray tanners? Or was it more salon-centred?

Sorry about all the questions, but any help or advice is greatly appreciated!

x

 

[Jenx]

I bought my kit, solution and training all from the same company and my machine was what I used to do my training as well so it was all set up for me.
I trained with what was a lesser known company at the time, compared to fake bake and St Tropez, and don't feel that has hindered my business in the slightest. In fact I actually get lots of clients not wanting fake bake or st tropez as they don't like it.
Not all courses require you to have kit before hand for training, but it is an advantage as your kit will be set up and tested etc, plus you can start practicing straight away, so you don't lose momentum with your new business or forget your training.

Good luck, it is a mine field of info when trying to decide which company to go with xxx

 

[M00min]

Thanks Jenx! I definitely see your point re having your kit ready to go after training. I remember my manicure and pedicure kits arrived the day I did my training for that (by coincidence) and I went straight out and did a manicure and pedicure that night! So maybe that's the way forward for me

Nouvatan is one of the brands I want to try. Have you always used it and if not, what converted you?

Thanks x

 

[ADiva1]

Hi
Like you I don't know (as yet) about tanning products. However, I have researched and learnt lots from reading threads about different products etc on this site.

I've just bought the L A Tanning machine with their tans. I will be training at the end of this week with one of their trainers.

So to answer your question, I do believe you should buy your spray tan kit before going on your training.

Nouvatan sounds brilliant and at some point in the future I would like to try their products.

I am guessing that your clientele would be a mixture of clients. Those for special ocassions and also regulars. You just have to get yourself out there, market yourself and I'm sure you will be busy.

I cant comment on the other brands like fake bake, or st tropez.

Goodluck with everything.

 

[oddball]

Hey

I started spray tanning last year, but I took time to research which tan I wanted to take on, it's important to find a tan that you love and that you can sell well to your clients, I got my kit before my training because they had a special offer at the time , however when I did my training I went home an booked in 10 friends for free trial tans as practise is the best way to become competent in tanning. I love spray tanning now, I have a huge mix of clients, one's who come now and again for special occassions and a one's who just love being tanned so come back weekly, quite often when its for a special occassion my clients come in with friends and their friends end up asking if i can fit them in as they love how the tan looks already. Whatever you decide to do have fun and enjoy. x

 

[Jenx]

Thanks Jenx! I definitely see your point re having your kit ready to go after training. I remember my manicure and pedicure kits arrived the day I did my training for that (by coincidence) and I went straight out and did a manicure and pedicure that night! So maybe that's the way forward for me

Nouvatan is one of the brands I want to try. Have you always used it and if not, what converted you?

Thanks x

Hi, I didn't train with Nouvatan. Hadn't even heard of them when I trained lol. I started out with Vani-T.
I just reached a stage where I wanted to see what else was out there, although I wasn't unhappy with Vani-T I was really just curious.
Loved the sample I got from Nouvatan, the colour is amazing xx

 

[M00min]

Thanks everyone! I got my first samples through today from Sienna X so looks like I'm going to have a tan for a while while I try all the different brands out lol x

 

[stephinstoke]

i got my kit first and had a go on my sister !! not good
then did the training and now i me good at it getting 20 ish tans to a litre now was 16tans when i started

 

[jojo]

Hi Moomin,

I wouldn't say customers are really picky about the brand you spray with. I would say they are really picky about the end result. If you are offering an incredible tan then nothing else will matter. That said, solution is a personal preference. What some may like, others may hate. I use EnvyTan products. I also purchased my start up kit from them, as it had absolutely everything in it I needed. They do not require you to use their solutions. I choose too after using several samples I received from other vendors. I personally loved the wasEnvyTan's solution looked.

I received my training with my kit. It did not take me long to figure out what I was doing. I know that it is scary when you are first starting out, just make sure you do your research.

I am a mobile technician. The course I took and the books I read were geared toward both mobile technicians and salon technicians. The kit I purchased (Celebrity: Go Mobile Pro) was specific to mobile technicians. I have an 80/20 regular/existing customer ratio.