Airbrush Tanning Instruction Guide

Before you begin:

Make sure the Client's skin is clear of all makeup, lotions, perfumes, deodorants, and residue left from bar soap, or shaving products.

If the Client has any products on skin, recommend client remove residue by wiping skin with a damp cloth and our ABT Secret Skin Prep. Alternatively, you can airbrush the Skin Prep onto client's skin, and wipe with a clean soft dry cloth. Skin can also air-dry.

Client should wear dark loose fitting clothing and flip flops or loose sandals after their session. The tanning solution will wash out of clothing, however it is better to let the client know that it is possible for staining to occur with some fabrics, such as silk, wool, nylon, lycra, spandex and leather.

If your Client is tanning in the nude, give them a body sticker to wear. This helps them to assess the tan line.

Hair should be kept off the neck and pulled back from the face. Shower caps can be used. Tanning solution will not normally stain hair, however it is recommended that a cap be used when the client has bleached, gray, or very light hair. Petroleum jelly or lip balm stick products can be applied to the eyebrows and lips to protect them from the solution. If the Client is wearing a shower cap, it should be placed behind the ears, and kept off the hairline. You do not want to have any white lines around the face from the cap.

Apply a barrier cream to the palms of hands and fingernails (Vaseline™ is inexpensive and works well). Cover the feet. You can use disposable hospital shoe covers, or small towels. Remember to apply the barrier cream to the bottom of the feet, and nails, if they are not encased.

Cover flooring with clean towels for the Client to stand on.

Beginning to spray:

1. Have client stand with their back facing you, arms out and elbows bent.

2. Start spraying the backside, from the neck down to the lower back in a circular motion covering side to side.

3. Once finished with the back, go over the back of the arms. Keep elbows bent. (apply lighter over the elbow)

4. Have the client put arms down.

5. Start on the buttocks. Remember to have the customer bend so that you can spray the creases under each buttock.

6. Have client stand with legs apart and spray again, in a circular motion side to side from thigh down to heel. Spray one leg and then work on the other.

7. Now have client turn to each side, and with arm extended outward, spray from the armpit down to ankle.

8. Turn client to face you with arms spread eagle. Start spraying the upper torso. (Remember to let client rest arms as needed)

9. If needed, have client lift breasts and spray undersides. Use a hair dryer to dry this area quickly.

10. Start spraying the upper thigh with legs apart. Spray the same way when doing the front of the legs as the back. When you get to the knees, have the customer bend legs, and spray lighter in this area. Stop at the ankle.

11. Have the client shift each leg to expose the inner thigh. Then spray.

12. Next, the arms. With arms out in front (palms down) spray the top of the arm from the shoulder to the wrist.

13. Rotate arms to expose the inner arm (palms up) and spray from top of arm to wrist.

14. Raise arms over the head and spray.

15. Have client bend elbow (elbow out like they are saluting) spray from back of shoulder down to wrist.

16. Now you can work on the neck. Make sure they keep their neck still, with face tilted up slightly, spray in a circular motion side to side. I let the customer dry with a fan or a hair dryer for a few minutes.

17. Inform the client that you are ready to spray their face.

18. Have the customer close eyes and breathe normally. Remember to work quickly.

19. Start at the chin and work in a circular motion up the right side, over forehead, down the left and back to the chin. Stop and talk to them for a few seconds. Do this again working your way closer to the eyes, nose, and mouth.

20. Let customer know that you will be spraying over the eyes, nose, and mouth now. Close eyes, hold breath, and work quickly. In a circular motion go over eyes, nose and mouth area. Let customer know they can breathe and open eyes. Let the fan or hairdryer dry the face for a few seconds.

21. Now you are ready to work on the hands and feet.

22. Remove the towels or covers from feet. Make sure you lay clean towels under feet so the solution won't collect on the bottoms.

23. Have client hold hands (palms down) in front to them. (fingers apart, knuckles bent)

24. Spray from the fingernail up to the wrist; do not go in a circular motion. Spray lightly in an up and down motion.

25. Keep it light; you don't want to get the hands or feet too dark. Once finished with hands let customer wipe the barrier cream off the palms of hands with a paper towel or damp disposable wipe.

26. Spray the feet in the same way, in an up and down motion, starting at the toes and working up to the ankle.

27. Spray the front, inside, outside and back of feet.

28. Let customer dry. Check for any spots that you might need to go over again. If tan looks even, the customer can get dressed after about ten minutes of drying front and back.

29. Advise client not to put a bra back on, due to rubbing. Avoid socks or closed shoes, and tight fitting pants or shirts.

30. In inclement weather, keep a poncho or umbrella available to assist your clients to their car without getting wet.

31. Advise clients to cover leather seats or interiors, with a light colored towel while sitting and driving. Tanning solution can rub onto the material and damage it. After showering off excess color guide, these precautions are no longer necessary.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO FIND WHAT WORKS WELL FOR YOU AND YOUR CLIENTS, THE STEPS ABOVE ARE A GUIDE TO HELP YOU GET STARTED. Once you reach a level of comfort with your airbrush ability you will be able to experiment and customize this guide.