How To Fix A Smudged Spray Tan

During the spray tanning process, there may be an occasional circumstance where the spray tan smudges. This smudge could happen in the area under the arms if a client puts their arms down before the tan is completely dry. This could also happen after an appointment if the client were to touch their tan during development causing a smudge or transfer to take place. When this situation arises, it's easy to go into panic mode thinking that the tan will be ruined! As an artist, you want your appointments to go off without a hitch, but you also want to ensure that the client gets the most flawless results possible! However, part of being a service provider includes having the knowledge to be able to fix some of these spray tan, “whoopsies” when they happen so that, even in an unfortunate circumstance of smudging, the client still gets a seamless, natural-looking tan.

So what do we actually do about this issue when it does happen? If you find yourself in this situation, here are the steps you can follow to correct a smudged spray tan:

Take Action

Spray tan solution may feel tacky to the client for about 10-15 minutes after the tan, but spray tans actually tend to start drying on the skin pretty quickly after they’re applied. That’s why if there’s a smudge that takes place, it’s best to take action as soon as you notice it! The sooner you try to fix the smudge or transfer, the higher the likelihood that the tan will rinse and develop properly.

Blend

Once you’ve noticed the smudge and realize that it’s time to take action to fix the mistake, blending will be the next step in your process. After seeing the smudge, you’ll want to grab a brush and start gently blending out the solution. We recommend using the X-TAN Blending Brush in this type of situation because of the dual sided brush and sponge applicator that makes blending a breeze. These brushes are also offered for wholesale pricing to spray tan artists so they can be sold to clients who want the best sunless tool for creating a flawless glow at home.

Pro Tip: if the area has already started to dry to the point where the solution isn’t blending with just a brush, spray your brush with a little bit of prep spray or spray tan solution and then go back to the area that’s smudged and blend, blend, blend!

Set The Tan

There may be times when you get contacted by a client after they’ve left their appointment with a smudge that needs to be fixed. However, usually this can be avoided by using finishing powder. Finishing powder is a spray tan setting powder that is applied to the body to reduce the possibility of the spray tan from transferring or smudging during development. If there’s a smudge that occurs during the appointment while the client is being sprayed, setting the area with finishing powder after the smudge has been blended out will allow the solution to stay in place. We recommend using finishing powder on your clients in order to create a more luxurious experience and achieve better results overall!

Note: There may be times when the bronzer of the spray tan has been disrupted, but it’s better to do nothing! For example, if a client contacts you after their appointment and there’s been a smudge to their tan or water has come in contact with the skin, doing less can often mean doing more. In these types of situations where the solution has had time to develop on the skin and you’re not with the client to help blend out the smudged area, it’s often best to instruct them to do nothing and rinse as usual. Typically, the tan will rinse perfectly fine even if the bronzer looks messy on the skin pre-rinse. 

We hope this tan tip helps you move through fixing smudged or transferred tans with a lot more ease and a lot less anxiety! Mistakes happen to even the most seasoned spray tan artists, but with the right knowledge and tools, you can handle any situation without panic! To learn more about how you can glow up your artistry and become the most sought-after spray tan professional in your town, head over to our Courses Tab on the Spray Tan Class website to explore all of our Spray Tan Certification Course options.

Xoxo,

Kelly