Spray Tanning For Men

Did you know that spray tanning isn’t just for the ladies, it’s for men too!? That’s right, sunless tanning is a way to get a golden glow without damaging the skin from harmful UV rays. Since every single person on this earth is susceptible to UV damage, spray tanning is for everyone! We always like to think of spray tanning as skincare instead of just for the physical payoff it gives. We can’t leave men out of the equation when it comes to caring for the skin, right!?! Although, as a spray tan artist, you may not get as many inquiries from men as you do from women, you will likely get a few here and there. Today we will discuss some of the burning questions you may have regarding how to tan men and if there are any differences in the process as well as safety precautions to take as a woman providing this service. 

The Process

Overall, the process for tanning men is the same as it would be for tanning women. You may wonder if the process is different because some men have considerably more hair than your average female client. However, since the gun blows air as you're spraying, you don’t need to worry about the hair acting as a barrier to the point that the solution won’t reach the skin. If the man has a lot of hair on certain areas, such as the legs, you may want to try spraying closer, otherwise the process will be the same. You don’t need to recommend that the male client do any additional shaving or waxing other than what they already do in order to get a quality tan. However, if he does plan on shaving his face at any time post tan, he should shave it beforehand so that he doesn’t get a tan line. 

Safety 

As business owners, our goal is to make our services inclusive to all people. However, since the particular service that we offer does require clients to be at a certain level of nudity, there may be concerns of safety, especially for artists with home-based business or those who offer mobile services. When taking on male clients, it’s best to trust your gut! If you get an inquiry and something about it doesn’t feel right to you, it’s okay to turn the client away or recommend that they go elsewhere for their tan. Everything you do when it comes to spray tanning men should be at your comfort level. If you’re a mobile artist and you’re not comfortable going to male client’s homes, that’s okay. If you run a home-based business and you don’t feel comfortable with men coming to your home, that’s okay. If you have any type of business model and you just don’t feel comfortable with a man being completely nude during the service, that’s okay! You can always opt out of an inquiry in a professional manner by kindly informing the client that you only spray women due to safety. Most men, especially if they only have good intentions, will understand this boundary. This comfort level also may be something that you discuss with your partner in order to weigh in on their comfort level or how they can help make this a safer option for your business. 

Rules

Typically, as the artist, you will have rules or guidelines during your appointments. This may take the form of having a bottoms policy for your clients or allowing your clients to choose to be sprayed with nothing on to avoid tan lines. If you’re an artist that offers clients disposable thongs or provides the choice to go nude, you may wonder if you should also allow male clients to spray tan nude or come up with a new rule for this situation. If your comfort level does not extend to spray tanning male clients nude, you can require male clients to wear a disposable thong or their underwear during the appointment so that the private area is covered. Although not all men who get spray tanned will want to have a tan line, as the business owner it is up to your discretion on the guidelines you put in place in order to create a safe and comfortable environment for your clients. Of course, it’s also a priority to always do our best to take the comfort level of all clients into consideration, which is why disposable underwear for men and women can be a great option to offer.

As we stated at the beginning, spray tanning can be for everyone no matter your ethnicity, size, gender or race! Allowing for inclusivity in your business can expand your clientele and help you become a trusted service provider in the industry. However, it’s important to follow your intuition and do what feels right for your business. If you’re ready to expand the conversation on all things spray tanning and beauty business, make sure you subscribe to your Beauty Business Babes Podcast on iTunes or Spotify!

Xoxo,

Kelly