[David Kay]

January redemptions are mostly a good thing — it fills a quiet month with clients who might rebook. Most techs sell vouchers at full price, sometimes with a small add-on (a free aftercare product or upgrade) rather than a discount.

Put a clear expiry on the voucher, often 6–12 months, plus a unique number, and keep a simple log of who has redeemed. Say whether it covers a specific service or a money value, and whether mobile travel is included.

Take payment up front and send a nice PDF or card the buyer can print — last-minute buyers in the week before Christmas are often the biggest sellers.

[David Kay]

Yes, it’s worth a mention. Retinoids and acids speed up cell turnover, so tan on the face fades faster and can lift unevenly. A common approach is to pause acids and retinol on the face for a day or two before and a couple of days after, and use them gently in the evening only once they’re back on routine.

You’re not giving medical advice — if they’re on prescription treatment, tell them to keep using it and accept the face may fade quicker. A lighter face pass helps blend that fade.

Add one line about skincare actives to your aftercare card; most clients are happy to plan around a big event once they know why.

[David Kay]

Cold rooms affect both the client and the spray. Goosebumps give an uneven surface, and cold solution atomises a little less finely, so the mist can feel wetter and take longer to dry. Warm the room for 20–30 minutes before the first client and keep the bottle indoors rather than in an unheated garage overnight.

Don’t heat the liquid directly — room temperature is the aim. A small fan heater (switched off or pointed away while spraying) and a quick drying blast afterwards help.

The HVLP turbine copes fine; the bigger risk is condensation and leaving solution in the cup, so flush it and store the gun somewhere dry. MaxiMist and similar units are happy as long as they aren’t stored damp.

[David Kay]

A thin layer of barrier cream or plain balm brushed through the brows and along the hairline is the simplest fix — a spoolie works well for brows. Use a headband or hair cap pushed right back, and ask light-haired clients to come with dry, product-free hair tied up.

On the face pass, keep the gun moving, stay a bit further back near the hairline, and don’t aim directly at brows. Afterwards, a quick dab with a cotton pad or wipe along the hairline and through the brows removes anything that settled.

If a client has very pale or bleached hair, mention up front that a little transfer is possible and how to rinse it out — it saves the next-day message.

[David Kay]

For deeper skin the goal is usually tone and radiance rather than depth, so a lower-to-mid DHA with the right guide colour tends to beat a dark liquid. Warmer, bronze or rose-brown guides usually sit better than very green/violet ones, which can read ashy. Orange often means too much DHA for that skin, not the wrong technique.

A single light, even pass with a little extra on areas they want evened out (shins, arms) is often plenty. Ask what they want to see on day two — a sheen, evened-out patches, or real extra depth — and choose from that.

Most ranges, Suntana included, have a medium that works well here; patch-test the first time and note the result on their card so the next booking is repeatable.

[David Kay]

A modest deposit (or full prepay for peak Fri/Sat evenings) is normal once your diary gets busy. Groups and out-of-area call-outs almost always need one. Put the amount and the cancellation window in the booking confirmation so it’s not a surprise.

Under 48 hours, most mobiles keep the deposit; under 24 hours many keep it in full. Be human for genuine emergencies, but don’t train people that free cancellations are fine on your busiest nights.

Clear policy on the form saves awkward doorstep chats. Your time and travel are the product as much as the tan.

[David Kay]

Keep it practical: known allergies (especially fragrance, nuts/oils if your liquid has them), recent peels/laser/waxing, open wounds or eczema flares, pregnancy (policy + product choice), and whether they’ve reacted to a spray tan before.

You’re not diagnosing — you’re deciding shade, fragrance-free option, and whether to postpone. Patch test when they’ve had reactions or you’re switching to a new liquid.

Fragrance-free lines (including some Suntana / OMG options) help nervous clients; still be honest if their skin isn’t suitable that day. A short form beats a long verbal chat they’ll forget.

[David Kay]

Flush after every client (or at least whenever you change shade/brand) so pigment doesn’t dry in the tip. A proper strip — cup, needle, nozzle — is weekly for busy salon use, or every couple of weeks for lighter mobile days, sooner if spray gets spitty or uneven.

Never leave solution sitting in the cup overnight. Soft brush and manufacturer-safe cleaner beat harsh solvents that can damage seals. If the mist looks wet or blotchy suddenly, clean before you dial pressure up.

MaxiMist-style HVLP kits last years with that rhythm; neglect shows up as face splatters and streaky passes long before the turbine dies.

[David Kay]

Central heating plus heavy cream on hands/feet is a classic culprit. Ask them to skip rich moisturiser on spray areas the morning of, and keep any barrier cream to the driest knuckles and heels only — thin film, not a greasy layer.

On the pass: less product, more speed, and light feathering on the tops of feet and backs of hands. Wipe excess from between fingers/toes before it pools. Rinse timing still matters — don’t leave those areas developing longer than the body.

Technique beats buying a “special” hand liquid in most cases. If a client always blotches, shorten develop or use a lighter pass there rather than loading more solution.

[David Kay]

Same-brand mixes are usually fine if both liquids are the same base (same guide colour family) and you’re measuring, not guessing. Keep a note of the ratio so you can repeat it. Mixing across brands or totally different guide tones is where results get unpredictable.

For washed-out autumn skin, a mid shade with a reliable develop window often beats inventing a new blend every booking. Patch on the client’s inner arm if you’re unsure.

Suntana / MaxiMist ranges are built so neighbouring strengths behave similarly; still date and label any mix bottle so you don’t spray yesterday’s experiment by mistake.

[David Kay]

Be honest in the booking notes: stairs, no lift, tight hallway. Plenty of mobiles add a small access fee or a longer slot rather than undercharging and rushing.

Travel light where you can — one reliable turbine, foldable tent, solutions you actually use — and confirm parking before you leave. If access looks unsafe (no parking, five flights, no help), it’s fine to decline or meet them elsewhere.

Clear policies beat awkward conversations on the doorstep. Your back and your schedule are part of the business, not an afterthought.

[David Kay]

For a classic develop-and-rinse, two days before is often calmer: rinse on schedule, sleep, then a buffer day for any tiny tweak. Day-before works if they’re organised and using a predictable express, but leaves less room if something looks patchy.

Trial the exact liquid and develop time weeks ahead — wedding day is not the first time they should meet that shade. Keep aftercare boring: no last-minute spa scrubs, careful with white dresses and deodorant.

OMG express options and steadier house liquids (Suntana etc.) both work if you’ve trialled them; the timeline and trial matter more than the logo on the bottle.

[David Kay]

Most techs keep a sensible mid setting and control the face with distance, speed and a lighter trigger — dropping pressure only if your machine’s spray gets harsh or spitty at the usual setting.

Pull the hair back, shield the hairline with a hand or tissue, and keep the pass moving. Overlap less on the face than the body. If the gun spatters, clean the tip before you blame the pressure dial.

On MaxiMist-style HVLPs a clean tip and consistent distance usually matter more than chasing a special “face PSI.” Practice on a mannequin or yourself until the mist looks even, not wet.

[David Kay]

Night-before gentle exfoliation is usually safer than a hard scrub the morning of. You want dead skin gone without leaving skin inflamed or stripped, especially when central heating and moisturiser are already in the mix.

Morning of: light shower, no oil-heavy body cream on areas you’ll spray, and a tiny bit of barrier balm only on very dry knuckles/heels if needed. Elbows and ankles still need careful feathering — product choice won’t fix heavy scrubbing damage.

Written prep beats a verbal checklist; people who moisturise heavily in autumn often leave a film that stops the mist taking evenly.

[David Kay]

Most modern spray liquids keep fine for a few months after opening if the lid’s tight and you’re not leaving them in a hot car or in sunlight. Fridge isn’t magic — it can help in a heatwave, but condensation and constant temperature swings can be as annoying as a warm cupboard.

I’d rather a cool, dark cupboard at home/salon and never leave open bottles overnight in the van. If colour, smell or spray feel changes, bin it — don’t “stretch” a litre that’s gone off.

Suntana / MaxiMist style bottles are designed for that kind of storage; follow the brand’s open-life note on the pack if it has one, and date the bottle with a marker the day you crack it.

[David Kay]

First month: one reliable house medium and maybe one darker or express option is plenty. Extra brands mostly mean half-used bottles, more gun flushing, and confused aftercare sheets.

Pick what lays well in your HVLP and that you can reorder quickly — plenty of UK mobiles settle on something like Suntana as the everyday bottle and add a second line only when regulars ask for it. Ignore monthly “must-stock” pushes until you’ve sprayed a brand on yourself and a few clients.

Cashflow wins: fewer SKUs, better technique, clearer aftercare.

[David Kay]

Most UK techs I know continue with healthy pregnancies using a fragrance-free / Pure-style liquid, a patch test, and written consent — but they also say “please clear it with your midwife/GP if you’re unsure.” First trimester nerves are common; some clients prefer to wait and that’s fine.

Avoid spraying over broken skin, keep the room well ventilated, and don’t oversell “medical grade” claims. If they’ve had reactions before or the pregnancy is high-risk, postpone.

Calm, documented aftercare builds trust; hard-selling a tan onto someone who’s anxious doesn’t.

[David Kay]

A slightly longer hose is worth it for mobiles if you’re forever dragging the turbine into the tent. Most people notice little practical pressure loss on a decent HVLP if the hose isn’t ridiculously long or kinked — but cheap extensions can soften the spray.

I prefer keeping the machine just outside the tent with a hose that lets you move freely, rather than parking it under the client’s feet. Coil and hang it so it doesn’t crush.

MaxiMist-style setups and most UK turbines take aftermarket hoses — buy one meant for your gun, and test spray pattern before a full day of bookings.

[David Kay]

Sweat is the enemy while the tan is still settling into the upper layers. I tell most people: rinse as directed, moisturise lightly, then avoid a heavy sweat session for at least the rest of that day — ideally until the following morning if they can wait.

If they must train sooner, cooler workouts, breathable kit, and a quick cool rinse (no scrubbing) afterwards help. Chest, shoulder blades and lower back patch first because kit rubs there.

Written aftercare beats a verbal “you’ll be fine” — gym-regulars will push the boundary otherwise.

[David Kay]

Guide colour is mostly what you and the client see in the booth — it doesn’t rewrite the DHA undertone after rinse, but it does change how confidently you lay the mist and how “dark” it looks wet.

For fair UK autumn skin I’d usually pick a cooler violet or soft rose rather than a warm peach that can read orange under fluorescent light. Keep DHA mid-range and build over visits if they want deeper.

Suntana and a few OMG cooler shades behave nicely here; whatever you use, match aftercare moisturising so the fade stays even when central heating’s on.

[Author]

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