Airbrush Tan Room Checklist

Today, we’re bringing back nationally acclaimed airbrush artist and owner of Skin Palette salon, Susie Celek, to walk us through her Airbrush Tan Room Checklist and the simple steps she takes when airbrushing a client.

So, without further a do, here’s Susie to take it away.

 

Hi Evolvers,

Susie here! Whether you have a mobile setup or a physical studio, there are a couple must-have items and processes I recommend that’ll make your appointment more efficient and enjoyable for your client.

CREATING YOUR SPACE

If you have a designated area to perform your airbrush tans, the best way to set it up is to first figure out what size backdrop or extraction booth you have room for.

There are several options that’ll conveniently fit into the corner of the room, however if you happen to have a little extra space, the Curve ( a wide wall unit ) will provide you with perfect lighting and an extraction system that’s truly second to none.

CONDUCTING YOUR CONSULTATION

Once you’ve determined where you’ll spray your clients, determine where you’ll conduct your consultation. For example, at the front desk when they check in, or when they’re in the room?

OFFERING A CUBBY / STORAGE AREA FOR CLOTHING & PERSONAL ITEMS

After the consultation, I recommend showing your client where to store his or her clothing, shoes, bags, etc. I recommend this so in the event of an overspray or a cartridge accidentally falling and hitting the ground, it doesn’t explode onto your client’s personal items. ( In my early days, this happened all over the owner of the Philadelphia Flyers wife’s custom made Louis Vuitton – that was a hard lesson learned! ) Don’t let it happen to you.

The two storage containers that have worked best for me at Skin Palette are wall lockers and small floor ottomans. Wall lockers are easier to clean and better suited for small spaces. However, faux-leather ottomans are equally as convenient, and offer the client a place to sit after their airbrush tan dries and when they dress and put their shoes back on. If you go with an ottoman, I recommend getting one that’s easy to wipe down, not cloth!

PREPPING FOR THE AIRBRUSH TAN

Once they know where to put their stuff, it’s best to have a shelf for barrier cream, a thong, shower cap, sticky feet, and nose filter if desired. Explain to your client that after they undress they’ll want to put their disposable thong on first ( if they choose to wear one ), then shower cap, then sticky feet, and lastly the barrier cream.

Stepping out while your client undresses and preps gives you the perfect amount of time to mix the custom airbrush solution for his or her appointment. **Expert tip on being organized and efficient** – you can pickup a small basket so you don’t forget anything, and aren’t juggling powder, baby wipes, a spray towel, and cartridges.

The basket is incredibly efficient and reduces the chance of dropping a cartridge on the floor when opening the door – not only embarrassing, but also time consuming because of the time it’ll take to clean it up if it falls.

Once you enter the room, make sure your client prepped him or herself properly, and that they put barrier cream on their fingernails and toenails, and lightly applied it to dry spots and sunspots.  Before spraying the client, I recommend spraying into a towel or paper towels to start pumping solution through the gun and also as a way to confirm the spray settings are setup the way you prefer.

AFTER THE AIRBRUSH TAN, COMPLETING THE APPOINTMENT

After the session is complete, wipe down your client’s palms, nails, and toes with baby wipes. Also, if he or she applied barrier cream on sunspots, wipe those areas gently with a cotton swab, being very careful not to smear the color around the sunspot.

Here’s a checklist of recommended supplies to keep in your Airbrush Tan Room!

• Pre/Post Care Cards
• Consent Forms
• Barrier Cream
• Hair nets
• Sticky Feet
• Nose Filters
• Disposable Bras
• Disposable Thongs
• Disposable Men’ Briefs
• Technician Mask(s)
• Disposable Gloves
• Extra Hair Ties
• Baby Wipes
• Cotton Swabs
• Cotton Balls
• Paper Towels
• Towels