No following, no connections, and no reputation… I genuinely believe I could build it back up again.
Not overnight. Not magically. But confidently.
After 12+ years in this industry, one thing I know for certain is that success in spray tanning is so much less about luck than people think it is. It comes down to consistency, relationships, confidence, education, and your willingness to keep going even when things feel slow.
A lot of newer artists spend so much time overthinking, trying to get everything perfect, comparing themselves to everyone online, or waiting until they “feel ready.” Meanwhile, the artists who are actually growing are the ones who just started.
So here’s exactly what I would do if I had to restart my spray tan business in 2026.
First Things First: I Would Build Hype Around Myself
Before anything else, I would immediately start social media pages and begin connecting with local women and people in the beauty industry.
I would:
- Follow local businesses
- Engage with potential clients
- Introduce myself in DMs
- Start showing my personality immediately
- Create a strong “about me” post
- Post consistently
- Build excitement around my launch
I would also create an opening week special exclusively for the first 20–30 people who book.
Not because I believe in undercharging forever, but because momentum matters in the beginning. You need photos. You need reviews. You need referrals. You need as many people in front of you as possible, a limited time discount can easily get the ball rolling.
People cannot support a business they don’t know exists.
I Would Stop Waiting For Perfect
This is probably the biggest mistake I see new artists make.
They wait:
- for the perfect space
- the perfect branding
- the perfect logo
- the perfect content
- the perfect confidence
- the perfect website
Meanwhile… months pass and they still haven’t launched.
If I restarted today, I would focus on boots on the ground action. Progress creates confidence. Experience creates confidence. Waiting around does not.
Would I want my space to be cute? Absolutely. Your brand matters.
But would I spend months obsessing over every tiny detail before taking clients? No.
Clients care far more about:
- how you make them feel
- how knowledgeable you are
- how good their tan looks
- how comfortable the experience is
than whether your room looks Pinterest-perfect.
I Would Invest In Marketing Before Almost Anything Else
If I had limited money starting over, I would buy:
- a functional spray tan machine
- staple Glazed Sunless solutions
- a tent
- an extraction fan
- basic supplies like hair nets, kraft paper, wipes, sticky feet, etc.
And then?
I would invest heavily into visibility.
Not necessarily expensive ads — but visibility.
I would spend money on:
- a good brand shoot
- quality photos
- content creation
- showing myself online
Because in today’s world, people book people.
Showing your face is everything.
Clients want to know:
- who is tanning them
- what your energy is like
- what your space looks like
- what results they can expect
- what “problem” you solve for them
Your content should answer those questions constantly.
I Would Focus On Community More Than Virality
If Instagram disappeared tomorrow, I would still build a successful business.
I would:
- walk into local businesses
- introduce myself
- collaborate with boutiques, salons, gyms, estheticians, med spas, etc.
- do giveaways
- offer trades
- build relationships in my local community
I think people underestimate how powerful local visibility is.
You do not need to go viral to build a booked-out spray tan business.
You need people in YOUR area to trust you.
That’s it.
Stories Matter More Than People Think
If I restarted in 2026, I would post several times a week and be active on stories daily.
Why?
Because stories are where community is built.
That’s where people begin feeling connected to you.
I would do a mix of:
- polished content
- raw content
- results
- client transformations
- behind the scenes
- videos of my space
- educational content
- personality-driven content
Reels are great, but I honestly think artists sometimes obsess over them too much. A mix of everything is best.
The artists who grow the fastest are usually the ones who consistently show up as themselves.
I Would Become Obsessed With Learning
Confidence in this industry comes from education.
The best artists are not necessarily the ones with the fanciest studios or biggest followings. They are the ones who understand:
- skin
- undertones
- bronzers
- DHA
- prep
- aftercare
- troubleshooting
- machine settings
- saturation
If I didn’t know an answer, I would find it.
That is how confidence is built.
A lot of people think confidence magically appears first. It doesn’t.
You become confident by learning, practicing, asking questions, making mistakes, and continuing anyway.
And honestly? Confidence is also a perception.
If you believe in yourself, other people start believing in you too.
I Would Prioritize Reviews Immediately
I would spray friends, family, and models first and require:
- content
- honest reviews
- tagged photos
- testimonials
And I would prioritize Google reviews from day one.
A strong reputation online is everything.
A good reputation in this industry comes from:
- knowledge
- professionalism
- kindness
- consistency
- client experience
And a bad reputation spreads fast too.
People remember how you make them feel.
Client Experience Matters Just As Much As The Tan
Clients rebook when:
- they love their tan
- they feel comfortable
- they feel taken care of
- they trust you
- they enjoy the experience as a whole
Luxury does not necessarily mean expensive decor.
Luxury is:
- professionalism
- confidence
- cleanliness
- energy
- communication
- education
- attention to detail
People remember experiences.
I Would Ignore Industry Noise
One thing owning Glazed Sunless taught me is how massive this industry really is.
And with growth comes noise.
Opinions.
Trends.
Comparison.
Pressure.
If I restarted today, I would focus less on what other artists are doing and more on:
- my clients
- my craft
- my education
- my experience
- my local community
This is YOUR business.
The artists who struggle the most are often the ones constantly looking sideways.
The artists who succeed are usually deeply focused on improving themselves.
Success Usually Happens Slowly… Until Suddenly
I think one of the biggest reasons people fail is because they expect success overnight.
This industry is a slow and steady race.
Consistency is everything.
For me, I realized my business was truly becoming successful when:
- I became fully booked in less than a year
- I had waitlists
- I won Best of San Diego my second year in business
But none of that happened instantly.
It came from showing up over and over again.
If I could tell a new artist one thing, it would be this:
Start before you feel ready.
You do not need:
- the fanciest studio
- the biggest following
- expensive equipment
- a perfect aesthetic
- years of experience to begin
You need consistency.
You need confidence.
You need education.
And you need the willingness to keep going when things feel slow.
The artists who make it are the ones who continue showing up.
Success in this industry comes from relationships, reputation, skill, and consistency over time.
There is room for you here.
You just have to start.
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