First-Time Spray Tan
Will a Spray Tan Look Orange?
If your only reference for spray tans is a 2008 reality show, the orange fear is understandable. It's also outdated. Orange tans come from the wrong depth on the wrong undertone — exactly what custom color matching eliminates.
Why tans used to turn orange
- One-shade-fits-all booths applied the same formula to every skin tone.
- Too-deep solutions on fair, cool-toned skin pull orange.
- Heavy-handed application on hands, feet, elbows, and knees amplified it.
Why a custom tan doesn't
- Color is matched to your skin tone and undertone before spraying.
- Depth is chosen for your goal — natural glows start lighter and build over visits.
- Application is adjusted per area, so dry spots and extremities stay subtle.
Still nervous? Start here
- Ask for a natural depth at your first visit — you can always go deeper next time.
- Look at the color after your first rinse, not before: the cosmetic bronzer looks deeper than the final result.
- Tell your technician your worry — 'natural, not orange' is a request they hear and honor daily.
Common questions
What if my tan develops darker than I wanted?
Color softens with each shower and daily moisturizing. It also fades fully within a week or so — nothing is permanent.
Does fair skin always risk orange?
Not with the right depth. Fair skin glows beautifully at lighter depths matched to its undertone — that's the whole point of custom color.
Related service
Specialists' Signature
$50+ · 20+ min
Free tool
Which Tan Is Right for Me?
Answer four quick questions to find your starting depth and finish.
Free tool
Which Tan Is Right for Me?
Answer four quick questions to find your starting depth and finish. It takes less than a minute.
Keep reading
First-Time Spray Tan
How Dark Should I Go? Choosing Your Spray Tan Depth
Light, medium, or deep — how to pick a depth that looks like you on your best day, not like someone else entirely.
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Understanding Skin Undertones (and Why They Matter for Your Tan)
Warm, cool, or neutral — your undertone decides which tanning depth looks golden on you and which pulls wrong. A simple guide.
Read the guideSkin & Color
Why Custom Color Matters
Spray booths gave spray tanning its bad reputation. Custom color matching is what fixed it — here's the difference it makes.
Read the guide