sunless Archives - Perfect Glow Sunless ™

December 15, 2017 By Perfectglowsunless

Perfect Glow Sunless Featured Business Owner

It gives me great pleasure to introduce Michele Rivera as our December featured business owner. She is a Perfect Glow Spray Tan Academy graduate and has been working hard to grow her company. We love seeing our students achieve success and are looking forward to seeing all the great things ahead for Michele!

Name of salon: Radiant Glow

Years in Business: Less than a year

Location: Portsmouth, Rhode Island

What made you start a sunless tanning business and how long? What made you want to start your business?

I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit. I recently left the design and marketing industry after 17 years. I did some research on the sunless industry, it’s minimal to start-up and it’s something you can start off part-time and grow.

What do you feel has been a big part of your success?

I genuinely love making my clients feel good. I’m very down-to-earth so I am able to make my clients feel comfortable when they are in my tent. They are vulnerable standing there in the nude (or close to it) and are 100% trusting you’ll make them look great. You must show them they can be totally relaxed with you and they can rest assured they are getting the best spray tan from you. You have to be a ‘people-person’ in this industry. I love meeting new clients growing relationships with my existing clients.

What is your favorite part of being a spray tanner?

No doubt, the smile I see on my clients faces after my clients leave the tent and go look in the mirror … it’s the best! They feel so good, love their tans and I know I did my job – I love empowering people with self-love!

What was an example of a challenge of being a business owner that you had to adapt to?

Finding effective advertising channels. I’m currently adverting across a lot of different mediums. I’m tracking them to see where my clients are coming from so I can see which ones produce ROI (return on investment). That’s key, I’m sure every market is different and everyone has they own niche in tanning, you’ll know what works for you after some time, but you must experiment and evaluate.

What is an example of a marketing tactic that you found successful to increase your business?

We all know that a referral is the best way to gather new business. There a few gracious clients that I work with that help me to spread the word on my business and in turn I give them discounts on their spray tans. Word-of-mouth is always going to be number one way to build your clientele.

What suggestions do you have for other techs in the industry that have worked well for you?

I have an electronic consent form. Along with providing necessary details in the form I ask them to provide how they heard about me, this way I can see what channels of my advertising have been effective, it’s very useful to me. As a new business, I need to constantly evaluate what source my clients are coming from, that way I can continue to market in a way that is beneficial to my business and cost-effective for my budget.

Where do you see your business a year from now? Are you looking to expand your business?

Absolutely, I want to expand my business or I wouldn’t be doing this! I will continue to network with local businesses, I feel it’s a better strategy to work with partners than be a standalone island. Again, this is goes back to my referral strategy. The more people that know about me and my business, the more my business will grow. I’d like to add more retail to my business but it’s not in the budget right now, I’m hoping to expand on that next year.

What is your favorite Perfect Glow Product?

I love the Rapid solutions! Not only are the colors absolutely Perfect (pun intended) but the convenience of rinsing after a short time is so ideal for my clients. Evening appointments are popular and my clients love that they can rinse before they go to bed, never have to worry about messing their sheets and wake up in the morning with a beautiful, developed tan!

What do you like to do in your free time?

Absolutely no doubt spending it with friends and family! I have two small children, come from a large family and live in a fun community where there are events going on almost every weekend and we like to attend as many as we can. Also, I live on a bike path that runs along the coastline that I live on, it’s absolutely gorgeous and we love to take bikes rides on it — I pinch myself every time that I get to live here. For alone time, I like to pamper myself, a tan, a pedicure, a massage, a facial, I love it all and it always makes me feel better.

Thank you Michele for taking the time to share your great tips and we are happy to have you as part of the Perfect Glow community. Here are some Radiant Glow clients (with their beautiful Perfect Glow color) Keep up the fantastic work.

August 31, 2017 By Perfectglowsunless

Tips For Cancellation Policies

At some time in our beauty business we have all experienced the no show client, chronic late clients and those lovely cancellation texts 10 minutes before your next customers session. To help with the pain I am a firm believer in that Spray tan technicians should have a cancellation policy and penalty in place for no-show tanners & last minute cancellations. This was a topic I discussed on one of my recent Facebook live broadcasts ( Every Monday on Perfect Glow Sunless)

The subject of cancellation policies and fees can be a touchy one for spray tan technicians & it is a common question asked in many spray tan and beauty forums. I realize that this can be a struggle for some of you as it was for me in the beginning of my career. Maybe you might not know which policy to use or maybe you could be afraid of losing clients. Even if this is true, you should still have cancellation policies. I also believe you have to enforce these policies with a cancellation fee.

So what should your Spray Tan cancellation policy be?

Unlike other beauty services spray tanning requires a certain amount of prep by the client & is difficult to fill a last minute spot that opens up due to a cancellation. My business policy is a 24 hours notice is required for any cancellations. Spray Tanners who cancel outside of this window will be charged a cancellation fee ( Billed that day if I have a credit card on file) or added on to their next session. Some spray tan techs choose to send a PayPal invoice but that is on a case by case basis and many have a hard time getting it paid.

You policy should be customized to apply to late clients, no-shows, and last-minute cancellations. Base the amount of money you charge as a penalty upon the value of your time and your market demographic. For example:

Some choose to have a policy where a client that cancelled after the 24 hour period would be charged 50% of the service price. Yet some techs have their policy enforced to charge this if they get a cancellation within 3-4 hour time frame of the clients scheduled session.

If someone was a “No show” they would be charged 100% of the service price.

Clients that are more than 10 minutes late to their session are subject to being rescheduled to the last appointment or another day.

This are just some examples and you have to gear your policy towards what works best for you business. For your cancellation policy to work, your clients need to know you have one and also have to familiarize themselves with the policy. I recommend you post your cancellation policies on your business’s website where they can easily see it ( Maybe on the pricing page and Q&A) I also recommend having it on your booking confirmation (if you use one) or you can email and text your policies to clients who book a session. This way you cover your bases and they can’t tell you that they didn’t see your policy or didn’t know you have one.

Collecting Your Cancellation Penalty

Cancellation policies are half of the battle. Once you establish your policy, you have to enforce it. Earlier, I mentioned a fee for no-shows and cancellation after the grace period. Get your clients credit card information at the time of booking their appointment. This way, if they violate your policy, you can charge them the fee.

As spray tan technicians, our time is extremely valuable. As mentioned earlier if someone cancels at the last minute or is a no-show, it’s difficult to book another appointment in that time slot. If you do, you risk pushing back your other appointments and inconveniencing tanners. The same thing happens if the tanner shows up late for their appointment. It’s not worth it!

Many spray tan techs are self-conscious about asking tanners for their credit card info up front as they believe that this can deter potential clients from booking appointments but I disagree. Most customers use their credit cards to pay a deposit & is very common in other businesses. Many nail and eyelash technicians require this for example. Also, if you think you can collect that late fee some other day, keep in mind that many no-show clients never come back. Now you’re out the money you would’ve made if you booked someone else in that slot. If you get a customer that does not want to use a credit card or does not have one then you can always review on a case by case basis.

What About Package Clients?

Do you have tanners who purchase a lot of large spray tanning packages? Perhaps they spend more than $200 at a time. If so, I understand that you might be nervous about enforcing your cancellation policy with these clients. (You’re afraid of losing them and that revenue!) But your package clients value you enough to buy these packages because they love what you do. And since they are repeat customers they should also respect you and your time.

I’ve let package clients slide in the past and ended up regretting my decision as it was not a one time deal. It is always harder and awkward to enforce something that you have given a “free pass to” So make sure your policies apply to everyone and you enforce them in the beginning. That said, there are always exceptions to the rules. For example, if you have a long-term tanner who has that rare cancellation, you might want to let it slide. These things must be handled on a case-by-case basis. For the most part, it’s best to keep your cancellation policies in place and enforce them. Your tanners will respect you and you’ll respect yourself in the long run.

Avoid “Tanner Drama!”

I see many spray tan techs becoming friends with their clients. I highly recommend you don’t get involved in a client’s drama. And don’t hang out with them at the club, bar, or anywhere else outside of work. It’s one thing to care about your tanners, (I have many amazing clients that I love) but but it’s another thing to turn every appointment into a therapy session. If you allow yourself to get deeply involved with a client’s family or relationship drama, you cross the line and become their friend. Once you do that, many of these tanners won’t think twice about missing an appointment. (Because in their mind you understand what they are going through) Worse yet, you’ll find it hard to enforce your policies on a friend.

Your Respray Policy

Speaking of policies, do you have respray policy for tanners whose tans require touch ups? You should! Some salons will respray any client who has a problem with their tan within 24 hours of their appointment. I’ve heard of some sunless techs doing re-sprays on clients five days after their session! This is not a respray issue in my opinion but is a client who didn’t pay attention to aftercare instructions or might possibly want a free spray tan.

Do you commonly have tanners who complain about their results right after their session? If so this might be a training issue relating to technique or not knowing proper aftercare instructions & things the customer should avoid. In that case I suggest you take a quality spray tan certification program to improve your technique & knowledge. This gives you confidence in your ability to apply a proper spray tan.

Good Luck, Spray Tan Techs!

Im not afraid to say that made mistakes when I started spray tanning and had some clients take advantage of me. it is a big topic with my spray tan consulting clients and we work on how to get over this common hurdle. Always remember…This is your business! It is not charity work and it’s how you pay your bills and feed your family. When someone cancels or is a no-show, it takes money out of your pocket. A cancellation policy and fee offers you some protection. Remember, your tanners won’t respect you or your time if you don’t!

Melissa Weinberg is the founder of Perfect Glow Sunless™ a luxury brand of top rated Spray tan solutions and Sunless products.

She is also a top spray tan educator in the beauty industry. Her Perfect Glow Spray Tan Academy™ offers various online and hands on

spray tan training courses and spray tan consulting. Her entrepreneurial journey has been featured in Money Magazine, The Huffington Post and other media publications. For more information on her products and the Spray Tan academy please visit Perfectglowsunless.com

August 12, 2017 By Perfectglowsunless

Spray Tan Training Fun on the Road!

Who says that learning can’t be fun? We’ve been having a great time at our Perfect Glow Spray Tan Academy training classes!

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been on the road with Perfect Glow Spray Tan Academy training program. In that time, I’ve had the pleasure to host spray tan training sessions in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Dallas. Getting to meet many people from all over the country is one part of this job that I love love so much. I know that the relationships we formed will continue to thrive for a long time to come!

Perfect Glow Spray Tan Academy: New Orleans

What makes our Academy different? Well, for starters, we provide attendees with specialized attention. I believe in having a great student-to-instructor ratio for my sessions. This ensures everyone gets the attention that they deserve. This is why I’m joined by my trainers whenever I do classes on the road. In New Orleans, I was joined by trainers Rachel Jenkins and Lisa Tobiason. Together, we provided these lovely ladies with their spray tanning certifications.

Teaching the tricks of the trade to students in Louisiana. They did fantastic!

NOLA attendee Deana Byers said that she loved the Perfect Glow Spray Tan Academy course. Deana added, “Melissa and her trainers made sure we were fully informed on all aspects of the business. The hands-on training was more than I expected.” Deana said she’d recommend Perfect Glow Spray Tan Academy to any sunless technician. “Thank you, Perfect Glow Sunless for the great training!” she added.

Perfect Glow Spray Tan Academy: Dallas

In Dallas, I was joined by Whitney Kelly, one of my Texas Instructors. This group featured students of various skill levels. Some attendees were beginners while others had existing spray tan/beauty businesses. Everyone seemed thrilled with the training. I also provided the experienced spray tanners with some basic contour skills & an extra special technique. They’ll wow their tanners with these Perfect Glow techniques!

Susan with Joseph from Greensboro NC

Why Choose Perfect Glow Sunless Spray Tan Certification?

For starters, my trainers and I are actually spray tan techs. Who better to train you than someone who does this on a daily basis? We understand what occurs on all ends of the business. This makes my team qualified to discuss real situations from our personal experiences.

Who Can Benefit from a Perfect Glow Sunless Certification?

Anyone and everyone who wants to earn a living offering sunless tanning services. Our program is for those who are new to sunless tanning as well veteran sunless tanning pros. It also helps anyone looking to add spray tanning to their service menu. We’ve had a mix of students at all our spray tan classes and everyone has benefited from these sessions in some way.

Facebook Groups Are Not Spray Tan Training!

Are you on 20 different Facebook groups? They are wonderful support tools, but it’s no substitute for proper spray tan training! If Facebook is all you’ve done, it’s time to consider some formal training. Don’t get left behind just trying to wing it. Time is money, and trying to learn your trade on Facebook forums won’t fatten up your bank account!

Try the Perfect Glow Spray Tan Academy

Have you been thinking about taking a spray tan training class? Or are you looking to start a spray tan business? Here are more reasons why Perfect Glow Spray Tan Academy is an excellent investment in your success.

Melissa Weinberg is the creator of Perfect Glow Sunless & Melissa Weinberg Tanning & Beauty. A premium luxury line of professional spray tan solution and self-tanning products. Her products are used by countless professional salons and spas and spray tanners. She is also a South Florida spray tan expert and offers online and in person spray tan training via the Perfect Glow Spray Tan Academy. For more course information visit http://learntoairbrushtan.com.

November 17, 2016 By Perfectglowsunless

The difference between a Tan Extender & Gradual Tanner

This is a common question that I get asked so I thought it would be great topic for our blog!

I am going to discuss my Melissa Weinberg Tanning & Beauty line. Every manufacturer has different formulations and recommendations so please keep that in mind. Both of these products are a body lotion that contains a percentage of dha ( Dihydroxyacetone) The active ingredient in any self tanning product. The difference is the level and tint.

Lets discuss the Tan Extender first:

The extender is a formulation with a small touch of dha. This extender is formulated to work in conjunction with a sunless tan or regular tan & is not very strong as to avoid turning the tan brassy or orange. When you have a sunless tan you do not want to “load on” more dha as it might be too much for the skin to handle ( especially for the fairer clients)

With this product the client should start applying the tan extender a few days into the tan when they see the color starting to fade on the areas necessary so they can “extend the tan”

This product is not going to make the tan much darker but it will put color back onto the skin to extend and prolong the sunless application. This is also a crucial product to offer your clients if they are going to be doing any water activities. The tan extender is a clear formula so it will not stain clothes or sheets. Even though it is clear they can not sweat or get wet so I recommended applying before bed.

Now for the Gradual Tanner:

The gradual tanner contains a higher strength dha and is also a tinted formula. This product is recommended primarily for people that don’t have a tan and want to build one gradually from scratch to get color in 2-3 days time. They would apply once or twice a day depending on skin tone.

This product can also be used as a tinted tan extender on clients that can tan very well. But be careful! If a fair client used the gradual tanner over a spray tan it might be too strong causing orange.

So I hope this clarifies the difference between the 2 products. If you have any questions please contact us and we can make the proper recommendation.

Happy Tanning XO – Melissa

Melissa Weinberg Tanning

Melissa Weinberg is the creator of Perfect Glow Sunless & Melissa Weinberg Tanning & Beauty. A premium luxury line of professional spray tan solution and self-tanning products. Her products are used by professional salons and spas all over the world. She is also a South Florida spray tan expert and offers online and in person spray tan training. For more information visit http://learntoairbrushtan.com for more course information.

June 6, 2016 By Perfectglowsunless

Tips to build a beauty portfolio

best spray tan solution

By Melissa Weinberg – Perfect Glow Sunless Inc

I am sure that you have all heard the old saying “A picture is worth 1000 words” Well that being said I am going to discuss tips on how to build a client portfolio. This blog is geared towards sunless tanning but my principles can be applied to many different industries.

Especially for spray tanning having good client pictures is crucial and will help potential clients take that step to book a session. Let’s face it, a common fear for new spray tan clients is that you are going to turn them orange. If I had a dollar for every time I get asked that question I could probably retire ( Just kidding. Well maybe I could book a luxury cruise)

So that being said beautiful pictures of your work can help alleviate that fear. I cannot stress enough that a beautiful portfolio showcasing your flawless tans will help bring in business. I always ask new clients how they heard about me. Most say from my website and that they loved the pictures I had posted (along with reviews but that topic is for another blog)

I see all sides of the spectrum. I get contacted by many new beauty professionals expressing frustration that they have difficulty getting client photos. Then I see many with tons of photos.

Spray tanning is a little different compared to a makeup or hair. Those professionals in many cases can fortunately snap a pic of the finished face or hair whereas a spray tan needs to have time to develop in order to see “true” results. Also being that many spray tan clients are in a bikini, undies or even their birthday suit at their appointment many are shy to have their picture taken at the actual session. Even though many clients say they will send a picture once the tan has developed the fact is that life gets in the way and many forget.

So here are some helpful tips to help you build your portfolio:

Many clients think that you want a bikini pic. I always stress that I would love to see any pic and it of course does not have to be a bikini pic. Even if it is a picture of them at the dinner table I would love to see!

Let’s face it, if you have a busy day or night sometimes you just feel tired and worn out. When backtracking you may honestly forget the reason why your client came in for the spray tan (wedding, graduation, trip, and birthday) and you can get so busy that you forget to follow up. So to help with this, I recommend having a good old fashion pad and paper close by (or many times I make notes next to my client on my iPhone calendar at their session) When they come in I notate the occasion for them getting their spray tan ! This is so simple and makes such a big difference.

The next day when I plan my day, I set up a follow up task in the future to contact those client when I know they should have some pictures. I like to email them but you do what you are most comfortable with ( phone, text etc)

Are you fb friends? Ask them if they wouldn’t mind if you took some pictures that they are going to post on their page ( Many say yes and it takes the burden off of them for having to remember to send it to you)

If the tan was for an event like a wedding many clients think that you just want the professional photos. I always let them know that in the meantime it would be truly appreciated if they can send you some good ones that they took before the pro ones come in.

If it is a wedding or formal event ask them who the MUA and photographer is. Many photographers post the pics quick in their blog and if you have the client permission you can always contact the photographer or MUA directly asking if you can share them (Remember as a professional courtesy never remove the other professionals watermark)

Ok! So you applied these principles and now you are rocking & rolling and the pics are flowing in looking great! But….what’s those that have that filter?

When a client sends you a pic ask them not to please not use a filter! In tanning many times a filter can make the tan look orange or yellow when it really wasn’t. If they use a filter and it is altered it is not worth posting. Remember…A bad pic can do more harm than no pic in this case.

Another important element is lightning. I see many spray tan professionals use a camera or cell phone were the flash makes the tan look brassy etc. Always make sure that you are talking your pics in good lighting. If your salon has colored walls (pink for example) that can throw off the lighting. Try to have an area where you can have a neutral backdrop to help the photos look as good as possible.

When you do get the pictures in, before you post it is always a good idea to watermark them whenever possible & I can’t stress this enough!! Unfortunately I have seen many people on instagram stealing other salons work (and it has happened to me as well- totally NOT COOL btw) For the IPhone an app that I recommend is Ezy Watermark but there are plenty of other ones as well.

So I hope these tips can help you and your portfolio continues to grow.

Happy Tanning – xo Melissa

Melissa Weinberg Tanning

Melissa Weinberg is the creator of Perfect Glow Sunless & Melissa Weinberg Tanning & Beauty. A premium luxury line of professional spray tan solution and self-tanning products. Her products are used by professional salons and spas all over the world. She is also a South Florida spray tan expert and offers spray tan training.

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