The Best Spray Tanning Machine

 

Choosing The Right Spray Tan Machine

You’ve decided that you want to spray tan someone. Now you need a spray tan machine to actually spray them.

Of all the uses you can put an airbrush or spray gun to, spray tanning is actually the easiest to learn and master. Don’t get me wrong, you’ll still run into difficulties, but the process itself is straightforward.

When it comes right down to it, the gun itself is just a small portion of the total cost, especially if this is for a business. You’ll end of spending more on your location and consumables (tanning solution, towels, disposable undergarments, wages, etc.)

How To Choose Right Spray Tanning Gun

1. Holds roughly 2 or more ounces of liquid

   In order to adequately cover the tannee you’ll spray roughly 2 ounces on them.  It’s not a hard and fast rule, but, in general, figure on 2 ounces per tan.

   This rule is also a great way to figure out the cost of tanning solution per client.

   For instance, if a gallon of tanning solution costs $128 then you’ll be using $2 of solution per client (64 ounces in a gallon).

2. Siphon feed, gravity feed, side feed–it doesn’t really matter

   Most tanners choose siphon feed equipment simply because they can buy a bunch of bottles in an effort to “portion control” the use of solution.

3. Spray gun Vs Airbrush tanning gun

   Spray guns are made for covering large ares quickly.  Even a petite body has a large area to cover evenly.  Spray guns let you spray the same amount of solution in fewer passes.  Fewer passes turn into a more even, better blended result.

   Airbrush guns, on the other hand, take long (30-40 minutes) to complete one session. If your salon offers other airbrush services like makeup, nails and tattoos, then go for airbrush gun, otherwise stick to spray guns.

   However, don’t get too carried away.  An HVLP Gun with an 18 inch spray pattern is WAY WAY too big.  Too big of a spray pattern means more material waste to get the same end result.  In short, you’ll waste a lot of solution if you get something with too large a spray pattern.

4. 2-6 inch spray pattern

   This is your butter-zone.

   If you get smaller than this you’ll spend a lot of time spraying each person and throwing a lot of overspray into the air because of the length of time you’ll spray.

   If you get bigger than this a lot of your spray will “miss” the client and either settle inside your spray area or float around in the air.  This is material waste.

   Overspray is your worst health enemy and material waste is your worst cost enemy.

5. Noise

   If you’re choosing a machine for a professional setting, make sure you find one that isn’t too noisy. The whirring sound of the compressor can disrupt the tranquil atmosphere of a spa. Also consider if you are going to do home visits, as noisy machine will be problem in home setting.

6. Volume of use

   How many times in a day are you going to use this machine? Is it occasional or 10-20-40 settings in a day? As you shop, you should check each machine’s volume of use. Again, this criterion is most important for professional tan artists, as they often need to perform multiple tan jobs in a row. Machines are often rated for light, medium, or heavy use; light use machines are great for at-home tanners, while heavy use machines are essential for professional salons.

7. Weight

   When comparing the weight of different options, consider how you intend to use your spray tan machine. If you’re going to use it in a salon setting, mobility is less of an issue. It becomes an issue, however, if you’re a professional who does home visits, or an at-home DIYer looking to perfect your year-round tan. If so, search for a lightweight model that’s easy to transport and store.

8. Cost

   The perfect spray tan machine needs to fit into your budget.  This could range from something as simple as a Iwata Revolution series or Paasche VL to an entire system where the gun itself is just a piece of the whole.

Spray Tan Equipment – Components

Each spray tan machine comes with three main components: the compressor, the spray gun, and the spray tan hose. While the basic mechanics stay the same, however, these components come in different varieties, which can greatly impact the spray tan experience

Spray Tan Compressors

• Airbrush Tanning Compressor

  When spray tans first became popular, the machines were often equipped with a genuine airbrush, which operates via an air pump compressor. These types of gun are cheaper and make less noise, however it takes longer to apply one session, between 30-40 minutes to coat the entire body in the tanning solution. Also it produces lots of overspray!

• Low Volume Low Pressure (LVLP)

  These spray guns, as name suggest, operates at lower pressure (around 1 PSI) and spray pattern and flow can be adjusted. The fine spray is quick drying and has very little over spray

• High Volume and Low Pressure (HVLP)

  These systems deliver air generated by a turbine to spray gun through flexible hose. These systems operate at slightly higher pressure between 4 to 10 PSI. This creates an even flow and it reduces over-spray. Turbines are normally smaller than compressors and weigh considerably less. Most of the professional spray tan machines are HVLP type.

  With LVLP and HVLP machine, you can expect to finish one tan session in 5-10 minutes.