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September 2025

Sep 24
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Safe Tanning done right with Apollo Systems

 How Sunless Tanning Gives You a Healthy Glow

By The Sunless Blog No Comments

Let’s be real for a second, sunburns are out and skin health is in. If you’re still relying on tanning beds or laying out in the sun for hours, it’s time for a major glow up. Sunless tanning is the modern, smart, and safe tanning soultion to getting that glow with no regrets. Here’s how it works, why it’s safer, and how to actually get the most out of every spray.

UV Tanning Damages Your Skin: Here’s Why You Should Care

UV rays don’t just darken your skin, they damage it at a cellular level. That “summer glow” is actually your skin’s way of saying help and every time you tan under UV light, you’re increasing your risk of

  • Skin cancer (yes, even in your 20s and 30s)
  • Premature aging (hello, wrinkles and sunspots)
  • Uneven tone and long term texture issues

And tanning beds? Even worse. Studies show they emit up to 12 times more UV than natural sunlight. That’s aging your skin!

The fix: Choose sunless tanning to get bronzed without breaking down your skin’s health and risking long term damage.

Why Sunless Tanning Is the Glow You Deserve

Sunless tanning uses DHA, a safe ingredient that reacts with the dead skin cells on the surface of your skin, no UV rays, no damage, just color.

You get a natural looking tan that:

  • Develops within hours
  • Fades evenly
  • Doesn’t damage the deeper layers of your skin
  • Can be customized for any skin tone or desired depth

Pro tip: Many sunless formulas, like the ones used with APOLLO HVLP systems, are packed with hydrating ingredients like aloe, hyaluronic acid, and botanical extracts, making your tan double as a skin treatment.

Take Control of Your Tan

Unlike tanning beds or the sun, which give you unpredictable results. Sunless tanning gives you total control over your final look.

Want just a light sunkissed glow? You got it. Going for deep, rich bronze for vacation? Lets make it happen.

And with professional HVLP spray tanning systems, like those made by APOLLO Sunless, you get flawless and even coverage every single time. No streaks, no weird lines, just smooth, consistent color.

How to use this: Work with a certified spray tan artist who understands your tone and goals, or get your own pro level system if you’re a mobile tech or salon owner.

Get the Most Out of Every Tan

Here’s how to make sure your sunless tan lasts and looks amazing:

  • Exfoliate before your tan: Focus on knees, elbows, ankles, and any dry areas.
  • Skip lotions and deodorant the day of: They can create a barrier and cause uneven color.
  • Wait at least 8 hours before rinsing: Let that color fully develop!
  • Moisturize daily: Keep your skin hydrated to extend the life of your tan.
  • Avoid long hot showers and harsh soaps: Stick to gentle, sulfate free body washes.

Bonus tip: A weekly gentle exfoliation keeps things fresh and avoids patchy fading.

For more information check out our blog post about how to best prep for your spray tan and use our check list to make sure you don’t miss a step.

UV Free Confidence Is the Best

There’s something powerful about glowing skin that hasn’t been cooked by the sun or blasted with tanning lamps. With sunless tanning, you get:

  • Instant confidence
  • Healthier, more radiant skin
  • A customizable glow all year long
  • Peace of mind knowing you’re protecting your skin’s future

And let’s not forget: there’s zero recovery time. No peeling, no redness, and no regrets!

Ready to Tan Smarter?

It’s time to glow on your own terms. Say goodbye to UV burns and hello to bronzed brilliance, all without stepping foot in a tanning bed.

Whether you’re a client looking for a safer glow, or a pro ready to offer flawless results, check out APOLLO Sunless HVLP Spray Tanning Systems, designed for precision, made in the USA, and built to give your business (and your clients!) a glow up like no other.

Sep 16
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What to Expect from Your First UV Free Spray Tan

By The Sunless Blog No Comments

Glow Getter Guide for First Timers

If you’re curious about getting that golden-bronze glow without laying under harmful UV rays or baking in a tanning bed, you’re in for a treat. UV free spray tanning is the safe, smart, and seriously stunning way to tan, and it’s a total game-changer for beauty lovers and sunless tanning pros alike.

Let’s dive deep into what the experience really looks like from that first cool mist to the final flawless finish.

During the Spray Session: The Glow Up in Action

Once you’re prepped and ready (see our prep guide above!), the magic begins. Here’s what the actual spray tan appointment looks like, especially when done with professional HVLP spray tan systems like those crafted by APOLLO Sunless:

Step Into the Spray Zone

You’ll either be:

  • In a dedicated spray tan booth or tent at a salon
  • Or meeting a mobile tanning tech who sets up a private space wherever you are (living room tans are totally a thing now!)

The Application Process

  • A certified spray tan artist will guide you into a standing pose (don’t worry, they’ll walk you through hand, arm, and leg positions for even coverage).
  • Using a high-performance HVLP spray tan machine, they’ll mist your body with a fine, controlled spray of DHA based tanning solution. With APOLLO’s systems, the application is ultra-smooth, even, and fast, typically under 15 minutes.
  • Most solutions include a cosmetic bronzer (a temporary tint) so you’ll walk out looking tanned immediately, even though your actual color develops over the next few hours.

Will I Be Cold? Sticky? Orange?

  • The mist might feel cool, but it’s quick and surprisingly comfortable.
  • There’s minimal stickiness when quality solutions and machines are used.
  • And orange? Not a chance when you’re working with a skilled technician, professional equipment, and high end formulas, the golden tone you’ll see is natural, buildable, and beautiful.

Aftercare: Lock In That Glow

A spray tan is a little like baking a cake, you don’t want to poke it before it’s ready! Here’s what happens next:

The Development Window

  • No showering, sweating, working out, or getting wet for at least 6–12 hours (your technician will specify the ideal wait time).
  • Avoid skin on skin friction, tight bras, leggings, or crossing your legs can disrupt the tan as it sets.

The First Rinse

  • When it’s time to rinse, you’ll notice bronzer washing off, that’s not your tan fading! That’s the surface layer, revealing the developed tan beneath.
  • Use lukewarm water and your hands only for the first rinse, no soap or exfoliants.
  • Pat dry with a towel, don’t rub.

Hydration = Tan Preservation

To make your tan last (and fade evenly), follow this golden routine:

  • Moisturize daily with a non oil based, fragrance free lotion
  • Avoid long, hot baths, swimming pools, and exfoliating for several days
  • Start exfoliating gently around day 5–6 to promote even fading

A well cared for sunless tan can last 5 to 10 days, depending on your skin type, activities, and how religiously you moisturize.

Is UV Free Spray Tanning Safe?

Yes! When applied properly and with high quality products, sunless tanning is considered very safe. Here’s why:

  • DHA (the active tanning agent) is a sugar-derived ingredient approved by the FDA for external use
  • It only reacts with the outer layer of your skin (it doesn’t penetrate into your bloodstream)
  • Modern formulas are often enriched with aloe, green tea, hyaluronic acid, and antioxidants, making them not just safe, but skin-nourishing

To be extra cautious:

  • Don’t inhale or ingest the mist (your tech may offer nose plugs or a mask if desired)
  • Avoid getting it in your eyes or mouth, well trained professionals use precision equipment like APOLLO systems to minimize overspray and maximize safety

Why This Glow Is Gold for Beauty Pros

If you’re a sunless tanning business owner, or thinking of becoming one, understanding the first timer experience helps you stand out. Here’s how:

  • Set client expectations: When people know what’s coming, they feel confident and come back
  • Deliver top-tier results: With quality equipment like APOLLO Sunless HVLP systems, you give consistent, even tans with minimal waste
  • Create a luxurious experience: Educate, pamper, and follow up, clients will remember how you made them feel

Plus, offering UV free spray tanning services positions your business as:

  • Health conscious
  • Trend forward
  • Empowering for clients who want to look great without compromising their skin health

Final Words: The Confidence Is Real

Your first UV free spray tan is more than just a bronzed glow, it’s a full on confidence booster. And for sunless tanning professionals, it’s an opportunity to create unforgettable client experiences that keep them coming back again and again.

Whether you’re a client or a pro, just know this: you don’t need the sun to shine. You ARE the glow.

Want to Level Up Your Sunless Game?

Looking to deliver flawless tans every time? Trust the machines built for pros by pros.

Sep 05
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Pre Tan Perfection: How to Prep Your Skin for a Flawless Spray Tan

By The Sunless Blog No Comments

A gorgeous, even, long lasting glow doesn’t start in the spray tent, it starts in your bathroom 24 hours before your appointment.

If you’ve ever had a spray tan turn out a little patchy, streaky, or fade too fast, we’re willing to bet the prep wasn’t quite right. Don’t worry, you’re not alone! The truth is, how you prep your skin before your spray tan is just as important as the solution or equipment used.

So whether it’s your first sunless session or you’re a glow getter who’s been tanning for years, here’s your step by step guide to pre tan perfection, with all the whys behind each step so you know exactly what’s going on

✅ 24 to 48 Hours Before: Exfoliation Nation

Step 1: Exfoliate! Like, Really Exfoliate

Why: DHA (the active ingredient in sunless solution) reacts with dead skin cells. If your skin is dry, flaky, or uneven, your tan will cling to those patches, and that is how you get streaks, dark elbows, and that “snake skin” fades.

How to do it right:

  • Use a dry brush or oil free exfoliating scrub 24 to 48 hours before your appointment.
  • Pay extra attention to elbows, knees, ankles, and wrists, these areas love to hoard dead skin.
  • Avoid oil based scrubs! Oils leave a barrier that can block the tanning solution from absorbing properly.

🛍️ Pro tip: Offer your clients an exfoliating mitt or recommend a specific prep product in your retail lineup.

✅ 24 Hours Before: Hair Removal Timing

Step 2: Shave or Wax (But Not Too Late!)

Why: Shaving and waxing both open up pores. If done too close to your spray tan, the solution can settle into open follicles and create a “dotty” appearance, especially on legs.

How to do it right:

  • Shave or wax at least 24 hours before your tan. This gives your skin time to calm down and your pores time to close.

If shaving the day off is absolutely necessary, use cold water to rinse your skin afterward and avoid using shaving creams with heavy moisturizers or oils.

✅ The Night Before: Hydrate Smart

Step 3: Moisturize Strategically

Why: While you don’t want heavy lotions blocking your tan, dry skin can lead to patchy, uneven absorption.

How to do it right:

  • Moisturize the night before your tan, but use a light, oil free moisturizer.
  • Focus on areas prone to dryness: hands, feet, elbows, and knees.
  • Do not moisturize the day of your tan. Moisture on the skin can act as a barrier between your skin and the solution.

✅ The Day Of: Clean, Clear & Product Free

Step 4: Skip Skincare Products

Why: Deodorant, perfume, makeup, and even some lotions can interfere with solution absorption or cause discoloration (like green underarms, yikes!).

How to do it right:

  • Come to your appointment with clean, bare skin, no deodorant, makeup, perfume, or body lotion.

If needed, shower with a mild, sulfate-free body wash earlier in the day, and avoid using bar soaps that leave a film on the skin.

Right Before: Dress for Glow Success

Step 5: Wear the Right Outfit

Why: Tight clothing can rub off fresh tan and create uneven marks or streaks while the tan develops.

How to do it right:

  • Wear loose, dark clothing to your appointment (think: oversized tee, maxi dress, cotton joggers).
  • Go braless if possible, or opt for a strapless bandeau.
  • Bring flip-flops instead of sneakers or boots to let your feet breathe.

Bonus tip: If you sweat easily or it’s hot out, bring a towel to place on your car seat post-appointment to prevent transfer.

Bonus: Special Occasion Prep Timeline

If your tan is for a big event (wedding, photoshoot, vacay), the best plan is:

  • Spray tan 2 days before the event. This gives the tan time to fully develop and settle in.
  • Do all waxing, shaving, and exfoliating at least 24–48 hours before the spray tan appointment.

Use tan-friendly moisturizers daily after the tan to keep your glow going strong.

Final Thoughts: Prep = Power

A great tan starts with great skin prep. By following these steps, you’ll ensure:

  • A smooth, streak free application
  • Even development
  • Longer lasting glow
  • A fade that’s natural (not patchy)

As tanning pros, we love delivering flawless results, but we also love when clients show up prepped and ready to glow. It makes our job easier and your results even more radiant.

We created a checklist just for you! Check out our spray tan checklist directly from the Apollo UV Sunless Tanning Team. 

Ready to Glow?

If you’re a spray tan artist or salon owner looking to give your clients the best tan ever, don’t forget that flawless results start with professional equipment too.


Explore APOLLO Sunless HVLP Systems to get started on your spray tanning journey. We can help you prep like a tanning pro, check out some more spray taning tips here.

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