The right spray tan shade depends on three things, your skin tone, your undertone, and the occasion. Fair or cool undertones usually look best with a light to medium spray tan, while medium and deeper skin tones can achieve a richer result without looking overdone. The formula matters just as much as the shade. The organic one creates a natural-looking tan and reduces the risk of orange tones.
Key Takeaways
- Find your undertone first, because it helps you choose a tan that looks natural.
- An organic, cool-based formula is the best way to avoid orange tones, especially on fair skin.
- A light tan suits first-timers, medium is the most popular choice, and deep works best for medium to deeper skin tones.
- Natural depth almost always looks better than choosing the darkest shade possible.
How to Choose the Right Spray Tan Shade?
Your ideal spray tan depth comes down to three factors:
- Skin tone
- Undertone
- What you’re tanning for
Lighter skin usually looks best with a light to medium spray tan, while medium and deeper skin tones can often wear darker shades without the tan looking too intense.
Undertone is what makes your spray tan look natural. Always try to find a formula that complements your undertone. Whether it is warm, cool, or neutral.
The occasion can shift your choice slightly darker or lighter. A subtle glow often works best for everyday wear, while vacations, weddings, photoshoots, or stage events may call for a deeper finish that stands out under bright lighting.
How to Find Your Undertone
Your undertone can be:
- Cool
- Warm
- Neutral
A few simple tests can point you in the right direction, although more than one result often gives the clearest answer.
- Wrist veins: Look at the veins on the inside of your wrist in natural light. Blue or purple veins usually indicate a cool undertone, green veins suggest a warm undertone, and a mix of both points to a neutral undertone.
- Jewelry test: Notice which metal looks better against your skin. Silver tends to flatter cool undertones, gold complements warm undertones, and if both look equally good, you likely have a neutral undertone.
- White shirt test: Hold a bright white shirt or towel next to your face in natural light. If your skin looks slightly pink, you probably have a cool undertone. If it appears more yellow or golden, you likely have a warm undertone.
- Sun reaction (Fitzpatrick skin type): If you burn easily and rarely tan, you likely have a cooler undertone and a fairer skin tone. If you tan easily with little burning, you likely have a warmer undertone and a deeper skin tone.
Why Do Spray Tans Turn Orange, and Who Is Most at Risk?
The biggest reason a spray tan turns orange is the formula itself. Low-quality tanning solutions often develop with excess warm pigments. That’s why choosing an organic spray tan solution is the best way to achieve a natural-looking result.
The next factor is balance. DHA naturally develops into a warm color. If that warmth is not balanced with a cool-leaning base, the tan can develop with an orange cast instead of a natural bronze finish.
Fair, cool-toned skin is the most likely to show this effect. Lighter complexions have less natural pigment to offset the warmth, and choosing a shade that’s too dark makes the orange tones even more noticeable.
A cool-based formula helps neutralize that warmth and keeps the finished color looking balanced. This is one of the reasons organic spray tan solutions, including beet-based formulas, produce a more natural result across a wider range of skin tones.
If your tan has already developed too warm, read our guide on how to fix a bad spray tan. If you’re looking for a natural glow during colder months, see our tips for getting a winter spray tan.
Light, Medium, or Dark: Which Depth Is Right for You?
Choose the depth of your spray tan based on your skin tone and the look you want.
- Light / Subtle: A light spray tan is the best choice for fair skin, first-time clients, or anyone who wants a light glow.
- Medium: A medium spray tan is the most popular choice because it delivers a noticeable bronze look. It works well for light to medium skin tones and is a favorite for weddings, parties, and other special events where you want a natural glow.
- Deep: A deep spray tan suits medium to deeper skin tones or anyone looking for a vacation-ready or photo-ready bronze. Choosing the right formula is especially important at darker depths.
You can always go darker at your next appointment, but it’s much harder to make a tan look lighter once it’s developed. Starting with a lighter shade gives you a more natural result and lets you see if you want to go darker next time.
Why Our Beet-Based Formula Looks More Natural
You don’t have to guess which bronzer base is right for your skin at SunsUp Tan & Wellness Spa. We use a beet-based organic spray tan solution. It always looks natural on every undertone.
Our beet-based formula has a cool and violet-leaning base that helps balance the natural warmth of DHA. On fair and cool-toned skin, it develops into a soft bronze. While on medium and deeper skin tones, it creates rich and deeper color.
How to Get Your Perfect Depth at SunsUp Tan & Wellness Spa
Getting your perfect spray tan is simple. Tell our team how dark you want to go, and we’ll recommend the right depth for your skin tone and build it for you in under a minute.
Your appointment starts with a quick consultation to choose the shade that fits your skin tone, undertone, and plans. The spray tan application takes just 40 to 60 seconds.
For the best color, book your appointment one to two days before a wedding, vacation, or special event.
Ready for your perfect spray tan? Book your appointment at SunsUp Tan & Wellness Spa today and let our team match you with the depth that looks best on your skin.
To keep your color looking fresh between visits, use our self-tanner, Island Colour for Body or Island Colour for Face. It’s made with the same beet-based formula.
Spray Tan Depth Myths, Debunked
There are plenty of myths about spray tans, but most come from outdated formulas or choosing the wrong shade. Here are three of the biggest misconceptions.
Myth: All spray tans turn you orange.
Truth: The wrong formula or a shade that’s too dark can create orange tones. A high-quality and organic solution develops into a natural bronze color.
Myth: Darker always looks more tan.
Truth: Natural depth almost always looks better than the darkest possible shade. Going too dark, especially on fair skin, can make a spray tan look artificial instead of sun-kissed.
Myth: Your spray tan should match your foundation.
Truth: Your foundation is chosen to match your natural skin, while your spray tan is meant to add color. Choose a spray tan that complements your complexion, not your makeup.
To always get a perfect spray tan, check out our guides:
- How to Prepare for a Spray Tan
- How Long After a Spray Tan Can You Shower
- Spray Tan After Laser Hair Removal
- Can You Shave After a Spray Tan?
- What to Wear to a Spray Tan
- Spray Tan for a Wedding
- How Long Does a Professional Spray Tan Last
FAQ
Are there different shades of spray tan?
Yes, but options depend on the salon. Some salons offer several bronzer bases and ask you to choose the color that best matches your skin. At SunsUp Tan & Wellness Spa, there’s no need to pick a base. Every spray tan uses the same beet-based formula, so your only choice is how light or dark you want your result to be.
Can a spray tan cover hyperpigmentation or dark spots?
No. A spray tan adds color evenly across your skin, but it does not cover hyperpigmentation, dark spots, or melasma the way makeup does. A deeper tan may reduce the contrast between lighter and darker areas, but it won’t hide discoloration or correct uneven pigmentation.
Which type of spray tan is best?
The best spray tan depth is the one that suits your skin tone and the look you want. A light tan creates a subtle glow, a medium tan offers the most natural-looking bronze for many people, and a deep tan works well for darker skin tones. If you’re comparing spray tan methods, such as spray booth vs. airbrush, see our guide on the differences to find the option that’s right for you.
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