Sunless Tanning: What It Is and Why Clients Love It

Sunless tanning lets you offer clients a bronzed glow without harmful UV exposure, boosting your salon’s safety credentials and revenue potential.

What is sunless tanning

You see clients craving a golden glow but worry about UV damage and skin cancer risk. Sunless tanning solves that by using topical or oral products to create colour without any sun or tanning beds. It’s a service that keeps clients coming back for a safe, healthy-looking tan. Why it’s in your products and programmes: Sunless tanning adds a high-margin service that appeals to health-conscious clients. It positions your business as a skin-care advocate instead of a UV risk promoter, helping you stand out in a crowded market. What it actually does: Most sunless tanners use dihydroxyacetone (DHA), a sugar-derived colourant that reacts with amino acids in the outermost layer of dead skin cells. This reaction produces brown pigments that mimic a natural tan without penetrating deeper skin layers [1][2]. What clients will notice and when: After application, clients often see a light bronze emerging in 30–60 minutes, with a full-depth colour developing over 24 hours. The faux tan fades gradually over five to seven days as dead skin cells shed [3]. Busy clients love how they can schedule a quick session before a weekend event and still maintain the glow with simple at-home touch-ups. How to explain it to clients: “This product contains a colour-forming agent called DHA that reacts with the top layer of your skin to give you a sun-kissed tone. No UV rays are needed, so you get that bronzed look without any of the sun damage.” Who should skip or be careful: Advise clients with active eczema, psoriasis or broken skin to avoid full-body application until their skin is clear, and always recommend a patch test for anyone with sensitive or reactive skin. Pregnant or breastfeeding clients should check with their healthcare provider first . Quick takeaways: - Sunless tanning creates a UV-free bronze using DHA in concentrations of 3–5%. - Colour appears within an hour and peaks at about 24 hours. - Tan typically lasts five to seven days, then fades evenly. - Proper prep (exfoliation and moisturising) ensures even results. - Patch-testing avoids allergic or irritation reactions. Bottom line: Sunless tanning delivers a safe, predictable glow that keeps clients returning without exposing skin to harmful UV rays.