K Spray Tans
“I enjoy getting to help other women look good and feel good about themselves,” says Kari Mitchell, owner of K Spray Tans.
Kari Mitchell is a local wife and mother of two college-aged boys who, a year ago, found herself wanting to pursue a home business now that her children were starting to leave home.
“I started researching and trying to decide how, after being a stay-at-home mom and homeschooling my boys, I wanted to build a business that I could run from home,” Mitchell says.
One of the businesses she researched was an in-home spray tan studio.
Having an in-home spray tan studio was a way Mitchell could offer professional-level spray tans in a more intimate and client-centered environment.
“I saw a gap between full-service spas and quick tanning booths and I wanted something in the middle where I could deliver professional-level results in a small, relaxed, low-pressure setting,” Mitchell says.
To prepare for this venture, Mitchell had the support of her husband, who helped construct a spray tan studio in their home last spring and summer, with K Spray Tans officially opening last fall.
“My husband and I built a studio in our home last spring and summer and then we opened it this fall. I invested in all the equipment and the supplies and began building clients through word of mouth and social media and it’s just grown steadily from there,” Mitchell says.
Focused on building a steady base of clients, Mitchell is proud of the space she has created, but even more so of the personalized level of detail she gives to her clients. It’s more than a spray tan but a way to make people feel more comfortable in and with their skin.
At K Spray Tans, Mitchell starts each appointment with a consultation, talking with the client about their skin tone, what they are looking for, what their end result will look like and how to maintain it.
“I don’t use a one-color-fits-all approach. I adjust the solution for every client based on the individual and their skin coloring. Some people want a really dark tan while others want a more natural color, so the tan is customized based on what the client wants. I walk you through the positions and apply the tan in a few minutes and then we use a finishing powder. I’m really meticulous about areas like hands, feet and joints so that the tan looks natural,” Mitchell says.
For best results, Mitchell says it’s best to exfoliate and shave the day before getting the tan and to arrive at the session with clean skin free of any products. K Spray Tans sends out a text message prior to the appointment explaining the preparation steps.
“Twenty-four to 48 hours before the appointment complete all waxing, shaving, manicures, pedicures, facials and massages. The day before, thoroughly exfoliate your entire body, especially joint areas like elbows, knees, ankles, feet and hands. Avoid heavy, oily products on the skin on the day of your appointment and arrive with clean, product-free skin with no lotions, perfumes, oils, deodorants or makeup. It is highly recommended to wear dark, loose-fitting clothing and sandals or flip-flops to prevent lines.”
Just like the level of care she gives her clients during the spray tan process, Mitchell also focuses on using high-quality products that include DHA (dihydroxyacetone), an important ingredient that creates a natural-looking tan without UV exposure.
“The products that I use have DHA as the active ingredient, which reacts with the top layer of the skin to create the temporary color. I use professional formulas that give a natural-looking color with minimal odor. That’s one thing my clients have told me already — that compared to a lot of other brands, the odor is not strong,” Mitchell says.
Mitchell also stresses that even though spray tans give you a tan color without dangerous UV exposure, a spray tan does not replace sunscreen.
Mitchell is finding joy in her work and loving not only the results for her clients but hearing their feedback.
“I enjoy getting to help other women look good and feel good about themselves. In general, the tan makes you feel good. I love seeing those results and I really enjoy hearing the feedback from my clients. They’ll text me a day or two later and send me a picture and let me know how the tan made them feel better about themselves and made them look and feel good. That’s really empowering and makes me enjoy what I do,” Mitchell says.
Currently, K Spray Tans offers a standard tan and rapid tan for a single session, as well as pass options of either an unlimited month pass or a six-month pass. The difference between a standard tan and a rapid tan is shower time and tan development. With a standard tan, the solution should remain on your skin for at least eight hours to develop gradually overnight, while a rapid tan allows you to rinse in two to five hours depending on how dark you want your tan to be. K Spray Tans also offers a Group Glow option for groups of four or more, perfect for weddings, events or girls’ nights.
To learn more about K Spray Tans and to inquire about current promotions, reach out on social media by following K Spray Tans on Facebook and Instagram.
