Inclusive Pricing in Spray Tanning: How to Set Fair Rates for All Body Types
Spray tans are about confidence. Whether it’s for a vacation, a wedding, or just a pick-me-up, clients step into that booth or tent trusting their beauty professional to make them feel radiant, not judged. That’s why a recent controversy over charging plus-size clients more for spray tans sparked such strong reactions. Here’s why it’s worth taking a deeper, more considerate look:
The Controversy: Charging More Based on Size
Back in 2019, a tanning salon went viral for charging clients more based on their body size, citing “increased product usage” as the reason. While the salon owner may have intended it as a practical pricing decision, many people saw it as body shaming by sending the message that larger bodies cost more to beautify.
Let’s be real: no one wants to feel like they’re being punished at the register for their body type. Especially in a service that already requires vulnerability like disrobing in front of a stranger and being closely examined under bright lights. This type of pricing structure can feel deeply personal.
How Spray Tan Pricing Typically Works
Spray tan pricing usually considers factors like:
- Type of solution used (rapid vs. traditional)
- Application technique (custom airbrush vs. automated booth)
- Number of coats or contouring
- Mobile vs. in-salon service
- Package or membership pricing
Nowhere in standard tanning industry guidelines does it recommend pricing by body size, and for good reason. The client experience is just as important as your bottom line.
More Product May Be Used, But That’s Not the Whole Story
While covering more area can require slightly more product; so can: a second coat for a deeper glow, prepping drier skin types that absorb more, or clients who require full-body contouring. Charging more for one of these services, but not for the others? That’s where practices can seem unfair.
So, What’s a Fair Solution?
We get it, you’re running a business! You must consider product costs and time. But there are inclusive, customer-friendly ways to address the issue without singling anyone out.
Tiered Pricing Based on Service Time or Product Use
Instead of referencing body type, set prices based on how much product is being used generally. For example:
- “Light Coverage”
- “Standard Coverage”
- “Extended Coverage or Double Coat”
Clients can self-select what they want, without feeling labeled. It also covers a range of client needs beyond just body size.
Build Product Cost into Universal Pricing
Many professionals build product costs into every service price, eliminating awkward client conversations while ensuring your business remains profitable. This straightforward approach simplifies marketing and creates transparent pricing that clients appreciate.
Offer Custom Packages or Memberships
Packages can offset individual service costs, including those that use more of a product. Memberships help build client loyalty and reduce the focus on per-appointment logistics.
Be Clear and Direct
When adjusting pricing based on product usage, communicate the changes plainly and without euphemisms. Avoid vague phrases like “extra product due to larger areas” and instead use precise terms such as “additional layers” or “extended service” to reflect the actual reasoning behind the work performed.
Creating a Safe Space for Every Body
At the end of the day, tanning professionals aren’t just offering a service—they’re offering an authentic client-provider relationship. Clients want to feel seen, not scrutinized. Valued, not sized up.
Moving away from pricing structures that might make clients feel uncomfortable and toward policies that make everyone feel welcome, whether they are a size 2 or 22, helps create a more inclusive and respectful environment. In a world of beauty and wellness, inclusivity is so much more than a buzzword. It’s good business, good ethics, and it’s the future.