. What makes these solutions great for darker skin tones are their DHA percentages and the finish they leave on the skin.
[Ed. note: DHA, or dihydroxyacetone, is a type of sugar that reacts with amino acids within the skin to provide a gradual tan.] Most people of color with medium to dark skin tones need a solution with 10% DHA or more. If a spray tan artist can't find brands that offer those percentages, then they may have to double spray their people-of-color clients and advise them to let the tan process longer before rinsing. So instead of rinsing off in three hours, for example, they should advise clients with darker skin tones to rinse the solution off in six hours — it all depends on the skin tone.
When customizing spray tan solutions for my Black and brown clients, I will combine various spray tan solutions but I’ll only do so with solutions of the same brand. Why? Because there are so many undertones within our-rich hues. Darker skin tones can pull a rusty or muddy look, and people of color with lighter skin tones can pull an orange look.