Diversity and Inclusion in the Spray Tan Industry via ALT SUN and Celebrity Spray Tan Artist Steph Taylor
The spray tan industry has a problem, and we're not tiptoeing around it.
For decades, spray tanning has been designed for one skin tone. One body type. The rest of us? We got to play scientist, mixing shades and crossing our fingers, or we'd leave looking like whoever sprayed us just... didn't give a damn.
The Reality: Spray Tanning Wasn't Built for Everyone
If you've ever walked into a spray tan appointment and been handed a "medium" or "dark" without anyone asking what your actual skin tone is, you know exactly what we're talking about.
The truth is, most spray tan formulas were developed with pale to medium skin in mind. Deeper skin tones were an afterthought, if they were thought about at all. And the result? A whole generation of women who either avoided spray tanning entirely or had to become their own experts just to get a glow that didn't look like a mistake.
That's not inclusion. That's exclusion with a smile.
Enter Steph Taylor: The Artist Who Rewrote the Rules
Steph Taylor didn't just break into the spray tan industry; she rebuilt it. As a celebrity spray tan artist who's worked with big names in entertainment, fashion, and beyond, Steph has made it her mission to tan everyone with the same level of precision, care, and artistry.
Steph's not over here acting like darker skin is hard to tan. It's not. The industry just never bothered to figure it out. As a WOC and being the first self proclaimed BIPOC Color Theory Specialist in the sunless industry, she knew what needed to be done.
Steph's approach is simple but radical: solutions made for melanin. As a WOC, creating a solution made for us, well–by us. The BIPOC community has different skincare needs and what works for a Fitz type 1 or 2 will not hold a candle to a skin type 5 or 6. After years of independent case studies, testing, and formulation, we got it right.
Why ALT SUN Exists: Because the Industry Wasn't Going to Fix Itself
We didn't start ALT SUN because we thought spray tanning needed another brand. We started it because the industry needed a reckoning.
We wanted formulas that work across the full spectrum of skin tones and types. Not just the ones that were easy or profitable to prioritize. We wanted products that don't turn you orange, ashy, or muddy, no matter how deep or fair your natural tone is.
Working with Steph made that vision sharper. She's been in the trenches, tanning clients with every skin tone imaginable, and she knows what works and what's been missing. Together, we built solutions that don't just include deeper skin tones—they cater to them.
Our Made for Melanin formula was the first in the sunless industry formulated specifically for skin types 4-6. It provides richer melanin with full coverage color to help minimize the appearance of hyper pigmentation, it has optimal hydration boost technology to keep your skin conditioned even after the tan has developed, and combines Rich Mahogany Brown and a splash of Violet skin tint to give you gorgeous depth and a color that will turn heads.
Because diversity in the spray tan industry shouldn't be a trend or a talking point. It should be the standard.
What Real Inclusion in Spray Tanning Looks Like
It's not a single "dark" shade on the menu. It's a range of DHA and color theory options designed to work with undertones, natural melanin levels, and skin care benefits that the BIPOC community has asked for.
It's training spray tan artists to understand skin tone the way Steph does—so every client walks out feeling like they were seen, not just sprayed.
It's acknowledging that for too long, this industry told entire groups of women that spray tanning "wasn't for them," and then doing the work to prove that was always a lie.
Why This Matters Beyond Beauty
When a whole industry only caters to one look, one shade, one vibe—it's not just exclusion. It's telling everyone else they don't matter enough to get it right. And that’s bullshit.
Spray tanning is supposed to be about enhancement. About feeling good in your skin. But if the product doesn't work for your skin, the message is clear: you weren't the priority. You were an afterthought.
ALT SUN and Steph Taylor are changing that message. We're saying you don't have to shrink yourself, lighten yourself, or conform to someone else's idea of glowing. You just have to show up. The Made for Melanin formula will meet you there.
The Movement Continues
This isn't just about better spray tans. It's about refusing to accept industries that weren't built for us and building new ones that are. It's about women like Steph who didn't wait for a seat at the table—they built their own and brought everyone with them.
Diversity and inclusion aren't buzzwords at ALT SUN. They're the foundation. And if the rest of the industry wants to catch up, they know where to find us.
