Spray Tan Artist.
Not a booth.

The Bronze Lily is the original spray tan studio in St. Petersburg — and owner Larae is the area's longest-practicing spray tan artist, with 14+ years behind the airbrush; no one currently spraying in St. Pete has been at it longer. Every tan is hand-mixed and hand-sprayed from organic, vegan, chemical-free solution, custom-matched to your undertones so you never go orange. We're also the only St. Pete studio with a sweat-resistant Florida-grade formula built for pools, ocean, and workouts. Free patch test 24–48 hours before your first visit.

No — and this matters. Some studios sell a separate hydration mist applied before or after your color. At The Bronze Lily, hydration is engineered into the solution itself at the production level: multi-weight hyaluronic acid, saccharide isomerate, aloe vera, coconut water, squalane, and botanical oils are in the bottle. 28 of the 33 skincare-grade ingredients in our formula exist purely to hydrate, condition, and protect your skin while the color develops. You’re never asked to buy a hydration add-on — and nothing extra is sprayed on your skin before or after your tan. What some studios market as a “luxury hydration spray tan” upgrade is simply our standard formula: every Bronze Lily spray tan is a hydration spray tan. The same goes for post-tan “sealers” that promise to lock in moisture and neutralize odor — moisture-binding and odor-neutralizing ingredients are already formulated into our solution at the production level. No after-product needed.

Little to none — and for over six years, this has been one of the biggest reasons clients switch to us. The odor people associate with spray tans comes from DHA developing on the skin. Our solution includes odor-neutralizing ingredients at the production level, so the smell is addressed in the bottle — not masked with a scented “sealer” sprayed on afterward. You can get a facial or head spa here while spray tans happen down the hall and never smell a thing — the studio itself doesn’t smell like spray tan, and neither will you.

No — The Bronze Lily is a 100% sunless, UV-free studio. We do not have UV tanning beds or booths of any kind. Every tan here is an airbrush spray tan, hand-applied by an artist and custom-mixed to your skin tone. If you’re specifically looking for UV bed tanning, we’re not the right studio — but if you want the color without the UV exposure, that’s exactly what we do.

A spray tan at The Bronze Lily lasts 7–10 days with proper aftercare. Our Sweat-Resistant Rapid formula often holds 10–14 days for clients who follow prep and aftercare. Duration depends on skin type, activity level, and adherence to pre- and post-tan care. Weekly or bi-weekly maintenance keeps a continuous glow.

Signature ($45) develops in 8–12 hours and is the classic skincare-grade formula. Standard Rapid ($57) develops in 1–4 hours. Sweat-Resistant Rapid ($63) is our industry-first formula built for Florida humidity and active lifestyles — it holds through sweat and water exposure without streaking, with additional skincare ingredients added at the production level.

Competition spray tan at The Bronze Lily is $185 and includes pre-show consultation and custom color matching for NPC bikini, men's physique, bodybuilding, and fitness divisions. Fourteen years of competition experience.

Yes — we bring the studio to you. Mobile spray tan is $100 per person (same-day bookings add $15) to homes, Airbnbs, hotel suites, and event venues all over Tampa Bay. Travel is free within 10 miles of the salon; beyond that we quote a mileage fee — and if you bundle mobile teeth whitening or permanent jewelry on the same trip, one mileage fee covers the whole booking.

We bring everything: the pop-up tent, drop cloth, hand-mixed solution, fan, and all prep and post products. A corner of any room with cool air works — and if you have a walk-in shower, we can spray you right inside it and leave it cleaner than we found it. No group minimums, no required deposit.

See the full mobile services page → or read what a mobile setup actually looks like →

Absolutely. We specialize in bridal parties, wedding groups, bachelorettes, and destination events. Trial tan, spray tan 2–3 days before the wedding, coordinated party pricing, and mobile travel — all handled. Group discounts available for parties of 4+. See the full bridal package or start a wedding inquiry through our booking bridge.

Our skincare-grade formula uses topical DHA that reacts only with the outermost layer of skin cells to develop color. Many pregnant clients spray tan at The Bronze Lily without issue. As a precaution, consult your OB/GYN before any service during pregnancy, especially in the first trimester. We'll have everything ready when you get the green light. Read the full pregnancy + maternity-photo guide →

Let us know during booking. We'll pre-arrange barrier protocols before your appointment. Our formula is hypoallergenic and skincare-grade — every skin type deserves a spray tan that works for them, not against them.

Yes — we offer a complimentary Spray Tan Patch Test. We spray a small section of your skin (typically the inside of your forearm) using the exact solution you'd receive in your full appointment, calibrated to your skin tone and undertone. Book it 24 to 48 hours before your full appointment so we can see how your skin reacts as the tan develops; most DHA reactions show within that window. It's free and open to anyone — past-reaction clients, sensitive skin, dermatologic concerns, or first-timers who simply want peace of mind.

Spray tan should be your last stop before an event. All hair, nail, waxing, and massage appointments should be scheduled and completed before your spray. Two days before an event, or the night before / day of leaving for vacation, are perfect timing.

• Exfoliate 24 hours ahead — including shaving. Make sure no oil residue is left on your skin; oil blocks the solution from saturating.
• Hot tubs strip tan. Salt and chlorine pools are fine, but hot tubs and hot baths will lift it. (Useful tool if you want to remove an old tan.)
• If old tan remains, even it out as much as you can without over-exfoliating. Our artists are trained to layer over and rebalance — or add Body Buffing Prep (+$15) and we’ll buff it smooth in the studio before we spray.
• Wear loose, dark clothing to your appointment. Loose long sleeves, sweatpants, and loose-fitting sandals or tennis shoes. Nothing white.

Don’t cancel — we can fix it in the studio. Add Body Buffing Prep (+$15) to any spray tan and we’ll buff your skin smooth with our professional exfoliation device and fresh buffing pads, right before we spray. It lifts an old, patchy, or badly-applied tan and sweeps away dead skin cells so your new color develops evenly on a clean canvas.

The gold standard is still exfoliating 24 hours ahead at home — but when life happens, this is the rescue. Just mention it when you arrive (or add it when you book) and we’ll build in the extra minutes.

Yes — the studio is fully indoors and we spray rain or shine, so a rainy forecast is no reason to cancel. Rain only matters after your session, while the color develops. We make the exit seamless:

• We’ll move your car into our spot right by the door — or leave it open for you to park there.
• An artist walks you out under an umbrella, opens your car door, and takes the umbrella from you, so nothing but the umbrella touches the rain.
• Forgot yours, or a storm popped up? We keep umbrellas at the salon.

If you’re in the Sweat-Resistant Rapid formula you have the most water-tolerant tan we offer — but even that wants a dry develop window before your first rinse.

Same rules as any day, dialed up for the weather:

• Long pants — pajama or scrub pants are perfect — plus a rain jacket and closed-toe shoes like tennis shoes.
• An umbrella if you have one (we have some if you forget).
• Loose and dark as always — nothing white, nothing tight. Skip lotion, oil, perfume, and deodorant.

Plan to go straight home and stay dry through your develop window — 1–4 hours for the Rapid formulas, 8–12 hours for Signature — before your first rinse. Do that and the weather never touches your color.

Until your first shower: avoid sweating and any direct contact with water. Most importantly: do not get rained on.

• Wear loose, dark clothing to bed or lay a blanket underneath. Cosmetic bronzer may transfer — it won't stain (water-soluble), but wash transfer items within 24 hours to be safe.
• Pat dry after showers. No washcloth or loofa for the first 3–4 days. Moisturize twice daily with lotion or tan extender.
• Skip facial cleansers with salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, retinol, or scrub exfoliants — they strip facial color faster than body color.
• Spray perfume on clothes, not directly on skin.
• Use cream SPF, not aerosol. Your tan does not protect you from the sun. Aerosol SPF will strip the tan.
• Don't rest fingertips on your face or body, and limit skin-to-skin contact (cuddling, breastfeeding) until after your first shower. The cosmetic bronzer rinses off in shower one — rinse thoroughly or you'll streak.
• Rapid spray tans may take up to 24 hours after the first shower to fully reappear and develop.
• Drink water and moisturize twice daily.

Develop time by formula: Signature 8–12 hr min / 24 hr max. Sweat-Resistant Rapid or Standard Rapid 1–4 hr min / 8 hr max — and no soap or shampoo on your first shower for these formulas.

Depends on your formula. Signature: 8 hours minimum, 24 hours max. Sweat-Resistant Rapid and Standard Rapid: 1–4 hours minimum, 8 hours max — and no soap or shampoo on your first shower with these. Pat dry gently. Skip the gym, chlorine, and hot tubs for 24 hours for best results.

Your artist will ALWAYS confirm your first-shower timing recommendation at the end of your appointment. Make us aware of your plans for directly after your tan (workout, event, photoshoot, beach, flight, etc.) so we can dial the recommendation to your day. Clients should follow our first-shower instructions to a T — the color you walk out with depends on it.

Yes — and beautifully. Custom blending helps even out skin tone over vitiligo patches, mature scars, and stretch marks. Newer scars (under 6 months) can develop color differently due to texture changes; we recommend a consultation first for those.

The spray tan won't cover tattoos completely, but our artists can blend around them for a seamless look. Tattoos can affect how color oxidizes in that area, so the application is customized accordingly.

No. You choose how much or how little you wear. Disposable garments are provided. Your artist focuses on the spray — you're in control of your comfort.

Yes. Signature membership is $140/month and Rapid membership is $185/month. Memberships include one spray tan per week (Sunday–Saturday) — they are not unlimited. After a 3-month commitment, memberships go month-to-month with card on file. Card is charged in person on your 5th week, which then becomes Week 1 of your new monthly cycle.

Larae Leeson founded The Bronze Lily 14+ years ago and is the original spray tan artist in St. Petersburg. Today every artist who sprays a tan at The Bronze Lily is trained by Larae personally — same standard, same hand-applied artistry.

Yes. The Bronze Lily Training Academy offers Advanced Airbrush Tanning Certification — a full-day 1-on-1 with Larae, including a 70-page proprietary training manual and lifetime mentorship. Open to licensed cosmetologists, estheticians, or anyone looking to start in the industry with no licensing. Visit our Spray Tan Certification page for full curriculum and pricing.

Absolutely. Men book with us for weddings, competitions, photo shoots, vacations, and everyday color — same process, same pricing, with depth customized so the result reads natural, never orange. More here: Men's Spray Tans.

In many cases, yes — with the right formula and a patch test, a spray tan can be a gentle way to feel like yourself again. Because these situations are personal, we adapt carefully and recommend clearing it with your care team first. We've written detailed guides for both: Spray Tanning During Chemo and Spray Tanning with Lupus. We also offer a free patch test 24–48 hours before your first visit.

We ask that you cancel or reschedule at least 24 hours before your scheduled appointment to avoid a fee. All bookings require a card on file — no deposits.

• Cancel ≥24 hours before: free
• Less than 24 hrs before: 50% of service cost
• Less than 4 hrs before, no-show, or 15+ min late: 100% of service cost
• If you have a spray tan package: a cancellation less than 4 hours out, a no-show, or a more-than-15-minute late arrival forfeits one session from your package.

Once you're inside the 24-hour window, the system won't allow self-cancellation — please call or text (727) 218-7045. Voicemail + text is best if we don't answer.

Please never use Instagram, Facebook, or email to reschedule or cancel. Those channels are hard to track when we're fully booked and will not be considered notice. Card on file may still be charged. Phone call or text only.

Because our services are performed on you, they can't be returned once complete — so all services are non-refundable. Prepaid packages and session credits are likewise non-refundable and non-transferable, and are valid for one year from purchase. If anything about your visit isn't right, tell us before you leave and we'll make it right.

A booth sprays everyone with the same solution from fixed nozzles — you stand still and hope for even coverage. Every tan at The Bronze Lily is hand-applied and color-matched to your skin tone and undertone, with contouring where you want definition and a formula chosen for your timeline and lifestyle. It's the difference between a machine and fourteen years of competition-level airbrush work reading your skin in real time. It’s white-glove from start to finish: barrier cream applied for you at the elbows, knees, and heels; each section machine-dried before we move on; hair nets, spare hair ties, and disposable undies on hand; tan-line stickers to pick from; a finishing pass of our luxury setting powder (we cycle seasonal scents — pumpkin spice is the fall favorite); and detailed cleanup — barrier cream lifted from nails and palms, edges blended with luxury blender brushes.