Top 12 Tanning Consultant Skills to Put on Your Resume

In today's beauty and wellness market, standing out as a tanning consultant means blending sharp technical know-how with genuine care. The right mix of skills elevates client outcomes, keeps safety front and center, and signals to employers that you’re reliable, informed, and ready to drive results.

Tanning Consultant Skills

1. Customer Service
2. Sales Expertise
3. Skin Analysis
4. Product Knowledge
5. UV Safety
6. Spray Tan Application
7. Hygiene Protocols
8. Appointment Scheduling
9. POS Systems
10. Inventory Management
11. Client Retention
12. Marketing Strategies

1. Customer Service

Customer service for a Tanning Consultant means guiding clients with care—clear advice, tailored recommendations, and a warm, responsive presence that makes each visit smooth and safe.

Why It's Important

Great service builds trust. Trusted clients come back, spend more, and tell friends. It also helps you catch concerns early and shape better, safer experiences.

How to Improve Customer Service Skills

1. Listen like it matters: Ask open questions, reflect back what you heard, confirm goals before recommending anything.

2. Personalize every step: Match services and products to skin type, history, preferences, and timeline.

3. Educate simply: Explain processes, risks, aftercare, and realistic outcomes without jargon.

4. Set expectations: Walk clients through prep, session length, and what results to expect—no surprises.

5. Follow up: A quick check-in after first visits or new services shows you care and surfaces issues early.

6. Invite feedback: Short surveys or a friendly ask at checkout help you fix friction fast.

7. Stay current: Keep up with tanning tech, product changes, and safety guidance so your advice stays sharp.

How to Display Customer Service Skills on Your Resume

2. Sales Expertise

Sales expertise is the knack for translating needs into the right services and products—clearly, ethically, and with confidence—so clients feel understood and eager to return.

Why It's Important

It lifts revenue without pushiness, aligns solutions with goals, and builds long-term relationships grounded in trust and results.

How to Improve Sales Expertise Skills

1. Master your menu: Know benefits, contraindications, and pairings for every service and product.

2. Diagnose before you pitch: Use questions to uncover goals, timelines, budgets, and skin history.

3. Recommend like a pro: Offer good-better-best options with clear reasons and expected outcomes.

4. Upsell with integrity: Add-ons should enhance results or safety—never feel forced.

5. Handle objections: Acknowledge concerns, clarify misconceptions, and offer alternatives.

6. Measure and refine: Track conversion rates, average ticket, and rebooking to see what actually works.

How to Display Sales Expertise Skills on Your Resume

3. Skin Analysis

Skin analysis evaluates skin type, tone, sensitivity, and current condition to select safe exposure levels, methods, and aftercare—tailored to the client’s unique profile.

Why It's Important

It protects clients, improves results, and reduces risk of irritation, burns, or uneven color. Right plan, right person, right outcome.

How to Improve Skin Analysis Skills

1. Use a structured method: Incorporate the Fitzpatrick skin type, recent sun history, medications, and skin sensitivities.

2. Inspect and ask: Look for dryness, oiliness, thinning, or compromised barriers; ask about past reactions.

3. Leverage diagnostics: Use consistent lighting, magnification, and professional imaging when available.

4. Document everything: Keep records of settings, products, and responses to guide safe progression.

5. Educate clients: Explain findings and how they shape exposure, product choice, and aftercare.

How to Display Skin Analysis Skills on Your Resume

4. Product Knowledge

Product knowledge is a deep grasp of ingredients, formulas, application methods, compatibility, and safety so you can recommend with precision.

Why It's Important

It prevents mismatches, boosts results, and builds credibility—clients feel safe and informed.

How to Improve Product Knowledge Skills

1. Study labels: Know active ingredients, DHA percentages, accelerators, bronzers, and common allergens.

2. Compare outcomes: Track how different products behave across skin types and prep routines.

3. Train regularly: Attend vendor demos or internal workshops; log key takeaways.

4. Test thoughtfully: Patch test and practice on models or team members to understand finish, scent, and wear.

5. Maintain a product matrix: Map products to skin types, desired tones, event timelines, and aftercare plans.

How to Display Product Knowledge Skills on Your Resume

5. UV Safety

UV safety means guarding skin and eyes from harmful ultraviolet exposure during tanning—minimizing risk while delivering the desired look.

Why It's Important

It reduces the chance of burns, premature aging, and long-term skin damage while strengthening client trust.

How to Improve UV Safety Skills

1. Protect the eyes: Enforce certified eyewear for every session. No exceptions.

2. Start low, build slow: Set exposure by skin type and history; increase in measured steps only if well-tolerated.

3. Shield sensitive areas: Use SPF on tattoos, scars, and high-risk zones; recommend lip protection.

4. Screen first: Ask about medications, photosensitivity, recent peels, or sunburns before approving a session.

5. Maintain equipment: Calibrate timers, replace lamps on schedule, and document safety checks.

6. Educate clearly: Post safety rules, provide aftercare, and encourage regular skin self-checks.

How to Display UV Safety Skills on Your Resume

6. Spray Tan Application

Spray tan application uses a fine mist of tanning solution to create an even, sunless glow—custom depth, no UV required.

Why It's Important

It delivers fast, consistent color with less risk, and suits clients who can’t or shouldn’t tan under UV.

How to Improve Spray Tan Application Skills

1. Pre-care matters: Encourage exfoliation 24 hours prior; avoid heavy oils or lotions day-of.

2. Barrier control: Apply thin barrier cream on elbows, knees, ankles, wrists, and cuticles to prevent overdevelopment.

3. Consistent technique: Maintain 6–8 inches distance; use smooth, overlapping passes; watch wrist angle.

4. Light layers: Build depth gradually; allow brief dry time between passes to dodge streaks.

5. Dry thoroughly: Use cool air; ensure creases are dry before dressing.

6. Aftercare guidance: Keep dry for 6–8 hours (or per rapid formula), wear loose clothing, moisturize daily, and avoid harsh exfoliants.

How to Display Spray Tan Application Skills on Your Resume

7. Hygiene Protocols

Hygiene protocols are the playbook for cleaning, disinfecting, and preventing cross-contamination—protecting clients and staff at every touchpoint.

Why It's Important

Clean spaces build confidence, prevent infections and irritations, and keep your practice compliant with health standards.

How to Improve Hygiene Protocols Skills

1. Disinfect diligently: Clean high-touch surfaces and equipment before and after each use with appropriate, registered disinfectants.

2. Single-use or sanitized: Use disposables when possible; otherwise sanitize thoroughly between clients.

3. Hand hygiene: Wash hands for 20 seconds or use alcohol-based sanitizer before and after each service.

4. Protective gear: Wear gloves when appropriate; change between clients; follow local guidance for masks.

5. Pre-screen politely: Reschedule clients with contagious symptoms or recent skin procedures that may compromise safety.

6. Train and audit: Refresh protocols regularly, document procedures, and spot-check compliance.

7. Be transparent: Post visible hygiene steps so clients see what you’re doing to keep them safe.

How to Display Hygiene Protocols Skills on Your Resume

8. Appointment Scheduling

Appointment scheduling coordinates bookings so services run on time, the day flows, and clients aren’t left waiting.

Why It's Important

It maximizes capacity, reduces no-shows, and carves out the right amount of time per service for consistent results.

How to Improve Appointment Scheduling Skills

1. Offer online booking: Let clients reserve, reschedule, and manage appointments 24/7.

2. Automate reminders: Send confirmations and timely reminders via text or email.

3. Build buffers: Add cleanup and consult time between sessions to prevent spillover.

4. Use a waitlist: Backfill cancellations quickly and keep loyal clients happy.

5. Set policies: Clear late, no-show, and deposit policies keep schedules predictable.

How to Display Appointment Scheduling Skills on Your Resume

9. POS Systems

POS systems handle payments, memberships, packages, client profiles, and reporting—tying the front desk to your business heartbeat.

Why It's Important

They speed up checkout, track purchasing habits, sync with inventory, and surface insights that improve service and sales.

How to Improve POS Systems Skills

1. Customize for tanning: Set up memberships, session packs, add-ons, and discounts that reflect your offerings.

2. Integrate smartly: Connect POS with booking, marketing, and inventory to avoid double entry.

3. Streamline checkout: Enable mobile payments, tap-to-pay, and digital receipts to cut lines.

4. Track what matters: Use dashboards for rebook rate, average ticket, product attachment, and peak hours.

5. Train the team: Short, focused sessions and quick-reference guides keep errors down.

How to Display POS Systems Skills on Your Resume

10. Inventory Management

Inventory management means ordering, storing, counting, and selling the products and supplies that keep services running—without drowning in overstock or running out mid-day.

Why It's Important

Right-sized stock keeps revenue flowing, cash free, and clients happy when their favorites are always on hand.

How to Improve Inventory Management Skills

1. Forecast with data: Use sales history and seasonality to predict demand for lotions, disposables, and parts.

2. Set par levels: Define minimums and reorder points so you replenish before you hit empty.

3. Standardize receiving: Check deliveries against POs, label immediately, and store by category and turnover.

4. Count consistently: Run weekly cycle counts on fast-movers and monthly counts on everything else.

5. Track shrink: Investigate mismatches; tighten controls on testers and high-value items.

6. Align with promotions: Plan buys around campaigns and events to prevent stockouts.

How to Display Inventory Management Skills on Your Resume

11. Client Retention

Client retention is the art of turning first-time visitors into loyal regulars who rebook, refer, and rave.

Why It's Important

Keeping existing clients costs less than finding new ones, stabilizes revenue, and grows referrals organically.

How to Improve Client Retention Skills

1. Personalize plans: Build service schedules and product routines around each client’s goals and skin.

2. Make rebooking easy: Offer convenient next-appointment options and reminders tied to their ideal cadence.

3. Reward loyalty: Use point systems, memberships, birthday perks, and referral bonuses that feel meaningful.

4. Track progress: Before/after photos and notes show improvement and reinforce value.

5. Close the loop: Ask for feedback, fix issues fast, and follow up after a service hiccup with a make-good.

6. Stay in touch: Send timely education, gentle care tips, and targeted offers—quality over spam.

How to Display Client Retention Skills on Your Resume

12. Marketing Strategies

Marketing strategies are the mix of channels, messages, and offers that attract new clients and keep regulars engaged.

Why It's Important

They position your services, differentiate your brand, and drive steady bookings through the seasons.

How to Improve Marketing Strategies Skills

1. Polish your presence: Keep your website and profiles current with pricing, photos, FAQs, and booking links.

2. Showcase results: Share before-and-afters, genuine testimonials, and educational safety tips.

3. Think local: Optimize for local search terms, encourage reviews, and partner with nearby beauty and fitness businesses.

4. Seasonal campaigns: Build offers around events—weddings, vacations, prom, holidays—with bundles that make sense.

5. Smart promos: Use limited-time discounts, referral boosts, and member-only perks without training clients to wait for sales.

6. Measure and iterate: Track cost per lead, conversion, retention, and ROI; drop what doesn’t move the needle.

How to Display Marketing Strategies Skills on Your Resume