Glowout is a U.S.-based beauty business specializing in professional spray tanning and sunless tanning services. Rather than relying on tanning beds or automated spray booths, Glowout focuses on hand-applied spray tans performed by trained artists who customize the color and finish for each client. The brand describes itself as a spray tan salon where customers can choose their preferred color and rinse time.
The company has developed its identity around personalized tanning rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. During an appointment, customers can discuss their desired level of color, upcoming events, and tanning goals with an artist. The artist then blends the tanning formula and applies it by hand.
Glowout’s studios are currently located in Chicago, Milwaukee, Columbia in South Carolina, and Florida, giving the brand a presence across multiple U.S. markets.
A Salon Focused on Sunless Tanning
The main service offered by Glowout is the spray tan. Sunless tanning provides a way to achieve a bronzed appearance without intentional exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun or tanning beds.
Glowout’s approach is particularly focused on customization. Instead of simply selecting a preset shade, clients can communicate how much color they want and when they need to rinse the product. The artist can then create a formula intended to match the customer’s desired result.
This personalized process is one of the major features that distinguishes Glowout from automated tanning booths.
The company also emphasizes natural-looking results and positions its services around helping customers achieve an even, customized tan.
Glowout’s Spray Tan Services
Glowout offers several spray tanning options designed around different preferences and schedules.
The Original Tan
The Original Tan is Glowout’s classic spray tanning service. The formula is blended according to the customer’s desired color, making it the standard option for clients looking for a traditional Glowout tanning experience.
The recommended first rinse is generally eight hours or more, giving the tanning solution time to develop.
The Express Tan
The Express Tan is designed for customers who need their color to develop within a shorter period.
Depending on the instructions provided during the appointment, the first rinse takes place approximately two to four hours after application. This makes the express service particularly useful for clients with busy schedules or upcoming events.
The Clean Tan
Glowout also offers a Clean Tan option. It is described as an express tanning formula with a minimal-ingredient approach and without added dyes.
The first rinse generally takes place between approximately two and six hours, according to the studio’s instructions.
The three options allow customers to select a service based on their preferred color-development process, ingredients, and available time.
Hand-Applied and Custom-Blended Tanning
One of the most important aspects of Glowout’s business model is that its spray tans are applied by a person.
A Glowout artist works directly with the customer and applies the solution manually rather than placing the customer inside an automated spray booth. The company’s process involves discussing the desired result, blending the formula, and applying the tan by hand.
This approach allows the artist to pay attention to different areas of the body and adjust the application according to the customer’s needs.
For first-time customers, the consultation can also be an opportunity to ask questions about preparation, rinse times, clothing, and aftercare.
Glowout’s Chicago Studio
Chicago is an important part of Glowout’s identity. The company’s West Loop studio is located at 216 S Jefferson Street, Suite LL4, Chicago, Illinois 60661.
The Chicago location offers Glowout’s main spray tanning services, including the Original Tan, Express Tan, and Clean Tan.
The studio’s current listed prices are $60 for the Original Tan, $70 for the Express Tan, and $80 for the Clean Tan, although pricing can vary by studio.
Glowout also describes Chicago as its home and operates a membership program for customers who regularly use its tanning services.
Locations Across the United States
Glowout has expanded beyond Chicago and now operates across several markets.
Its official locations page lists studios in:
- Chicago, Illinois
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Columbia, South Carolina
- Tampa Bay, Florida
- Clearwater, Florida
The company also operates a Press On Nail Bar associated with its Chicago presence.
Availability and opening hours vary between locations. Some studios operate during regular scheduled hours, while others are available primarily by appointment.
This multi-location model allows Glowout to serve customers in different regions while maintaining its focus on personalized beauty services.
Glowout and Nail Services
Although spray tanning is the central part of Glowout’s business, the company also has a nail-focused offering.
Its Chicago presence includes a Press On Nail Bar, offering an additional beauty service alongside the tanning business. The nail bar operates on location through a partnership arrangement and is listed separately from the main spray-tan studios.
This gives Glowout an opportunity to extend its beauty offering beyond tanning while retaining its focus on convenient, appearance-oriented services.
Preparing for a Glowout Appointment
Preparation is an important part of achieving a good spray tan. Customers generally need to follow the studio’s preparation instructions before arriving.
Glowout provides guidance covering topics such as pre-tan preparation, clothing, the first rinse, and aftercare. Customers are encouraged to plan their appointment around the amount of time required before the first rinse.
For example, someone choosing an express service may be able to rinse significantly sooner than someone receiving the Original Tan.
Loose clothing can also be useful after an appointment because it helps avoid unnecessary friction while the tan develops.
Spray Tanning for Special Events
Professional spray tanning can be particularly popular before special occasions. Glowout offers tanning services that can be scheduled around events and has specific information for customers considering spray tans for weddings.
The ability to customize the color is useful for customers who want a subtle glow rather than an extremely dark result. Customers can also communicate their desired appearance to the tanning artist and discuss photographs or examples of their preferred color.
This makes personalized spray tanning relevant for weddings, vacations, parties, photo sessions, celebrations, and other occasions where customers may want a bronzed appearance.
Glowout Memberships and Repeat Customers
For people who regularly receive spray tans, Glowout offers membership and package options.
Its Chicago Club Glow membership is designed for repeat customers and provides discounts on spray tanning and retail purchases. The company currently lists a $39-per-month membership with a three-month minimum for its Midwest program.
Membership programs can make professional tanning more convenient for customers who incorporate spray tanning into their regular beauty routines.
The Glowout Experience
Glowout’s overall experience is centered on personalization. Instead of treating spray tanning as a purely automated service, the company presents the appointment as a consultation between the customer and tanning artist.
Customers can explain their desired color, discuss their schedule, ask questions, and receive recommendations about the tanning process. The artist then creates and applies the customized formula.
This emphasis on individual service is particularly important for customers who may be nervous about trying a spray tan for the first time.
Glowout’s Brand and Growth
Glowout traces its beginnings to 2007, when founder Jenn began building the business one appointment at a time. The company has since expanded from its Chicago roots to additional markets across the United States.
Its growth reflects the broader popularity of professional sunless tanning as an alternative to traditional tanning methods.
Rather than attempting to become a general-purpose beauty salon offering every possible service, Glowout has built a recognizable niche around spray tanning. Its combination of customized formulas, hand application, multiple service options, and repeat-customer programs forms the foundation of its brand.
Conclusion
Glowout is a U.S. spray tan salon and beauty business best known for its hand-applied, custom-blended sunless tanning services. Its main offerings include the Original Tan, Express Tan, and Clean Tan, allowing customers to choose between different development times and formulas.
Beginning in Chicago in 2007, Glowout has expanded to locations in Milwaukee, South Carolina, and Florida while maintaining its focus on personalized tanning. Its Chicago presence also includes a Press On Nail Bar, adding another beauty service to the brand’s portfolio.
For customers looking for a customized alternative to tanning beds or automated tanning booths, Glowout provides a professional, artist-applied approach designed around individual color preferences and schedules.