When we interviewed Brittney Bennett in June 2020, the beauty industry was in the beginning stages of being impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. And at the time, brick and mortar salons in particular had perhaps taken the biggest hit. So naturally, during the unprecedented times, it’d be easy for any salon owner to have a pessimistic mindset about the future of their business. But not Brittney Bennett, founder of Be Bronze Studio in Los Angeles. Nope, Brittney took that time to reflect and embrace the roller coaster of emotions that came with the uncertain times to plan for a better future for herself and the already amazing (and not to mention extremely aesthetically pleasing) Be Bronze.

Brittney opened the chic, nude-colored salon in the Beverly Grove neighborhood of Los Angeles in October 2018 after spending about eight years traveling around the L.A. area as a mobile spray tan artist. Thanks to those years of hard work and hustle, Brittney has was able to formulate a custom spray tan solution to be used in the salon and has built a client roster that includes the likes of Alex Cooper (of the Call Her Daddy podcast), Stassi Schroeder, Lindsey Vonn, and the cast of Vanderpump Rules. And if those accomplishments alone aren’t impressive enough for you, the fact that she’s only ever received five-star Yelp reviews since 2014 should be.

For a closer look at how Brittney has made it to where she’s at today, and how she, along with co-founder Anna Kudrajasova, opened the studio — read on.

Years in The Industry: 12 

How did you get your start in the industry? I moved to L.A. 10+ years ago to continue my career in the hospitality industry and like so many other people living in L.A., I needed an extra stream of income. L.A. is an expensive place to live and it was a no-brainer for me to start spray tanning as I had been getting them for so many years prior. 

What were your initial steps in starting Be Bronze? I am a “jump off the cliff and figure it out as you go” type of gal, so for me, I just started. I went online, ordered the equipment and solution, and jumped right onto YouTube [for tutorials]. This is not something I’d suggest now as there are so many amazing resources to learn how to spray tan, but for me 10 years ago, I just did it. I work very hard at any task in front of me and I knew this would be no different.  

 How did you arrive at the perfect formula? How many shades do you offer? For me, it was all about trial and error and asking a ton of questions: Why did this base color work for this skin tone? Why did another not work for that skin tone? What ingredients were in the solution? How was the fade? I did my homework and made note of what I liked and didn’t [like]. That helped me get where I am at with the Be Bronze Solution line. At this time, I offer three [tan] bases and a clear [solution], I am able to tell pretty much immediately when seeing a client what base they should be in, but I do go through questions with each client to make sure. 

What would you say are the key benefits to getting a spray tan in a studio vs. a mobile tan? It's about the full experience I am able to give in an environment that I created specifically to make people feel special. From the color palette of the store, to the custom desk and curved doors I made so that you felt the vibe the moment you walk into Be Bronze. For years I was walking into people's homes and I wanted a place each client could come to and feel at home.  Mobile was and still is fantastic, but for me, I wanted more of the masses to be able to come experience Be Bronze Studio. 

What has been the most challenging part of being an entrepreneur? The most rewarding/exciting part? The entrepreneur life is a true roller coaster. I am wearing every single hat one can think of to make sure this business is functioning. I am doing accounting, social media, product ordering, emails, store cleaning, and so much more all while spray tanning full time. 

The rewarding part of all of this is I enjoy making my clients happy and giving them good energy. I do care about what they are going through in their lives, it's so much more than a spray tan. I want to make sure they know they are heard and that I truly listen. Each client deserves a great experience. No matter what I am going through, I have to put all of my issues aside and focus on each person. 

Best piece advice you’ve ever received (in business or in life)? Always bet on you. There is nothing better than trusting your gut and what you bring to the table. So please, if anyone reading this is looking at other people and comparing...STOP!!! You can do this, trust yourself and keep going! 

 Your absolute favorite product or service you offer? The Be Bronze Products I love are our self tanner and the exfoliating mitt. These will be online for purchase within the next couple of weeks so be on the lookout. I also LOVE the Glow By Erin drying powder, Erin's drying powders are truly the best in the business and leave your client feeling amazing. 

 One instance when you should definitely see a spray tan artist vs. using a self-tanner? Besides your wedding [LOL], any big event that you will be photographed. You do not want to be trying to hide your hands, feet, or bad application of [self tanner] color in a photo that will last forever. Enjoy the moment at the event and leave it up to the professional. 

What advice would you give to new entrepreneurs in the industry (especially during these unprecedented times)? Life can be very unpredictable, as we have just experienced. So when things like this happen, it's a beautiful time to lean on your strengths and inner circle while you embrace the pivot. During this time, I had great conversations with people I respect that helped me tremendously. I would be lying if I said this time has been easy, because it most certainly hasn’t. However, I embraced the breakdowns as much as I did my moments of clarity. I also re-evaluated my "why?" I do that every year, I ask myself what is your "why" this year? Knowing this is huge and not only can it help you focus on you, it really allows for so much personal growth. I am coming out of Covid with a clear understanding of what I want for me as a person and what Be Bronze will look like in the future.

What are some ways clients can help (if able to) their spray tan artists during Covid-19? It's the little things that matter now to business owners; go leave that Yelp or Google review that you haven't been able to get to, share their social media platforms to your friends, and of course, purchase a gift card for a future glow. The support means so much no matter how big or small. 

 What do you know now that you wish you would’ve known when starting out in the industry? I wish I knew about the community of women that are out there to support you in this industry. For seven years I was solo trying to navigate everything and while that made me stronger, it is so much better with support. This industry can be catty, but I promise you there are so many more women who want to help support you than not. Lean on each other — beautiful things come out of support rather than tearing each other down, I promise.