Glow Getter: Celebrity Spray Tan Artist Chasidy McDowell
With 13 years in the industry, Chasidy McDowell has been a celebrity spray tan artist since before it was cool to acknowledge celebrities’ glam squads and has been around to watch the sunless industry truly take off. Meaning? Her insight into the industry, tips for a flawless tan, and advice for other spray tan artists is intangible. The spray tan artist’s client roster includes the likes of Khloe Kardashian, Bebe Rexha, Leonardo DiCaprio, Margot Robbie, and more.
Real OG fans of Keeping Up With the Kardashians remember Khloe’s famed 2015 Complex cover that Kim encouraged her to do with the sweet sisterly advice; “Get the f*ck over it, you’re at the prime of your life.” Yup, Chasidy was the spray tan artist behind that amazing glow which ended up being a pivotal moment in the reality star’s career and modern pop culture. In addition to red carpets, photo shoots, and countless major events, Chasidy’s tans can also be seen on the big screen. Enter: the tans she did for Leonardo DiCaprio and Margot Robbie in “The Wolf of Wall Street.” Didn’t realize they had spray tans? That’s the point. According to Chasidy, “your goal should be to have your tan look so natural that no one would ever guess it’s fake.” To hear more words of wisdom, read on for our exclusive interview with the Los Angeles-based spray tan artist.
Chasidy McDowell
How many years have you been in the industry?: 13 years
How did you get started?: I started out as a makeup artist, I graduated from Makeup Designery and then started assisting Scott Barnes. During that time, I started to airbrush tan myself and realized how much I loved airbrush tanning. So, I decided to pursue it as a career and it went from there.
Favorite memory from a tanning appointment/event?: Honestly, I truly feel blessed because I have had many great memories.
The first one is working on the movie “The Wolf of Wall Street” tanning Leonardo Dicaprio, Margot Robbie, and the extras when they would film in Los Angeles. And the second would have to be the Complex cover with Khloe Kardashian. I just absolutely loved how the glow came out for the pictures. And then, of course, the “Baby, I'm Jealous” video with Bebe Rexha.
Can you recall a time you faced a (tanning) challenge and how you overcame it?: One moment that always sticks out to me is when I had tanned a friend of mine and she slept with her hand on her face and managed to make a handprint on her face. She was in full-on panic mode, but I told her not to worry anything is fixable. I have to say tanning myself is [helpful] because I can intentionally make mistakes that could possibly happen with clients, and then find the best solutions for them.
Favorite product or piece of equipment?: I have a couple of favorite products, for self tanners, I always recommend my clients get Tan-Luxe, they have several different options, but I prefer the drops because they can be mixed with your favorite moisturizer.
My other favorite and must-have product is Frank Body’s Original Coffee Scrub, I love that it isn't abrasive and it has many great benefits besides just exfoliating the body.
Tips for achieving a tan that translates well into photographs?: You always want to make sure you do not go too dark, your goal should be to have your tan look so natural that no one would ever guess it’s fake. Always tan two days prior, make sure skin is not dry, and keep skin moisturized once you have the tan.
One instance when you should see a spray tan artist vs. using a self-tanner?: If you have an important event ( photoshoot, wedding, birthday, NYE, holiday parties, etc. — you get the point), I would always suggest having a professional do it. [But], keep in mind you don't need to have a special event to use a professional. Treat yourself, that's what I love about my job is seeing how amazing the women feel after their glows.
The best piece of advice you’ve ever received?: Let rejection and failure be motivation for you to work even harder for your dream! It's better to have failed than to have never tried.
What advice would you give to new artists?: Give it all you got, do your job 100 percent, and be committed to always learning.