The first time I met Kristyn Pradas; celebrity spray tan artist and founder of Pradas Glow (@PradasGlow, PradasGlow.com) was during a press appointment in a chic hotel downtown New York City in December 2018 ahead of the final Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. Kristyn was the head spray tan artist who had tanned the likes of Kendall Jenner and Bella & Gigi Hadid for the show and was in town from Los Angeles to tan the models for events surrounding the airing of it. And I was on assignment for another beauty publication to write about my spray tan experience as well as to discuss the launch of the Pradas Glow professional and self tanning line.

I was a self conscious junior editor who loved spray tans but the idea of getting naked in front of the same woman who tanned Bella and Gigi naked was a bit intimidating. (I literally remember thinking I was going to sweat off my tan because I was so nervous.) While Kristyn was the most welcoming, nonchalant celebrity glam squad member I’d ever met (I had met a lot at that point), and she made me feel more comfortable than I could’ve ever dreamed. We talked all about her new sunless line (which was used on the models in the show, mind you), how it came to be (literally down to what it was like working with chemists), her time on tour spray tanning Ariana Grande, and everything else under the sun. I left so hyped after talking about all things tanning and wondering WHY discussing sunless tanning is yet to be normalized in the press. So hyped that I almost forgot to get excited about the spray tan itself. Well, I then woke up the next morning with one of the best tans I’ve ever gotten —so dark, yet natural looking with an amazing skin finish — and I quickly remembered. But it was the conversation with Kristyn that really stuck with me. I mean, I had just gotten tanned by a person who was so in demand that she went on tour with Ariana Grande, so in demand that she (and her own solutions) played an integral role in the production of the Victoria’s Secret fashion show, so in demand that she tanned (and would go on to tan) celebrities for some of the most pivotal points in their careers (hi, Demi Lovato at the 2020 Super Bowl). A role that is so in demand for such major events, yet spray tanning itself was still such a taboo.

With that being said, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that my experience with Kristyn, her kindness, and amazing products played a major role in launching The Tan Bible, because they did. So read on to hear about Kristyn’s journey thus far, along with tips that every spray tan artist should know.

Years in the industry: 14

How did you get started?: After college, I went to aesthetics and makeup school in NYC. In NYC at the time, there was so much competition to find good-paying makeup jobs that a lot of times I would take on low-paying makeup jobs, or even assistant makeup jobs just to be able to get as much experience as possible.

One day, I decided I wanted to start spray tanning and take my makeup skills and apply them to the whole body. I purchased a machine and started practicing on friends and family. I turned them all shades of brown, red, orange, yellow, green... you name it! I am so grateful to all my guinea pigs for helping me to really understand color theory. I was determined to give spray tanning my all and create a career for myself — one I never could have imagined. One day on the set of a photoshoot for Cosmopolitan magazine, I was working as a makeup assistant and I offered my tanning services and by the next shoot, I was tanning all the models for the upcoming editorials.

 Favorite memory from a tanning appointment?: When Susan Sarandon’s dog peed in my tent while I was packing up my machine and I never told her.

Can you recall a time you faced a challenge during an event or appointment and how you overcame it?: For one of the Victoria’s Secret fashion shows, one of the models had gotten spray tanned and when she left and used the restroom, she wasn’t very careful. She came back two hours later and I had to fill in the spots and the lines from the drip marks because the cameras tend to get right up in that area for those shows! I used one and two-inch foam paintbrushes to blend out the areas as much as possible, then filled in the spots and covered them with another overall spray to blend it all together.

Do you have a moment you're particularly proud of when you felt the most fulfilled?: Launching my product line at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show on the Angels in 2018. I developed our 6% Sol Solution in Golden Brown for the show as the look was for a golden glow. As some of the models weren’t going to be tan for their “looks”, they still needed to look glowy and hydrated so I created a hyaluronic acid spray with peptides, ceramides, organic rose water, and organic chamomile, that really gave everyone’s skin a huge boost of moisture and dewiness.

Best piece of advice you’ve ever received?: Whatever you do give it 100%

Best tip you’ve ever received?: Karlie Kloss taught me at my first VS show that I should make the inside of the thighs super dark, so when you walk it creates the illusion of looking longer and leaner.

Favorite Pradas Glow product?: I love to be tanned all year round so definitely our Hollywood’s Secret Tanner, sometimes I spray myself with it and sometimes I just apply our self tanning mousse and sleep in it.

First Pradas Glow product developed?: Skin Glaze Brightening Oil, is made of organic jojoba oil, organic rosehip seed oil, organic chia seed oil, organic rosemary antioxidant, and organic vitamin E.

I wanted an all organic face and body oil that worked well for sensitive skin, absorbed quickly, didn’t make me break out, and wasn’t expensive. The blend of oils mimics the sebum of the skin so that you do not overproduce oil, it balances oil production in the skin, and is super hydrating with the purest ingredients.

 How did you arrive at the perfect formula? Trial and error until the perfect blends were created.

 One instance when you should see a spray tan artist vs. using a self-tanner?: For any big event, I would recommend seeing a spray tanner. For everyday tanning, self-tanners are easy to do. Our Sol Solution Self Tanners are super hydrating, anti-aging, filled with vitamins, anti-oxidants, luxurious oils, and skin tightening ingredients such as peptides and caffeine.

What advice would you give to new artists?: Perfect your craft, never give up, and always believe in yourself.

Having allies in the industry is much more beneficial than hating on one another and being catty. Life doesn’t always have to be a competition, working together can open up more doors and create new opportunities for everyone.