Know behind the glow | An Unfiltered Conversation with Afterglow Sunless Tans

This week on Off Track Saratoga, Noel and Zac sit down with Kristen, owner of Afterglow Sunless Tan, for one of the funniest and most surprisingly heartfelt conversations of the season.

Kristen shares what it's like to have one of the most unique jobs in Saratoga—including why she jokes she's seen half the town naked. But beyond the laughs, she opens up about the trust her clients place in her, the confidence a great spray tan can bring, and the journey of building a thriving local business from the ground up.

Along the way, you'll hear:
• The funniest (and most awkward) moments from inside the spray tan room
• Why clients often treat their spray tan appointment like a therapy session
• The challenges of opening a business in Saratoga—and the community that helped it grow
• Expert tips for getting the perfect spray tan that actually lasts
• Rapid-fire "Hot Takes" featuring wild client stories, bridal drama, and unexpected questions

Whether you're a longtime Afterglow client, curious about spray tanning, or simply love hearing the stories behind Saratoga's local businesses, this episode is packed with laughs, heart, and plenty of behind-the-scenes moments.

If you're enjoying Off Track Saratoga, be sure to follow the show, leave a rating and review, and share this episode with someone who loves discovering the people and places that make Saratoga Springs so special.

Transcript

Noel 0:00

Ooh, I'm Emmy Award-winning journalist Noel McLaren.

Zac 0:03

And I'm local business owner Zac Denham And this is Off Track Saratoga Podcast.

Noel 0:08

Sometimes we're on track.

Zac 0:09

Sometimes we're a little off.

Noel 0:11

But it's always worth the listen.

Zac 0:13

Hello!

Speaker 3 0:14

Welcome back.

Noel 0:15

Welcome, welcome!

Speaker 3 0:17

Welcome.

Noel 0:18

We're inside today, but the sun is always shining in here because we're at off.

Zac 0:23

Oh my god, I'm such a stupid. Ooh. The sun is always shining here at Afterglow Sunless Hand. Wait, wait. Cheese alert, cheese alert. I'm gonna flag this this episode not as explicit, but I'm gonna I'm gonna flag it as cheesy. You are so ridiculous.

Noel 0:41

Oh my gosh, welcome. We're here with Christian from Afterglow. She's joining the chat, and we have been dying to talk to her, first of all, because she uh sprays both of us and half of Saratoga.

Zac 0:55

I love it. So what's so funny is um, you know, when we were kicking around ideas on what are like what do we want to talk about this summer season and what is relevant and what do we think people would think is fun. We were, I was like, oh my god.

Noel 1:09

Kristen.

Zac 1:09

We have to talk to Kristen.

Noel 1:13

So Kristen has seen most of Saratoga naked. Yeah. That is actually very true.

Kristen 1:18

That is a very true, very true statement.

Noel 1:21

What is that like?

Zac 1:22

Honestly, what is it like? No, honestly, what is it like? Because I, for one, have seen you in public, right? And then I've also like seen you see other people in public who are clients and stuff. And I the whole time I'm with you, I'm thinking, I'm like, She knows with this person like naked. So, like, what how did like how does that feel?

Kristen 1:39

You know, it is actually one of my top most asked questions about being a spray tan artist, is the nudity part of it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And you know, to be honest, at this point, in like five years in, it's like I don't see a body anymore. So I don't know if that's like weird.

Zac 1:58

Or if it's like I'm like, I get it.

Kristen 2:01

I don't see, yeah, like I don't see a body in front of me anymore. Right. You know, I'm just like, I'm so in a zone that I'm just I'm I'm doing my my thing, you know? And it's a 15-minute service, so it's not lengthy. So we're like yapping literally in those 15 minutes. We're catching up.

Noel 2:22

You can't get us out the door.

Kristen 2:23

I know. Like we're catching up on like last week. Like, did she have to slash her ex tire? Yes, you know, like such like uh, I don't know. I don't know. Yes, I mean, nudity is part of the job. Big part of this, but I think I have, yeah, become kind of like desensitized to it.

Zac 2:45

So you commented a bit on um, you know, the yapping of it all. What is an instance where like you're in the room performing your service and you're like, oh wait, this is the most emotionally unstable person I it was me. Like, like what is it? Like, you know, whenever you're like, oh my god, like you need more than a service. Can I give you a referral? You need a second. Can I give you a referral to a psychiatrist?

Noel 3:09

You've probably been there for people, like you know their deepest, darkest secrets. And I feel like, yes, when you go to the hair salon and you go get like your nails done, like your hair girl also knows, because you're sitting there for an hour. You're talking about life.

Zac 3:22

Like when I was doing hair, it was so wild. So I would be behind the chair it anytime, like during the day or whatever, and I could go from one appointment where somebody was celebrating their child or whatever, and the next person was like, Oh my god, I think I want to leave my husband. And this person was like, Oh my god, I just got fired and I have no savings. Like, yeah, and you have to kind of be such a chameleon because you have to be whatever they need from you in that time.

Noel 3:48

You're holding on to all of that emotion and you have to be that strong person, but like, even where I was gonna go with this is beyond the layer of like just having someone in your chair, they're standing in front of you in like the most vulnerable position. So for sure. That they, I mean, they're naked.

Speaker 6 4:02

So like they're extra vulnerable.

Noel 4:06

So I don't know. Do you think people feel the need to connect with you on another layer because of that situation? I do.

Kristen 4:12

I think, yeah, like I think people talking lessens the nervousness, you know. So I don't think like a lot of people think what, you know, are thinking about what is coming out of their mouth. They're just like, if I talk, right, I don't feel it'll be over sooner. Yeah, like we can just talk through it, you know. Like I make sense. So yeah, I hear in like I said, it's 15 minutes, you know. I'm not in there like a hair, you know, stylist that you're there for hours. It's 15 minutes, but I tell you what, I learn here and learn a lot in 15 minutes, you know, because I think, yeah, they're just like, let's talk so that way, you know, it's not as uncomfortable.

Noel 4:52

You have to be. I know. Because you're spraying like rest.

Zac 4:56

Yes, you have to be a vault. You know, so very careful. How is that? Because like that's such like a really good point. You you are there with everybody. Yeah, they talk the whole time, they all know each other. Like, we all, I mean, it's Saratoga, it's a big, it's a big little city. Yeah, we all know each other here, right? You know, so yeah, I mean, like, what's that like to kind of just do you kind of separate the work from your person? Or like how how do you kind of deal with that?

Kristen 5:24

I think I've had to learn. I've never been in that particular situation before where I didn't really have any knowledge going into how to manage that. But um, yeah, I think I've just learned that I do need to separate, right? You know, you have to I need to separate those two, and it's hard, it's hard because I build strong friendships and relationships with people, and you know, but I also have a business, and so I I need to.

Zac 5:52

I mean, it's it happens to me sometimes too, and I don't know if it's the champagne that's talking or whatever, but whenever I'm in bocage, for example, there are people who like I will meet casually, not necessarily like that I know them or you know, their name, but that's the thing, like I never forget a face, right? But there will be people who will come into bocage and it reads like, oh, like you don't have a gay best friend, this is your time for you to kind of like have access to somebody who's fun and can kind of like whatever. That's part of your end. But it is part of the gig, and I look at it as kind of like a badge of honor in a way because it's like, okay, well, I must be doing something that makes people say, I can be at ease. I had I can trust this person. Because, like, girl, they have people who've kind of have come in there and and shared a lot, yeah, you know, good, bad, and buried in between. And my my pleasure to be there for people, you know, any anytime. But um, it is hard to kind of not wear it on your person sometimes because it's not all it's not always like good stuff, you know. So it's it is hard, it is hard to kind of like separate that a little bit.

Noel 7:02

And it's a bit like parenting in a sense, where it's like you have to deal with all the feelings, but you have to hold it all together and be like, yep, okay, we're just gonna keep like moving forward. So you're kind of like everybody's mom or everybody's dad because it's like it no matter nothing can faze you. Right. I mean, and it might on the inside, but it can't on the outside. Absolutely true.

Zac 7:25

So, what if what if have you ever been in a situation where somebody's like starts talking about something that you like definitely do not want to be a part of? Like, how do you how do you navigate that? Yeah, how do you navigate that?

Kristen 7:34

It's like to do what you said, just kind of like separate. Yeah, I get I you know, I understand. You know, and and and you do you understand all parties, you know, you do you understand. Yeah, I think it just is kind of just that, yeah, making it safe, making it knowing that I'm I am have to be a fault. I cannot just go loose lips, you know, all over the place.

Noel 7:54

Um, so well, it's a good practice anyway.

Zac 7:57

But I mean neutrality is is something that's like really um having that um has some is something that I've had to kind of exercise a little bit more, so I could only imagine, you know, because you're don't get involved. You're in a much more intimate, you know, kind of scenario with your with your clients. You're very much one-on-one. And be like, oh, I have to go over here.

Noel 8:17

I'm really busy, you know, like an escape.

Zac 8:20

You literally don't.

Noel 8:23

Stay right there. You know what I mean? Yeah, I gotta step out for this. I gotta fix something. Yeah. But like, okay, so I'm sure that's not at all like the whole, you know, therapy aspect of it and emotional aspect of tanning was not what led you to this career in this business. Yeah. Do you want to talk to us a bit about like what you actually signed up for and what like launched this idea in your head and why you wanted to do it?

Kristen 8:51

Yeah. I mean, for me, I was someone who always got spray tans um for the last 20 years, mostly like the like zoom tan type of places. Right. Yeah, yeah. Um, and a few years back, I actually went and got like a custom spray tan in Miami, actually. And I was like, this is a game changer, you know. So when I initially started, it was just going to be like kind of a side gig because I I had a full-time job at the time. What were you doing? So um I was a hearing specialist. Oh no way. Yeah. That's cool. Um it sounds more gorgeous. Or like what? Yeah, like very cool. Yeah, like testing, you know, and so the confidence I feel that a spray tan brings is just something that is like no other. And I think because it's your entire body that's getting a blow-up, you know. I mean, it's like from toast head to toe, you know, like toast to not really a head, but right, right. Everything is getting like this filter applied, you know. So it's just like it just brings a level of confidence, you know, that is just so addicting, you know. So I loved having it, and then I loved the thought of being able to share that, you know, and give that, you know, to people. So yeah, that's really kind of where you know it started for me was I was a client and then I was like, but I want to do this, you know, I want to make people feel well.

Noel 10:19

And at the time, I don't think there were many places in the area too, either.

Kristen 10:23

No, not a ton. When I first was doing like the market research, you know, to do like comparative analysis, I I couldn't find anyone to like to do that with, you know. Um, it took me a while. I mean, I dragged my feet on this for for a few years. Like I didn't really like pull the trigger, you know, until a couple years ago. So um, but since then, yes, now now there is, you know, a lot more of us in the industry.

Noel 10:49

Did you start like traveling to people or did you go like first just to like did you open your brick and mortar immediately?

Kristen 10:55

Like, no, did it out of my home. Um, I actually uh moved out of my bedroom and moved into my living room and I set up my spray tan room in my bedroom for a while. And I did mobile, but mobile for me didn't really take off, you know. I think there's a whole element to mobile. You know, people don't want you in their houses necessarily. They don't want to like clean up for you over.

Zac 11:19

Is really is is tricky.

Kristen 11:21

It's freaking messy. Spray tanning is, I mean, I have a huge extraction unit in that room back there, but I'm telling you. That's the thing that sucks up all of us. Yeah, yeah. It's at the I mean, it is still a very messy, messy business. So, like, people don't want that, you know, right in their homes either. Right.

Zac 11:38

So they don't want to be in the yard on display list.

Kristen 11:40

I was just gonna say, unless you're putting me in your garage or in your backyard, but yeah.

Zac 11:45

I mean, unless you're into that, we do not kink shade here at off-track.

Kristen 11:49

No judging.

Zac 11:51

So I remember whenever you were looking around for your brick and mortar, and we met at Bocage. And we had to- Oh, you know, before. So we had just opened Bocage like a couple of months before, and you came in, I think it was a Sunday afternoon, and it was just me and you for a while. Oh, wow. And we were chatting and you were kind of picking my brain a little bit on like the community and like what it was like to open the business and stuff. And then so we became like really friendly, and I was championing. I was like, what you're doing, I was like, you would be one of one, like go for it. And then, like a few weeks later, you came in and you were like, We have a reason to celebrate. Yeah, so that was so funny. You were part of the process, that was really fun.

Kristen 12:27

Oh, I don't know if you remembered that. And I was gonna mention that. I was gonna mention like that was one of the first business owners in Saratoga to embrace me, and it felt like I know that's a big deal. It was huge for me because I'm not from here. I moved, I mean, not far. We're talking Sakandaga Lake, so not far, but like, no, nobody had not one friend, you know, in this area. And he was literally the first business owner to, like I said, embrace me, you know.

Noel 12:55

Just to have someone to believe in you is like because it's hard enough to believe in yourself. So when someone validates that, that's like everything. Yeah, yeah.

Speaker 5 13:04

It was huge. Of course I remember. Of course I remember that.

Kristen 13:08

I was like, I wonder if he remembers it. It was literally me and you. I think I came in and I think I was gonna start like doing like giveaways, you know, to like get people in the door. And I was like, I'm gonna go get a gift card. And I I think and I don't even think you were open, but you let me in, and we sat I sat at the bar and we I just literally like, yeah. It's like four years, four years at this point.

Zac 13:29

Yeah. So let's and look at us, we're still here. Yeah, that's amazing. That's amazing.

Noel 13:38

Like, I swear, every other show that we do, because we just talk to a lot of local business owners, is like how you make people feel, yeah, it is so equivalent to your success and how you're gonna do it. That's hospitality at its finest. And of course, you're like a form of that because you're making people feel confident, you're making people feel welcome and like they're they're at home in your in your places in in Bocage and in Standard Fair. How does it make you feel to feel like you can provide a safe space for people and also to give them that little oomph of confidence?

Kristen 14:11

Yeah, I and I I think as for women especially, like we are looked at for doing these type of services as like vanity, you know, like we're doing it selfishly, we're doing it um superficially, you know, we're doing all these things because, you know, we're vain. And I just feel like, you know, for me, I have seen women walk in my room and not even glance in the mirror that's back there, you know, when they have to undress to get ready to get the spray tan, and then not move from that mirror after the spray tan. I mean, they're looking at their tan lines, they're just like they feel instantly this immediate, like, oh my God, I feel you know, I feel good. Yeah, you know, and that is, I mean, such an addictive thing once you can't. Making people feel that for some.

Zac 15:05

That's really true. It's really true. From a superficial standpoint, it could look like a, you know, um, a business model of, you know, fad or trend or whatever. Yeah. But I think I think being doing what you do goes beyond the service, you know, because it is about you, and here's the thing, yeah, you may talk to people and you may have people unload on you or whatever, but then there are there are clients who might not share everything with you. And it, you know, if if you can change how they feel or look at themselves, regardless of what you know or what you don't know, that's impactful. You know, 100%. It really is.

Kristen 15:43

100%. Right. You can come in here, we can have a silent appointment, you know. We don't have to. Does anybody do that? We don't, yeah. There's a few that we do. At first, it was because I'm just that I feel like that's like the go-to for everybody. It's like, let's again just talk it out, you know. So that way.

Noel 16:01

Was it a man who was silent or a woman?

Kristen 16:03

No, it was it was a girl. Yeah, okay. It was a woman. Yeah. Sorry. Um so many follow-ups.

Noel 16:08

No, I could ask you so many questions.

Kristen 16:11

Um, yeah, at first it was, and then me too, sometimes, you know, like I just like I don't want to talk. Like, you know, I just don't. Yeah. The self-care for me at that moment is not talking, you know, is just not having to feel like I have to say anything.

Zac 16:29

But you didn't, you know, like you take the lead from your guests, too, right? Oh, right. They drive. That's the one thing I I like to train my teams, right? Have all the tools to get it done. Right. Right? Right. But take the lead from the guests, be there as much or as little as they need it. And so like the same can be said for what you offer as well. Yeah, right.

Kristen 16:47

You gotta be a good people reader, you know. You have to pick up on the yes.

Zac 16:51

If you could spray tan one famous person, living or dead, who would who would that be?

Noel 16:59

I feel like that's like asking who do you want to see?

Zac 17:01

She was ready, she was ready, she was ready, goddammit, Noel.

Noel 17:05

Sorry. I feel like, I feel like that's like, who do you want to see with no clothes on, though? That's essentially what you're asking.

Zac 17:12

It isn't not that.

Noel 17:14

I'm looking at them from like a palette perspective, or is it a who do you want to see naked perspective?

Zac 17:21

I I I embrace the question as like, who do you want to share 15 minutes with?

Kristen 17:25

Okay. I want to so badly. And this because I know that this individual spray tan. So um, so I want to spray tan Jennifer Lopez so terribly. So terribly. I don't know how to make that happen.

Zac 17:40

Okay, so tell that is so is it because is it because she's already got the glow and it's it's because you want to be like I did that, or is it because I want to, I want to do that, but I also want 15 minutes with you?

Kristen 17:54

I think more for yeah, I now I look at people more for like the spray tan. Like I'll walk see people walking down the street, and I'm like, I would do this mix on this person. You know, I would do this mix on your own. Your brain is never stopping. So for her, it's more of like, I want to try this mix on her skin type. Yeah.

Zac 18:15

That's really cool.

Kristen 18:17

So that's how my life has become.

Zac 18:19

Now, well, who would you spray tan?

Kristen 18:21

Wait, for what reason?

Zac 18:22

That's what I'm asking. Does it matter? Like, who what who would your person be?

Noel 18:28

Like, is it the same as who I would want to sit across from at Bocage, or is it just who I would want to spray tan? That's a good thing.

Speaker 3 18:33

It's a little bit of both.

unknown 18:35

Right?

Noel 18:36

Because, like, who do I want to be face to crotch with is different than who I want to be face to face with.

Speaker 3 18:42

Clip it, clip that, clip that. That's the clip. That's the clip. You're stupid.

Kristen 18:49

That was so good.

Speaker 3 18:51

Really? Well, who I want to be face to crotch with is different than who I want to have a wine with. You are so ridiculous.

Zac 19:00

Um, Noel, I mean, if you could, who who would you want to spray tan?

Noel 19:05

Like, I just like interacting with people on an intimate set, not in an intimate level like that. I, this is like, I like to get to know people and have conversations with them. This is my problem with like friendships in life, too, is like I can't just sit down and talk about the weather. I can't go to dinner with 15 people. You and I have talked about this. It needs to be very like one-on-one or two-on-one because I want to focus all of my attention on that one individual. So I feel like literally, I this is I this is a probably a crappy answer, but like anybody, um, you know, like people who I admire, like Barbara Walters isn't here. I don't want to spray tan her, but like Katie Curick, like women who I admire that I want to have a long conversation with, but I'd rather go to Bocage with them. We want to spray tan. I mean Justin Timberlake or JC Shazay.

Zac 20:06

Daddy JC. Oh my god.

Noel 20:08

Those are those we would fight over JC Shazet.

Zac 20:11

JC Shazay, if you see this.

Noel 20:14

We want to spray tan you. We will give, we will give Kristen the day.

Zac 20:18

Spray tan, whatever you need, honey. You call me. Don't call me, don't call me.

Noel 20:26

But also, I posted something about like when they came out with when he came out with his um Miss Murp song.

Zac 20:32

Oh, the musical?

Noel 20:33

The musical, the Frankenstein one. Frankenstein one. Um, and he liked it. So he knows I exist.

Zac 20:40

Well, one of my one of my favorite drag queens who I love, and she also has a podcast, Kelly Mantle. Uh she liked something and sent me heart emojis this weekend. Isn't that the best? It was so cool because I was like, oh my god, Kelly Mantle. They know Kelly Mantle. I listened to the Kelly Mantle show. Maybe Kelly Mantle listens to off-track Saratoga. I mean, who knows?

Noel 20:58

Oh my gosh, Kelly Mantle, if you hear this, please like give us a share, a like, whatever. Please give us a like.

Zac 21:05

No, if I I would want to obviously spray tan, I would obviously want to spray tan Brittany. Because I think what it comes down to is, like I always say, I just need 15 minutes with her. Yeah.

Kristen 21:17

And that's what a spray tan is.

Zac 21:18

I just need 15 minutes with her. That's a good point. And and I think what it comes down to is like, I know at the end of the day, she needs somebody who doesn't need her. Yeah. In a sense that is like there's a mooch. You need a friend and you need somebody who's gonna be in your corner and not want anything for it. Yeah. And so that's uh what I know I can offer. So um, Brittany, if you need a spray tan, I'll figure it out, girl. I got you.

Noel 21:42

I'll figure it out. You know so much I can help you. But you can just be next to Kristen.

Zac 21:48

But could you imagine, like, if we just spray tan all these people, Kristen could have like a menu here, would be like, come in and get the J-Lo Minux for the Britney books.

Noel 21:55

The JC just that man is hairy now, though. We do really good questions. If somebody is very hairy.

Zac 22:02

Oh yeah. What is that? What do I think?

Noel 22:04

Does it sit on top of the no.

Zac 22:06

That's a really great question.

Kristen 22:07

Mr. List fine that it just penetrates through them. Really? And I mean, even if it didn't, if there is so much hair there, you're not gonna see the skin necessarily anyway.

Noel 22:19

So, you know, it doesn't well I'm I'm not talking, I'm talking about like men, like with hairy legs or a hairy chest. Like you you spray tan through all that.

Kristen 22:26

All of it, yeah.

Noel 22:27

Do you get a lot of men who come?

Kristen 22:28

We don't get a lot. Um, I mean, sorry, they come here and there, you know, um, mostly like kicking and screaming because their significant others are making career appointment. Like brides, you know, want their, you know, their husbands to be to also be tan for the wedding. Yeah, so that they don't look like too contrasting, you know, in photos. So they're like, you have to get one too. Um, but there are some men that, you know, will will come on their own, but it's it's not a lot.

Zac 22:57

So who's more stressful to deal with? Um, brides, mothers of the brides, or like just people going to Florida?

Kristen 23:04

I'm gonna I'm gonna have to say mother of the brides, only because I have had some dealings with some mother of the brides. Oh yeah. Um, where they have legitimately reached out to me on their adult child's behalf to tell me their issue.

Noel 23:24

Because they want something that their daughter doesn't want, or that like they their daughter, they want their daughter to look a certain way. They want their daughter to look a certain way. That's crazy to me.

Zac 23:36

Yeah, no, that is crazy to me.

Noel 23:38

You're so incredibly patient. This is what I love about Kristen, and I have been to a few people who spray tan, is like as long as you're kind to Kristen, which how could you not be? Like, she's so patient. Like, there was one day. Did you did you know that um when you are on your female cycle that like your uh pH and your skin changes? Because Kristen and I learned that together. And so, like, you need a different kind of spray tan. So Kristen sprayed me like before um I was going on vacation. And it just wasn't, it developed, but I wasn't as dark as I wanted to be. And so I just messaged her and I wasn't like crazy about it. I was just like, oh my gosh, Kristen, what's going on? Did I I I thought it was me. I was like, what did I do? Like it's not developing. And she was like, I don't know, but like, why don't we try this? Or why don't you come back in again and I'll look at it and I'll spray tan, like so, so, so patient. Like, hats off to you for that. Because I don't I don't know how anybody could ever not be like kind and like patient with her when she's so because you've seen it all, like, you know, it's just literally.

Kristen 24:47

Well, you I mean, there's just some people that you just can't, you just right, you can't, you can't fix it.

Noel 24:53

How do you deal with that? Are you as patient with them as you are with me?

Kristen 24:57

I just try to take it with a grain of salt, you know. And I mean, in instance of the mother of the bride, I mean, I know they're under under a ton of stress, right? Like they're freaking out. Right. So you try to just understand that everyone has a story, yeah. Everyone, you know, has bad days, doesn't make them bad people. Right. Right. So I just try to keep that mentality. Do I get frustrated? Absolutely. But I am also on the other side of it, you know, as a consumer of other things, you know. So I just try to put myself in, you know, in the other position. Like I want, I want you to walk around and say, this breaker. Yeah, like I don't ever want anyone to be like, I had a horrible experience. Right. And that's why I always follow up with a 24-hour everyone gets a 24-hour test from me the next day. So that way is an issue.

Speaker 3 25:58

Oh, I forgot I'm a special.

Kristen 26:03

Sorry. Um, because I do. I want to know. I genuinely want to know if there is something that is, you know, it there that is wrong.

Zac 26:12

So yeah, we'd I mean, and you're kind of, I mean, like, not kind of. I mean, you are an artist, right? So you're constantly working and perfecting your craft. I mean, frankly, like that's a very humbling approach, right? You know, because you do want to know, like, if there is genuinely something I can do better, whether it's for you, for your next visit, or for the next client who walks in the door, like you should you should know.

Noel 26:34

Which actually makes me think of a question, like, when what are some things? You've been doing this for three, four years now.

Kristen 26:41

Yeah. Okay. Yeah.

Noel 26:42

So, like, what are some things that you've learned and changed because you've learned over this process? What are some things you do differently or better now, you think?

Kristen 26:51

Yeah. I mean, I used to always think that a spray tan had to be dark. Like, if it didn't come out dark, then I was doing the wrong thing, you know. And I've learned over the years that like the best spray tans are the undetected spray tans, you know, where it just goes on your skin and it matches and it makes sense, you know. It doesn't have to be these deep, dark, bronzy spray tans all the time because not everybody's skin can take that, can do that, you know. So just going more the approach of natural instead of just trying to make everyone a J Love, you know, that isn't supposed to be.

Zac 27:31

Do you kind of um I guess take the seasons, if you will, like and and don't think of that, you know, as you offer your for sure.

Kristen 27:42

It's like labeled, I think, as much in your absolutely true. And because your skin changes during those seasons too, you know, like so. Sometimes you need an aloe-based solution because you're, you know, crusty. Yep. Yeah, you know, and sometimes you are not, and you need a water-based solution, you know. So yeah, so yeah, definitely adjust on season too.

Zac 28:05

Has there ever been a s scenario like or a moment when you finished a service and you just needed to take five minutes in the car or something by yourself, whether it's to scream or pray or something? Did somebody put have you ever had a situation?

Kristen 28:20

Um, it was it was an older woman. Um, and I sprayed her and um it wasn't dark enough. So I tried to do some educating to say, you know, more mature skin, you know, is naturally drier. So um sometimes the the solution just doesn't abs absorb, you know, as well as we uh would like it to, you know. So um a little bit of a like a educational session, and she just demanded that I spray her again. And we just talked about this. Like it was like spraying on top of spray. Spray, yeah. In certain cases, it's not the right thing to do. Right. She insisted, I sprayed, still was unsatisfied with the way that it was turning out. Right. So after that, yeah, that was probably one where I was just like, that was tough. I just couldn't get through to her, you know, with trying to it happens.

Zac 29:24

I mean, like when you're in those positions when you're offering literally offering services for people, right? It is a very um, you know, personal thing. And you want to do right, you want to make it right, especially while they're here, because the last thing you want them to do is get on the internet and scream into the toilet bowl of Google reviews or whatever. You know, so you want to do your best while they're here, but sometimes, you know, it really is either, you know, circumstantial that's out of your control or you know, um, you know, something that is not part of what you can offer.

Kristen 29:57

And I feel like spray tanning, the the unique thing about spray tanning is it's like a 50-50. You know, there is a lot that rides on the client to do themselves.

Noel 30:08

You've made posts like this too. Like, don't use dove soap, don't use like, don't shave right before you come in. Right.

Kristen 30:16

Like there's a list, you know, of things that you should be doing to prep before your spray tan. And you cannot make sure that everyone is doing that, you know.

Noel 30:25

Here's your forum. What should you do before you come in?

Kristen 30:29

So 24 hours before your appointment, you should be doing your everything shower. You should be uh shaving if you choose to do that. Any unwanted hair, you should be exfoliating, you should be washing your hair because you are gonna go a full day without being able to do all of those things again.

Speaker 6 30:47

Yeah.

Kristen 30:47

So I usually say come with bare blank skin, you know, no lotions, no deodorants, no perfumes, no makeup, you know, all that stuff. So, and that's hard.

Noel 30:58

You've never seen people better because I I usually come in like the Cripkeeper.

Kristen 31:05

Oh, and the clothes. We're always like, you know, dress as hideous as possibly.

Zac 31:12

This is the time in our podcast where we're gonna play a little game with you. Hot that we call hot takes.

Noel 31:19

Hot takes with Kristen.

Zac 31:20

Cue the theme song.

Noel 31:21

Zach is dancing. So a little bit. Crowd.

Zac 31:25

All right.

Noel 31:27

First of all, you have to answer right off the top of your head one-word answers. One word answers. One word answer. Well, not one word answer, just quick, like, just quick, like no thinking, rapid fire answers. Ready? No right, no wrong. Grossest thing you've ever seen in your tanning booth.

Kristen 31:41

Mmm.

Zac 31:42

Oh a boy in the Oh a Susan Boyle, if you will.

Speaker 2 32:04

Susan Boyle is so stupid. Okay.

Zac 32:12

Has there ever been anybody to walk into the studio and you thought to yourself, I'm not doing this?

Kristen 32:19

Oh. No.

Speaker 5 32:23

Good.

Kristen 32:23

Not doing like just for personal reasons? No. No. Okay. No. Work. No.

Noel 32:31

Um, most chaotic spray tan situation, and please tell me it wasn't me. It was me, wasn't it? No, it was not you.

Kristen 32:40

And let me just preface preface this with I love all of my clients dearly.

Noel 32:45

They I think the most chaotic situation is me. That's why I'm asking.

Kristen 32:49

When your kid when your kids were snapping photos of you, dead.

Noel 32:54

It was like me with a shower cap on.

Zac 32:57

That is so funny to me. What's your most chaotic month out of the year? Ooh.

Kristen 33:01

Business-wise, in terms of like Belmont, I should say, insanity. Like when you were talking about, you know, earlier, like how, you know, how you were crazy too. Yeah, we very much felt the wrath of the Belma season. Yeah. For sure. Yeah, we did our busiest week ever, and I did a 85 tans. Good for you. The week. Yeah. That's that's terrific.

Noel 33:27

I would say that was Congratulations. But that's a doozy. It was absolute must-do's before you come in and get a tan, and absolutely must do not before you come in and get a spray tan that you want every client to know.

Kristen 33:42

Do not, please do not shower the day of your spray tan. Please do not shower the day of your spray tan.

Speaker 6 33:50

Please do not shower the day of your spray tan.

Kristen 33:53

She does the air if you smell. Yes, or you just came from the gym. It doesn't matter. We have all the stuff here to prep your skin appropriately. So please don't shower the day of your spray tan. Okay. Please shower the day before your spray tan. Got it. Please do all of your stuff the day before. Okay. Lotion. All of the things the day before. Oh, lotion's fine too? The day before. Yes. Just not.

Zac 34:19

Give your skin some time. Yeah. Yeah. Okay.

Noel 34:21

Yes. Alright, an absolute like what are some, yes, this person did this. Good for them. Um, dry brushed. Really?

Kristen 34:29

Exfoliate. Yeah. I'm really big on the dry brush exfoliation right now. It's really doing wonders for the spray tan. Because you want those dead skin cells that are already like tiny through to be removed because that's what the tan is gonna cling to. So if it's clinging to stuff that's like loose and dead, then those are gonna fall off, right? So you need those, you know, contradictory. The dead skin cells that are still there have a weak lifespan left in them, you know.

Noel 35:00

So that's why your tans last, you know, my tan, I'm I'm fading, but you did me, I want to say a week ago. Just starting to fan fade a little bit. But if I had something coming up like in two or three days, I might want to get a retan. Yeah. What's my best way to like reset for that?

Kristen 35:17

I would do dry brush. I mean, if you don't have a dry brush, those exfoliating mitts are really good. Um you can soak in an Epsom salt bath for you know 10 minutes and then you know, do yeah, then do a dry brush or the exfoliating mitt. Um, you can exfoliate. Usually when it's like a ready to come off, you know, it's kind of just comes off pretty easily by doing those types of things. But if you're really, you know, struggling to get it off, you can do the soak in the bathtub.

Zac 35:45

What's the weirdest request a guest has ever made?

Kristen 35:49

I was asked to spray tan a wife while a husband watched. So that was when I was doing mobile, like when I was going into houses, and he requested that he be able to watch me spray tan his wife.

Zac 36:08

Was there talking in the room? Was it a silent room? Silent.

Kristen 36:13

And he just stood over my shoulder.

Zac 36:16

Yo, listen, we uh here at Off Track Podcast, we really do ask the hard-hitting questions. We do. We really do. We like to, we like to get down to the bottom of it. Okay. We do. And that concludes our game. So tell us though, Kristen, where can um where can our guests uh book services with you? Where can they find you on socials? All that stuff.

Kristen 36:40

So um we're on Instagram or at Afterglow Sunless Tan, no S. Um, and then our website, it's um the aftergloweffect.com, and that's the dash aftergloweffect.com.

Noel 36:56

Perfect. And do you have any like specials or anything? Because some people like want to come in in the summer more frequently than they do in the winter. Any any packages or anything to look forward to specials, et cetera?

Kristen 37:07

Yeah, so we just started a new membership package. Um I have a uh a business coach that I've been working with for the past couple of months, and we kind of came up with this new membership package to kind of just um make it a little bit easier for people that want to do it more regularly. So yeah, so we just um actually launched that like a week ago. Congress and what is that?

Noel 37:30

You want to explain?

Kristen 37:31

So it's um a $30 membership fee that you pay monthly, it's a three-month commitment. So you could do it for just you know the summer months and then you know, not um continue, but it's a three-month commitment. Uh, and every tan that you get during those months are 50% off. You get um 15% off of retail, you get a free birthday tan. Nice, you get $50 off of teeth whitening, um, you get referral credits, so you get $10 for every person you refer, and you can kind of build those up and kind of use them, you know, um at the end when you have built up enough for a free tan, or you can just keep on going with them. Yeah.

Zac 38:09

That's great.

Noel 38:10

Well, lots of exciting things. Thank you. The weather's warm and beautiful. Saratoga summers are lit. So if you want to look your best, be sure to check out Kristen. And she is, like I said, like we talked about most of this show. She is, if nothing else, like a vault, a therapist beyond just being like your tanning artist.

Zac 38:32

Well, I am so thrilled to have you here in Saratoga. Um I know everybody in town uses you and loves you. So uh thanks for taking some time with us today. This is so fun. Good girly glow.

Noel 38:51

Yeah, thank you everybody for listening. If you have any questions for Kristen or you want to sign up, just reach out to her on Afterglow's Instagram. She is super responsive there. And be sure to give us a like, follow, and share on off track talk.

Zac 39:05

But until next time, thank you all. Thanks, everyone. Bye.