What Spray Tan Solution Should I Use? A Beginner's Guide to Choosing the Most Natural-Looking Spray Tan

If you've decided to start spray tanning yourself at home, one of the first questions you'll probably ask is:

What spray tan solution should I use?

With so many options available, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. Some solutions promise a deep tropical tan, others claim to be olive-toned, violet-based, rapid, dark, extra dark, and everything in between.

After spray tanning myself regularly for over 10 years and testing multiple brands and formulas, I've learned that choosing the right solution matters just as much as choosing the right machine.

The good news? You don't need dozens of different solutions to get beautiful results.

In this guide, I'll explain which spray tan solutions I personally recommend, how to choose the right undertone, and how to avoid ending up with an orange or unnatural-looking tan.

If you're still deciding whether DIY spray tanning is right for you, check out my guide on How to Spray Tan Yourself at Home.

My Short Answer: Start with Norvell Venetian Plus

If you're brand new to spray tanning and just want to know what I would buy today, my recommendation is simple:

Norvell Venetian Plus is my favorite spray tan solution and the one I personally use most often.

I've tested other solutions over the years, but I continue coming back to Norvell because it consistently produces the most natural-looking results on a wide variety of skin tones.

What I like most about Venetian Plus:

• Natural-looking color

• Minimal orange tones

• Beautiful fade pattern

• Consistent results

• Beginner-friendly application

• Deep, rich tan

• Works especially well on fair and cool-toned skin, but still looks great on warm-toned skin, so it's a great place to start

If you're only buying one solution to start, this is the one I recommend most often.

[Link: Norvell Venetian Plus]

Not sure which machine to pair it with? Read my guide to The Best Spray Tan Machines for At-Home Spray Tanning.

Why Spray Tan Undertones Matter

One of the biggest mistakes beginners make is choosing a solution based solely on how dark they want to be.

In reality, undertone matters far more than darkness.

Think of spray tan solution the same way you would think about foundation makeup.

Two people can wear the exact same depth of color, but if the undertone is wrong, it won't look natural.

Most spray tan solutions fall somewhere on a spectrum between:

• Warm

• Neutral

• Cool

The goal isn't necessarily to get as dark as possible.

The goal is to look naturally tan. But trust me, you can get VERY dark, no matter what skin tone you have! There are truly solutions for every tone and depth you could possibly want.

How to Know Your Skin Undertone

While there are exceptions, I generally see three categories:

Cool Undertones

You may have cool undertones if:

• You burn easily

• Your skin has pink or rosy tones

• Silver jewelry tends to look best on you

• Traditional self tanners often look orange on you

This is the category I personally fall into.

Because of that, I typically prefer cooler-toned spray tan solutions.

Warm Undertones

You may have warm undertones if:

• Your skin naturally pulls golden

• You tan fairly easily

• Gold jewelry tends to look best on you

• Your natural coloring already leans warm

Neutral Undertones

Many people fall somewhere in the middle and can successfully wear either warm or cool-toned spray tans.

If You're Not Sure, Start Cooler

This is probably my most controversial spray tan opinion.

If you're truly unsure which undertone to choose, I generally recommend starting with a cooler solution.

Why?

Because a slightly cooler tan usually still looks natural.

A solution that's too warm for your skin tone is much more likely to be perceived as orange, but solution that's too cool for your skin tone won't be that noticeable.

That's one reason I love Norvell Venetian Plus so much.

Which Norvell Solution Should You Choose?

One thing I love about Norvell is that they offer several different color profiles depending on your natural coloring and the result you're trying to achieve.

Norvell Venetian Plus (My Personal Favorite)

Best for:

• Fair skin

• Cool undertones

• Neutral undertones

• People worried about looking orange

• First-time spray tanners

This is my personal favorite and the solution I use most often.

Venetian Plus has a cooler, more violet-based color profile that helps create a natural-looking tan while minimizing orange tones.

As someone with naturally fair, cool-toned skin, I consistently get the most flattering results from Venetian Plus.

[Link: Norvell Venetian Plus]

Norvell Venetian

Best for:

• Fair skin
• Cool undertones

• Neutral undertones

• People worried about looking orange

• First-time spray tanners

• People wanting a slightly lighter tan 

Venetian is one of Norvell's most popular solutions because it's extremely versatile.

Compared to Venetian Plus, Venetian is slightly lighter, but almost the exact same color profile. 

[Link: Norvell Venetian]

Norvell Dark

Best for:

• Medium skin tones

• Neutral to warm undertones

• People who naturally tan easily

Dark delivers a deeper result, but is slightly warmer than Venetian or Venetian Plus. That being said, it does maintain a fairly natural color profile, and still doesn't pull very orange even on cool skin.

If you frequently feel that you have a warmer skin tone, Dark is a great option

[Link: Norvell Dark]

Norvell Double Dark

Best for:

• Medium-to-deep skin tones

• Warmer skin tones

• Experienced tanners

• People who prefer a richer result

Double Dark provides a noticeably deeper tan than Venetian or Dark.

I generally don't recommend beginners start here unless they already know they prefer a darker result.

The biggest mistake beginners make isn't choosing too light, it's applying too much product while chasing extra darkness.

[Link: Norvell Double Dark]

Norvell Tuscan Plus

Best for:

• Warm undertones

• Olive skin tones

• People who love a golden, vacation-style tan

Tuscan Plus is one of Norvell's warmer color profiles, and is so stunning on warm skin tones.

If your skin naturally tans very golden rather than pink, Tuscan Plus may actually look more natural on you than Venetian Plus.

[Link: Norvell Tuscan Plus]

My Quick Norvell Recommendation Guide

• Cool-Toned Skin
  • Norvell Venetian Plus
  • Norvell Venetian (if you want a slightly lighter tan)
• Neutral-Toned Skin
  • Norvell Venetian Plus
  • Norvell Dark
  • Norvell Double Dark
• Warm-Toned Skin
  • Norvell Dark
  • Norvell Double Dark
  • Norvell Tuscan Sun

My Experience with Sjolie Solutions

While Norvell is still my personal favorite, Sjolie is probably my second favorite spray tan brand overall.

I've used both the Original and Luxe lines, and both are available in multiple depth levels ranging from lighter, more natural results to darker formulas for those who prefer a deeper tan.

Sjolie Original

Best for:

• Neutral - warm skin tones

• Beginners

• Natural-looking results

Sjolie Original is the brand's classic formula and a great all-around option for people who want a balanced, natural-looking tan.

Sjolie Original does lean warmer than Norvell Venetian or Venetian Plus, but still works well across a wide variety of skin tones. 

[Link: Sjolie Original]

Sjolie Luxe

Best for:

• Cool skin tones - but looks really beautiful and dynamic even on warm skin tones

• Experienced tanners

• Those looking for a more customized color profile

Sjolie Luxe is designed to provide a more advanced color experience and is often marketed as a cooler, more sophisticated color line.

Personally, I know many spray tan artists who absolutely love Luxe. While I've had good results with it, I still find myself consistently preferring the final color I get from Norvell Venetian Plus.

That doesn't mean Luxe is a bad product, far from it. It simply comes down to personal preference and skin chemistry. For my skin tone and the look I'm trying to achieve, Norvell continues to win.

[Link: Sjolie Luxe]

My Recommendation

If you're deciding between the two brands:

Choose Norvell if:

• You want my personal favorite recommendation

• You're new to spray tanning

• You're worried about looking orange

• You have fair or cool-toned skin

Choose Sjolie if:

• You already use Sjolie products

• You prefer their color profiles

• You've had good results with the brand in the past

Both brands are capable of producing beautiful results. In my experience, the difference often comes down to personal preference rather than one being objectively better than the other.

What Spray Tan Solution Is Best for Pale Skin?

This is one of the most common questions I receive.

As someone with naturally fair skin, my answer is almost always:

Norvell Venetian Plus.

Many fair-skinned people assume they need the lightest solution available.

In reality, choosing the correct undertone is often more important than choosing the lightest formula.

A darker solution with the right undertone frequently looks more natural than a lighter solution with the wrong undertone.

What Spray Tan Solution Doesn't Turn Orange?

No solution can guarantee you'll never look orange.

Orange results can happen because of:

• Incorrect undertone selection

• Poor skin prep

• Applying too much solution

• Using old product

• Individual skin chemistry

That said, solutions with cooler undertones generally reduce the risk of an orange appearance.

This is another reason I personally prefer Venetian Plus.

The Best Spray Tan Solution Is Only Part of the Equation

Even the best spray tan solution won't produce great results if:

• Your machine isn't adjusted correctly

• Your skin isn't prepped properly

• You're applying too much product

• Your spray pattern is inconsistent

If you're still researching equipment, check out my article on choosing the best spray tan machine.

You may also find these helpful:

• How To Spray Tan Yourself At Home

• How To Make A Spray Tan Last Longer If You Work Out

And if you want step-by-step video demonstrations showing exactly how I prep, spray, rinse, maintain, and troubleshoot my tans, that's exactly what I teach inside my At-Home Spray Tan course.

Final Thoughts

Don't Be Afraid to Start with Sample Sizes

One mistake I see beginners make is buying a large bottle of solution before they know whether they actually like the color.

The good news is that Norvell and Sjolie both offer sample sizes of many of their most popular solutions. When you're first starting out, I highly recommend taking advantage of those smaller sizes whenever possible.

To give you some perspective, I spray tan myself every single week, and it still takes me roughly six months to go through a large bottle of solution. If you're only spray tanning for vacations, special events, or occasional maintenance, a full-size bottle can last an incredibly long time.

Starting with a sample size allows you to experiment with different undertones and formulas before committing to a larger bottle, which can save both money and frustration.

My Thoughts on Rapid Spray Tan Solutions

Most of the solutions I've discussed in this article are also available in rapid formulas.

Rapid solutions are designed so that the longer you leave them on, the darker they become. For example, you might rinse after 2 hours for a lighter result, 4 hours for a medium result, or 6+ hours for a darker result.

While that flexibility sounds great in theory, I personally don't recommend rapid solutions as your primary solution if you're new to spray tanning.

In my experience, rapid solutions can be:

• Less predictable
• More difficult to replicate consistently
• Slightly more prone to uneven results
• Harder for beginners to master

I much prefer traditional 8-hour solutions because they remove one variable from the equation. You apply the tan, leave it on overnight, rinse in the morning, and generally get the same result every time.

That said, rapid solutions absolutely have their place. If you have a last-minute event, forgot to tan the night before, or simply don't have eight hours available for development, a rapid solution can be a lifesaver. I just wouldn't make it your everyday solution unless convenience is your top priority.

You've Got This

If you're overwhelmed by all the spray tan solution options available, keep it simple.

After more than a decade of spray tanning myself at home, my recommendation is still Norvell.

If you're unsure where to start, choose a cooler undertone, focus on proper application, and remember that technique matters just as much as product selection.

A good spray tan solution can make a huge difference, but knowing how to use it correctly is what creates truly natural-looking results.