1.1 Course overview

Our courses have been strategically designed to cater to all learning styles and build confidence as you work through the content. At AED, we don’t like to overcomplicate things and want your learning to be interesting, challenging and practical. In turn, our courses mirror the natural order of learning:

Understanding the theory behind your craft is absolutely essential for your own confidence, and so you can educate your clients. Rather than pages and pages of theory, we engage all of your senses by including diagrams, images, videos and fun facts throughout! To learn more about each module, keep reading.

Module 1: Welcome to the course

The module you are currently completing! Here, we provide you with an overview of the course, and some useful tips regarding managing your study load and successfully completing your course.

Module 2: The industry

Have you ever heard the saying, ‘you need to walk before you can run’? Well, this is true for learning as well. In any industry, it is important to have a solid grasp of where the industry was (the history) and where the industry is heading (emerging trends). Having this knowledge will help you to learn from past mistakes and to be able to stay on top of exciting new trends which will keep your clients coming back!

In this module, you will learn all about:

The history of sunless tanning
The evolution of sunless tanning
Current trends
Spray tanning application process

Module 3: Foundational knowledge

In this module, we will begin to unpack all of the essential theory components you will need as a spray tanning technician. Some of the information in this module may be a refresher for you, and other sections could be a totally new learning experience! Before we can begin practising and refining our spray tan application skills, we must understand why we do things a certain way. Gorgeous bronzed applications do not happen by chance – there is quite a technical formulation that sits behind achieving the perfect look for our clients.

As a skilled Spray tanning technician, you will need to have a thorough knowledge of:

The anatomy of the skin, including skin layers and shedding cycles
How sunless tanning works
How natural sun tanning works
Tanning solution types, including key ingredients
Cosmetic bronzers and dyes used in solutions
Colour theory and the impact on selecting base colour products for clients
Skin types and tones
Contraindications and when to refuse service
How to identify contra-actions and ways to reduce them
Patch testing
Pre-tanning preparation requirements
Spray tan application techniques
After care advice
Event tanning requirements

Module 4: Tools of the trade

In this module, we will look at the full range of tools, equipment, disposables, and consumables that you will need and what you need to do to correctly maintain and store your products. We will then take a look at the contents of your supplied training kit, before looking at the sorts of equipment you will need to set up a professional workspace.

Module 5: Keeping you and your clients safe

Safety is absolutely essential in any service industry. In this module, we will look at Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) legislation, requirements, and ways you can keep you and your clients safe.

In this module, you will learn all about:

Workplace health and safety basics
Keeping your clients safe
Your own safety

Module 6: Skills hub

It’s in module 6, it’s where the fun really starts to begin! Up until now, it has been like building a puzzle – putting all the pieces together one by one. Now that you have a thorough knowledge of all the processes, tools, products and safety requirements, you can now begin applying all that knowledge. In this module, we will go through each step of the tanning process, including:

Using a spray gun (Tan lite 32000 as an example)
Setting up your workspace
Spray tanning application

Module 7: Client management

Without clients, we have no business! This module is designed to go through each stage of the spray tanning process, looking at a range of ways that you can provide that little bit extra to clients to keep them coming back. You will also learn about how to price your services, calculate time for appointments, and how you can manage your inventory and equipment.

In this module, you will learn all about:

Spray tanning application process end to end
Business basics

Quizzes, Practical Exercises and Major Assessments

There is an old saying, ‘If you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it’, which is why we have a range of assessments throughout this course so you can measure your progress. At the end of each module (except for modules 1 and 6), you will be required to undertake a progress quiz. You must achieve a minimum score of 75% to pass each quiz and progress with the course. These quizzes will give you instant feedback and will help you identify any topics you may need to revisit. If you fail a quiz, you will be able to retake it as many times as you need until you can successfully demonstrate a firm understanding of the training material.

In addition to these quizzes, there are two forms of practical activities associated with your spray tanning training. These are:

Practical Exercises

These are, as the name suggests, practical-based exercises designed to progressively build your skills (and confidence!) to prepare you for progression onto the next aspect of your training. While these activities are not assessed, they are CRITICAL to your development as a professional spray tanning technician, and so we highly recommend you complete these in full prior to progressing any further with the course. We understand you will be eager to progress through your course as quickly as possible, and that is great! At AED, we encourage enthusiasm! However, our course has been designed by a range of industry and education experts who have mentored and trained thousands of students, and who understand the stepping stones required to progress through your training safely and effectively. So, once again, please ensure your complete all Practical Exercises in full before you progress to the next element of your practical training.

Major Assignments

Again, as the name suggests, these are assessable items and your work will be assessed and tailored feedback provided on these activities. These items are graded as either:
a) Competent: you have achieved all learning outcomes associated with the assessment; or
b) Not yet competent: you have failed to meet one or more learning outcomes associated with the assessment and are required to resubmit all or part of the assessment item (this will be communicated with you in the feedback provided). At AestheticsED, we are here to guide you along the journey to achieving your tanning goals, and it is for that reason we do not limit the number of resubmits permitted. We will assist you, via feedback, to complete all assessment pieces and graduate as a Pro Spray Tanning Technician!

These practical activities will be detailed in full later in the course.

External links

In addition to our own videos and content, throughout this course you will see that we provide a wide variety of links to external articles, videos and websites. Exposure to a range of sources and approaches is critical for you to build an extensive skill and knowledge base. You will be able to identify external links by the presence of the below full-width button:

External link button example

Because approaches, styles and techniques are continually evolving, it is good for you to have the ability to research and familiarise yourself with other professionals in the industry. If you are ever struggling with something as a lash technician, you can pretty much guarantee other lash technicians are as well! Engage online, join industry groups, watch other lash technicians on YouTube and contribute by sharing your own knowledge and expertise.