Hidden Gems: Meet Sydney Hayes of The Bronzy Belle

Hi Sydney, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
When I was 14, my very first job in a commercial tanning salon came with a free spray tan membership. Needless to say, I was the girl in high school always rocking a deep tan in November…and I still have no shame about that!

I am now a registered dietitian, spray tan artist/owner of The Bronzy Belle mobile spray tanning, Health at Every Size (HAES) activist, and self-proclaimed foodie. I recently relocated to Raleigh from Charlotte after finishing my master’s degree in nutrition and landing my first job as a clinical dietitian in the Triangle area.

It was just before the pandemic when I decided to open a mobile spray tanning business. I was juggling a pretty difficult course load at school along with an unpaid internship at a hospital, and I wanted a way to make income that would allow flexibility while also connecting with people. I began to realize that my new hobby as a spray tan artist could also complement my future work as a dietitian in supporting women along their journey towards self-love. The more I experienced and learned as a nutrition professional, the more aware I became of the influx of diet culture and negative body image surrounding women of all body sizes. As a dietitian, I know firsthand that we live in a weight-centric world where smaller body size often equates to health and happiness.

The mission of The Bronzy Belle is to create a positive, comfortable, and safe spray tanning experience for women of every shape and size. I started my small business with a greater purpose on my heart, and I pray that I fulfill whatever God’s calling for this time in my life is.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?

The journey to get here has been so fun, but it’s also been a challenge. I’m sure every entrepreneur can agree that it’s never a smooth road when you’re navigating a new business for the very first time…especially while holding a full-time career. You definitely don’t become a professional overnight so I’ve ultimately learned how to extend grace to myself. Shout out to the family and friends who let me practice on them when I was first starting out!!

Additionally, I relocated to Raleigh only a couple of months ago so it was tough to leave such amazing clients in Charlotte and restart the process of building clientele here. I currently only provide mobile spray tanning services, though I am looking forward to purchasing a space in the near future so that services can be mobile or salon appointments.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about The Bronzy Belle?
I offer mobile spray tanning services which allow me to travel to the client and provide a spray tan in their home. This option is very popular and convenient for moms, bridal groups, or anyone with a busy schedule! I have rapid solutions which require a 4-hour processing time as well as 8-hour solutions that require the client to avoid sweating or getting wet for 8 hours or longer. Rapid solutions (4-hour) are great for clients who do not like to sleep in a spray tan or need to shower soon after the session!

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I often spend my downtime learning from webinars, online forums, or mentors to enhance my spray tan knowledge. Facebook groups are also a great place to start…and they’re convenient! Having others to learn from who have been in your position before saves you a lot of time and frustration in the long run. It’s always comforting to have other professionals in your circle to reach out to for advice. Due to the pandemic, I have not been able to attend an in-person spray tanning conference for networking purposes, but it is definitely on my bucket list for the coming year!

Pricing:

• Spray tan, 8-hr processing time ($55)
• Rapid Spray tan, 1-4 hour processing time ($65)
• Group discounts available

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://thebronzybelle.business.site
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebronzybelle/
• Instagram handle: @thebronzybelle
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebronzybelle/