Rising Stars: Meet Wendy & Isabella DelRio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Wendy & Isabella DelRio.  

Hi Wendy & Isabella, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
We never dreamed that we would embark on a career together as a mother-daughter team, but we are enjoying every minute of it. When my husband’s (Wendy) work brought us to North Carolina in 2021, we had the opportunity to take our time to decide what we would like to do career-wise, Wendy a former educator, and Isabella an esthetician, both of us having left behind jobs that we loved. Through her prior work at a medical spa, Isabella was introduced to the art of spray tanning. While looking for work in our new home, Isabella looked into becoming a certified spray tan artist. I (Wendy) was intrigued and wanted to learn as well, so after much research, we booked a trip to Florida for in-person training with the best in the industry. When we returned home, we began practicing on our friends and family until we were ready to take on clients. We began as a mobile tan service for the first three months and then took a leap of faith to rent a studio space. Since opening the studio, our business has grown tremendously. We recently added ear piercing to our list of available services, which opened up so many more opportunities to work with other small businesses and allows us to meet so many more people. Our favorite moment of each tanning or piercing appointment is when our client first sees herself in the mirror and says, “I love it!” That is what drives us to stay on top of industry trends and most importantly to create an amazing experience for each person we serve. 

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
As with any new venture, the road is not always a smooth one. Being first-time business owners and navigating that world was a daunting task. In fact, we almost talked ourselves out of our very first event. It was a meet and greet with other women business owners. Thankfully we overcame our fear of the unknown and from that little gathering, we met so many of the most encouraging women who have become clients, referred us to others, booked us for events, given us business advice, and have become our dear friends. 

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As spray tan artists, we strive to provide a luxury experience for our clients. We set ourselves apart by addressing all the little details that make our tans look as natural as possible, giving your skin a healthy glow. We customize the client’s desired level of color based on each unique skin tone. We blend, smooth, and use shimmer powder to ensure the final result is flawless. We educate our clients on how to properly care for their tan so that it lasts as long as possible. 

For our piercing clients, we want the experience to be comfortable and fun. Sometimes the anticipation of a piercing can be scary, but we work very hard to calm any nerves and make it a pleasant experience. Everyone is always pleasantly surprised at how gentle our hand-pressured technique is. We do not use a gun or needle. For our littlest clients, we offer princess (or prince) piercing. This service includes special treats and a certificate. 

Most important to us is that each person we serve leaves us feeling more confident and more beautiful. 

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
As consumers become more aware of the damage to our skin caused by UV rays, the sunless tanning industry will continue to grow rapidly. As the popularity of sunless tanning increases, so does the quality of ingredients. Companies are including skin-nourishing ingredients in order to satisfy the demands of the market. Sunless tanning is now being promoted by celebrities and influencers and is becoming more and more popular. 

Contact Info:

• Website: wendybellasunless.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendybellasunless/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wendybellasunless 

Image Credits
Jacqueline Reid Photography