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Hidden Gems: Meet Sydney Hayes of The Bronzy Belle

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sydney Hayes.

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:

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