Only on Bronzly
Fitzpatrick Tracking, Built Into Every Client Record
Bronzly is the only major spray tan booking platform with native Fitzpatrick scale tracking. Type I through VI lives on every client profile, surfaces on every booking, and triggers contraindication warnings when solution choices are mismatched to skin type — so you stop putting clinical data in a free-text notes field.
What the Fitzpatrick scale is
The Fitzpatrick scale is a clinical classification of human skin color, developed by Harvard dermatologist Thomas B. Fitzpatrick in 1975. It defines six skin phototypes (I through VI) based on response to ultraviolet exposure. Dermatologists, laser technicians, and cosmetic skin professionals use it daily to predict outcomes and avoid adverse reactions. [source]
For spray tan, Fitzpatrick type is the strongest predictor of how DHA will develop on an individual client. A Type I client (pale, always burns) needs different solution strength and rinse timing than a Type IV client (olive, tans easily). Knowing the type before you spray prevents orange tones, uneven development, and the most common cause of color complaints: wrong solution for the underlying skin.
| Type | Label | UV Response | Spray Tan Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type I | Very Fair | Pale white. Always burns, never tans. | Use 8% DHA traditional. Start with light depth. Avoid rapid solutions. |
| Type II | Fair | White. Usually burns, tans minimally. | 8% or 10% DHA. Medium depth comfortable. Rapid solutions need caution. |
| Type III | Medium | Cream-white. Sometimes burns, gradually tans. | Full range of solutions works. Medium-to-dark depth produces vibrant results. |
| Type IV | Olive | Olive brown. Rarely burns, tans easily. | 10% or 12% DHA. Deep development is achievable in one session. |
| Type V | Brown | Brown. Very rarely burns, tans darkly. | Higher DHA recommended. Customize for desired tone shift — many clients want subtle enhancement. |
| Type VI | Deeply Pigmented | Deeply pigmented brown to black. Never burns. | Spray tan is typically used to even tone or refresh — not deepen. Lower DHA, lighter depth. |
Recommendations are starting guidance, not clinical prescription. Final solution choice is the artist's call based on the client's stated goal and history.
Why generic salon software ignores it
Cross-service platforms (GlossGenius, Vagaro, MindBody, Fresha, Booksy, Boulevard) are optimized for hair, nails, lashes, massage, classes. They store generic client attributes — name, contact, payment, appointment history. Clinical-grade fields tied to a single service vertical are not part of the data model. Adding them would mean building forms, validation, and warning logic for one segment of their customer base. Most platforms have not done it.
The workaround on those platforms is to write Fitzpatrick type into a notes field. That fails for three reasons: notes are unstructured (can't filter or report on them), not surfaced on booking flow (artist has to remember to look), and not exportable as data (lost during platform switches). Spray tan deserves a structured field.
How Bronzly tracks it
Intake-flow capture
The client intake form includes a visual Fitzpatrick selector. Six tone swatches with short descriptions; client taps the one closest to their natural skin. Self- serve at first booking or captured by the artist during the first appointment.
Persistent CRM field
Once set, Fitzpatrick type lives on the client record permanently. Surfaces on every booking, every checkout, every aftercare conversation. Filter your client list by type. Export with CSV. Search and segment by phototype.
Contraindication warnings
When a service selection looks risky for the client's phototype, Bronzly shows a warning at checkout. Advisory only — the artist can override with one tap and continue. The warning logs to the appointment record for accountability.
Use case — Type I client meets 12% rapid solution
A walk-in client books an express rapid tan. Bronzly's intake captured her as Type I (pale, always burns). At appointment checkout, the artist selects "Express Rapid — 12% DHA, Dark depth" as the service. Bronzly flags it:
Contraindication check
Client is Fitzpatrick Type I. 12% DHA Rapid solutions on Type I skin often produce orange tones or uneven color development. Consider 8% DHA traditional at medium depth. Continue with selection?
The artist makes the call. If they override and continue, the warning is logged to the appointment record. If they switch, Bronzly recalculates the rinse window and schedules the right reminder. Either way, the decision is informed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Fitzpatrick scale and why does it matter for spray tan?
The Fitzpatrick scale classifies skin into six phototypes (I to VI) based on how skin responds to UV exposure. For spray tan, it predicts how DHA will develop on a client's underlying skin tone. Type I clients (very fair, always burn) develop spray tan differently than Type V clients (deep brown, rarely burn). Solution strength and color depth recommendations are tied to phototype.
Why don't generic salon platforms store Fitzpatrick type?
Platforms like GlossGenius, Vagaro, MindBody, and Fresha are built for cross-service salon use — hair, nails, massage, classes. Fitzpatrick tracking is a spray-tan-specific clinical field, not a general-purpose client attribute. Most artists on those platforms write skin type into a free-text notes field, where it cannot be searched, surfaced, or used to trigger warnings.
How does Bronzly capture Fitzpatrick type?
Bronzly's client intake form includes a visual Fitzpatrick selector with example skin tones for each type. Clients can complete it themselves during first booking, or the artist captures it at the first appointment. Once set, it persists on the client record and surfaces on every future booking.
What contraindication warnings does Bronzly show?
Bronzly warns when a service selection looks risky for the client's phototype. Example: Type I client booked into a 12% DHA rapid solution generates a warning at checkout asking the artist to confirm — because that combination often produces orange tones or uneven development on very light skin. Warnings are advisory, not blocking; the artist can override with a one-tap confirmation.
Can I export Fitzpatrick data?
Yes. Fitzpatrick type is included in the client CSV export from Bronzly. If you ever migrate platforms, the structured field comes with you. It also appears in the API for studios on the Empire plan integrating Bronzly with custom workflows.
Move skin-type data out of notes fields
30-day free trial. Credit card required at signup. Fitzpatrick tracking included on every plan from Glow ($79/mo) up.