Meet the Artist Behind A Beautiful Bridal Glow: A Deep Dive with Brandi Quintana of Sunless Obsession

Okay, so if you've been following along with me for a while, you know that when I'm building a wedding day team — whether it's a full bridal party or a solo bride — I don't just recommend anyone. I recommend people I trust. People whose work I've seen up close, whose approach I respect, and who bring the same level of intention to their craft that I try to bring to mine.

Brandi Quintana of Sunless Obsession is exactly that kind of artist.

I've been wanting to sit down and talk shop with Brandi for a while now because honestly? Every time I work alongside a great spray tan, it changes everything at the makeup chair. The foundation melts in, the highlight hits differently, the contour looks effortless. A beautiful, customized spray tan is one of those things that looks like magic but is actually just really good science — and really good prep. Brandi does both.

So I asked her to go deep with me. Not just "what do you do" but how do you think, why do you make the choices you make, and what do you want every Colorado bride to know before she ever books that first appointment. Pull up a chair. This is the good stuff.

First, Let's Talk About Who Brandi Is

How a Bridal Spray Tan Is Different From Your Average Appointment

I asked Brandi this first because I think it's the question that matters most. There's a big difference between a spray tan you get before a girls' trip and a spray tan that needs to photograph beautifully in a church, a mountain meadow, a ballroom, and every candid moment in between. I wanted to know how she thinks about it.

"With my bridal babes, I really slow things down," Brandi told me. "I start with a more in-depth consultation — either over the phone or in person, whatever they prefer. If we do a call, I love hopping on video so I can see their beautiful faces and get a sense of their skin tone ahead of time for planning and strategy."

That detail matters so much to me as a makeup artist. The more we can see someone's actual skin — their undertones, their natural coloring, how light interacts with their complexion — before the appointment, the better prepared we both are. Brandi doesn't just ask logistical questions either. She goes personal.

"I use that time to really get to know my bride — how she met her other half, how they got engaged, details about the wedding, the bachelorette, the honeymoon, the dress style and color. All the fun and meaningful pieces that make this time so special. It helps me customize her color so it photographs beautifully and looks natural in every setting."

And then she always recommends one to two trial tans a month or two before the wedding to lock in the perfect tone and fade.

That intentionality? That's what separates a bridal artist from someone who just has a spray tan gun. The whole experience, as Brandi put it, is "more elevated and intentional from start to finish. Still glam, still glowing — but with a little extra love and detail for the big day."

The Ideal Bridal Spray Tan Timeline (And Why You Need More Than One)

This is where I want every bride reading this to pay close attention, because Brandi's recommended timeline is so smart and so specific — and it's exactly what I'd want my own brides following.

Brandi always recommends a three-tan bridal package: two trial tans and then the final wedding day tan.

Here's how she breaks it down:

Trial Tan #1 — 6 to 8 weeks before the wedding This is the test run. You and Brandi are figuring out color depth, tone, how it photographs on your specific skin, and how it fades on your skin. Everyone fades differently. Some people fade evenly and beautifully. Some people have dry spots that need extra attention. This is where you find all of that out without any pressure.

Trial Tan #2 — 3 to 4 weeks before the wedding This is where you fine-tune everything and lock in the perfect shade. Armed with everything she learned from the first trial, Brandi dials the formula in. By the time you leave this appointment, you should feel like yes, that's it. That's the glow.

Final Tan — 48 hours before the wedding Not the night before. Not the morning of. Forty-eight hours. This gives the color enough time to fully develop and settle so you're walking down the aisle with a glow that's had time to become part of your skin.

Between sessions, Brandi keeps her brides on a simple home care routine: stay hydrated, do gentle exfoliation before each appointment, and moisturize daily with a spray-tan-safe moisturizer. "With the right prep and care," she says, "the glow carries beautifully through all the fun wedding festivities."

Let's Talk About the Dress — Because I Know Every Bride Just Tensed Up

If I had a dollar for every bride who asked me about color transfer on the dress, I'd have... a lot of dollars. It's one of the most common fears, and it's completely valid. No one wants to spend thousands of dollars on a gown and walk down the aisle with a tan-colored smudge on the bodice.

Here's how Brandi handles it, and this is genuinely one of my favorite parts of what she does:

"I always recommend using a clear (no bronzer) tanning solution for my brides and often mix in a sweat-proof formula. This combo helps minimize any chance of transfer, especially under those beautiful dresses and in warm wedding settings."

The clear solution is everything. No bronzer means there's nothing visible to transfer. The color develops from the DHA in the solution, which is working with your skin chemistry — not sitting on top of it.

But she doesn't stop there. "I also remind my brides to stay hydrated and keep their skin moisturized. Healthy, moisturized skin doesn't shed as quickly, which means less chance of rub-off."

And then there's her signature touch: "As a bonus, every bridal tan includes my signature moisturizing finishing spray. It keeps the tan hydrated while it develops and adds an extra two to three days of glow longevity."

Two to three extra days of glow. For a bride who's heading from the ceremony to the reception to the honeymoon — that's significant. The goal, as Brandi puts it, is that "brides can slip into their gowns feeling confident and totally worry-free."

That's the whole point, isn't it? Remove every worry that can be removed so she can be fully present on her wedding day.

Prep Is Everything — And Brandi's Pre-Tan Routine Is Chef's Kiss

As a makeup artist, I live by prep. You can use the most beautiful products in the world, but if the skin isn't prepped, the makeup will tell on you. Brandi has exactly the same philosophy about spray tans — and her pre-appointment prep routine is detailed, practical, and completely doable.

Here's what she recommends:

24–48 hours before your appointment: Exfoliate thoroughly using an exfoliating mitt or scrub. Focus on dry areas — elbows, knees, ankles, hands, and feet. These are the spots that grab color and can go patchy if they're not addressed. Skip bar soaps, body washes with oils, or heavy products during exfoliation, because they leave residue that can interfere with how the tan develops.

24 hours before: Complete all hair removal — shaving or waxing. This is important because shaving after a spray tan will take color with it, and waxing can lift your tan entirely. Get it done before. Also, start moisturizing daily leading up to your appointment, but skip lotion on the actual day of your tan.

Day of your appointment: Shower and rinse thoroughly at least four hours before your appointment. Come in completely clean — no lotion, no oils, no deodorant, no perfume, no makeup, no sunscreen. "If it's easier, shower the night before — that's totally fine! You can use lotion after that shower if needed." No deodorant at the appointment. Wear loose, dark clothing and sandals or flip-flops. And as for what to wear during the tan itself? "Many clients prefer to go nude for the most even result" — and that's completely valid and normal in a professional setting.

After the tan: no working out, no sweating, no water contact until Brandi gives you your personalized rinse instructions.

"With great prep, your tan will develop smoother, last longer, and glow perfectly in every photo!"

Color Customization — Because No Two Brides Are the Same

The Colorado Factor — Because Our Climate Is Its Own Thing

Okay, this section is specifically for my Colorado brides, and it's important. We live at altitude. Our air is incredibly dry. Our UV exposure is intense year-round. And all of that affects how a spray tan develops, how long it lasts, and what you need to do to maintain it.

Brandi gets this on a cellular level — she's working in this climate every day.

"Colorado skin is a whole different game," she said. "Our high altitude, dry air, and intense UV exposure can definitely impact how a tan develops and lasts. Dry skin tends to fade faster and can cause uneven wear, so hydration is absolutely key here. I always tell my Colorado brides to start moisturizing daily at least a week before their tan."

The Biggest Mistake — And I Need Every Bride to Read This

Brandi didn't hesitate on this one. And I agree with her completely.

"The biggest mistake I see brides make is only doing one trial tan."

She went on: "Your wedding tan is just as important as your makeup or hair. It deserves a test run — or two — to make sure everything is flawless. Doing at least two trials lets us fine-tune your color, depth, and fade so your wedding week tan is absolute perfection."

And then she said something I'm going to quote forever: "We don't gamble with wedding day glow."

Especially in Colorado, where dry air can make skin more unpredictable, those extra trials make all the difference. "When the big day comes, you'll have that confident sun-kissed look that lasts through all the happy tears and the dancing."

Wedding Morning — What to Do and What to Absolutely Not Do

Wedding morning is one of my favorite topics because I see brides make last-minute decisions at the makeup chair that they definitely should not have made. Brandi's wedding morning guidance is practical, calm, and exactly right.

When you wake up, moisturize — but keep it light and tan-safe. Use your hands and warm water if you need a quick rinse, and PAT DRY after. No rubbing. No loofahs. No exfoliating products, scrubs, or body washes with alcohol or oils.

Skip deodorant and perfume directly on your skin, especially in areas that will show. They can alter the color or create patchiness.

When you're getting dressed, go for loose loungewear. A comfy robe or button-down is perfect for keeping your tan and hair intact on the way to glam.

And then — "try to relax and let your skin be." No last-minute shaving. No tight leggings. Definitely no sweating it out with a quick workout. "Your tan is fully developed by this point, so the goal is simply to keep it hydrated and undisturbed until glam time."

This is such good advice. Wedding morning is not the time to try anything new or fix anything. Trust the process you've already done.

Spray Tan + Makeup: Why the Combination Is Everything

I asked Brandi this question from my side of the chair, because I genuinely wanted to hear how she thinks about the relationship between spray tan and makeup. And her answer was everything I would have said if you asked me the same thing in reverse.

"A professional spray tan completely elevates the entire bridal look. It ties everything together. When the skin has that healthy, even glow, makeup blends so beautifully. The foundation shade matches more seamlessly, contouring looks softer and more natural, and highlight just pops in all the right places."

She continued: "A great tan isn't always just about being darker. It also balances and tones and blurs blemishes. When a bride's color perfectly complements her natural skin and undertones, her makeup artist can enhance rather than conceal."

I want to cross-stitch that sentence onto a pillow. Enhance rather than conceal. That is the goal of every great makeup application — and it starts with skin that's already doing the work.

"Makeup and tan truly work hand in hand to create that signature bridal glow that looks radiant and jaw-dropping in every photo. That's why I always say — the glow sets the tone for the entire bridal look."

Book Your Bridal Spray Tan with Brandi

Bridal spray tans with Brandi start at $65, and she has a full bridal program designed to take you from your first trial all the way to wedding morning. She serves the greater Denver metro and surrounding areas — and she comes to you.

📅 Book online: sunlessobsession.glossgenius.com

📸 Follow her work: @sunlessobsession

📞 Call or text: 720-329-7746

✉️ Email: sunlessobsessionco@gmail.com