The Official Norvell Solution Buying Guide: Find Your Perfect Match

Finding the perfect spray tan solution is more than just achieving the perfect color. It’s all about client satisfaction and creating a flawless, just-off-the-beach glow every time. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just getting started, our Norvell solution guide is here to be your go-to resource for understanding exactly what each formula offers – and who it is best for.

With iconic options like Venetian, Dark, and Tuscan, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But don't worry, our professionals have you covered. Think of this as your personal consultation with a Norvell expert, only with less pressure and more glow.

Understanding the Fitzpatrick Scale and Why It Matters for Solution Selection

Spray tan color selection isn’t just about undertones, it also depends on how easily a client tans or burns. The Fitzpatrick Scale is a professional classification system that categorizes skin from Type 1 (very fair, always burns) to Type 6 (deeply pigmented, never burns).

Knowing a client’s Fitzpatrick type helps artists choose the right Norvell formula with the right amount of depth, warmth, and undertone correction. Each of the core Norvell solutions can serve a different range on this scale:

• Fitzpatrick 1-2: Very fair to fair skin; prone to redness, sensitive, burns easily
• Fitzpatrick 3-4: Light to medium skin; tans gradually, may burn first
• Fitzpatrick 5-6: Deeper skin tones; tans easily, rarely burns

By pairing undertone correction with Fitzpatrick guidance, you can achieve the most believable, skin-enhancing results.

The Norvell Tanning Solutions Comparison Chart

Our comprehensive Norvell spray tan color chart breaks down each Norvell solution by undertone, DHA level, rinse time, bronzer load, and ideal Fitzpatrick skin types.

Use it as a quick-reference guide to understand how deep each solution can develop (DHA level), how intense the cosmetic guide color will appear (Bronzer Load), and which formulas best match your client’s natural undertones and tanning goals.

A Professional’s Glossary: Understanding the Chart

Choosing the right solution becomes even easier when you understand the science behind how Norvell formulas develop and perform. Below are the key professional terms referenced in the chart and used throughout our product lineup.

The Three Stages of Color Development

Spray tan results unfold in predictable stages, and understanding them helps you guide clients with confidence. Here’s what those stages look like:

• Immediate Color: This is the cosmetic bronzer your client sees right after the appointment. It gives instant gratification and helps reveal initial depth, but it is not the final developed tan.
• First Rinse: After the first rinse (timing depends on whether the solution is Regular, Plus, or Rapid), the cosmetic bronzer washes away, and you’ll see the early DHA development, typically about 85–90% of the final color.  Important: Rapid solutions MUST be rinsed at their indicated time to avoid overdevelopment or streaking. When rising, only use gentle hands and warm water. Avoid soap, hot water, and scrubbing.
• Final Result: At the full 24-hour mark, DHA has completed its development cycle, and the client sees 100% of the final color result, the true finished tan.

Defining VIO-7™: Our Anti-Orange Formula

VIO-7™ is Norvell’s proprietary blend of anti-orange bronzer pigments. It is expertly crafted to counterbalance warm or yellow undertones, preventing “brassy” or orange results that wash away during the first rinse. All of our formulas are expertly crafted to avoid any orange undertones, helping VIO-7™ create the most natural-looking tans, especially on fair or warm-toned skin.

Defining Ordenone®?

Ordenone® is a powerful odor-neutralizing ingredient designed to encapsulate and eliminate the smells commonly associated with DHA processing. Rather than masking odors with fragrance, it targets and neutralizes them at the source, creating a cleaner, more pleasant client experience.

Norvell includes Ordenone® in every spray tan solution that contains DHA.

Norvell Solution Guide: Understanding Each Formula

Each Norvell formula brings something different to the table, and those differences show up in tone, skin response, and final color. Let’s talk more in depth about the standout traits of Venetian, Dark, and Tuscan so that you can determine the perfect fit with even more precision.

Norvell Venetian: The Anti-Orange Icon

Venetian is the Norvell solution artists reach for when a client wants bold color without any risk of brassiness. Its signature smoky violet undertone creates a cool, almost Mediterranean-style tan that reads clean, deep, and natural.

The entire Venetian line – including Venetian Plus, Venetian Rapid, and Venetian Max – is a top performer across the entire Fitzpatrick 1-6 spectrum, but especially for clients who tend to pull warm or worry about turning orange.

This formula consistently delivers a balanced finish with zero orange, making it ideal for first-time clients and events where photos matter. It’s a staple for artists who care about tone as much as depth.

For artists comparing Norvell Venetian vs. Cosmo, the key difference lies in correction: Venetian targets warmth and helps prevent orange tones, while Cosmo focuses on reducing visible redness and creating a warm, medium-depth tan.

Tuscan: For a Rosy, Sun-Kissed Glow

Norvell Tuscan Plus is a warm, sun-kissed spray tan solution formulated with rose-gold and caramel undertones. This unique blend creates a naturally luminous tan with a hint of rosy warmth, making it a beautiful middle ground between golden and neutral color families.

Tuscan Plus is especially flattering for clients in the Fitzpatrick 2-6 range who tan easily or want a radiant finish without leaning too yellow or too cool. Artists often choose Tuscan Plus for clients seeking a soft, vacation-style glow that feels bright, balanced, and effortlessly natural.

Compared to Venetian or Cosmo, Norvell Tuscan Plus delivers a more softly warmed, sun-kissed result that’s perfect for clients who want a radiant glow that feels less corrective and more naturally luminous.

Which Solution Should I Use If…?

Every client walks in with different skin, different concerns, and a different vision of the perfect tan. Below, we’re breaking down real-world artist scenarios with clear, confident recommendations for choosing the right Norvell solution. Think of this as your cheat sheet for matching every request with the product that performs the best.

• …If my client is a first-timer who’s nervous about turning orange? Venetian is the Norvell solution built for exactly that concern. Its violet-brown base neutralizes warm undertones to create a clean, believable bronze that photographs beautifully and fades evenly. Clients walk out looking sun-kissed, not sprayed.
• …If my client has very fair skin with visible redness? Cosmo is your go-to for a calm, even result. With a unique blend of violet and brown tones, it balances pinkness and leaves behind a soft, neutral tan. It’s especially useful for sensitive skin or clients who prefer subtle depth.
• …If my clients want a deep tan that still looks natural on fair or medium skin? Choose Dark! With its warm brown undertone, it builds a classic bronze finish that adds a layer of depth that won’t overtake lighter complexions.
• …If my client has yellow undertones and wants a dark tan? Choose Venetian or Cosmo formulas. Venetian provides cool violet correction with natural, neutral results, while Cosmo offers a warm, medium finish.
• …If my client has olive or green undertones and wants a natural-looking result? Go with Tuscan! Its rose gold undertones balance green/olive skin, creating a richer, more even final color. Venetian can also work for clients who need a deeper, more smoky result.
• …If my client is fair but wants a warm, golden glow without bringing out redness? Reach for Tuscan Rapid, which is perfect for clients who want a radiant tan without enhancing redness. It provides a gentle, warm glow ideal for Fitzpatrick skin types 1 and 2 when rinsed at the 1-hour mark. For those closer to Fitzpatrick 2+, a slightly extended rinse time achieves a deeper color.
• …If my client has reactive or sensitive skin and avoids heavy products? Choose Clear. As Norvell’s bronzer-free formula, Clear eliminates the risk of bronzer transfer onto clothing, dresses, or bedding. While all Norvell solutions are non-comedogenic, paraben-free, and sulfate-free for delicate skin barriers, Clear is the go-to choice when discretion and minimal cosmetic residue matter most.

Each scenario in this Norvell solution guide helps you make faster, more confident choices in the treatment. After all, when the right product meets the right client, the results speak for themselves