Sonoma Tanning

Santa Rosa, United States

2.5

Closed now

20 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards
By Appointment Only

Contacts

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Telephone:
+1 707-546-1452
Website:
www.sonomatanning.com
Address:
4795 Old Redwood Hwy Ste D, Santa Rosa, CA, 95403
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Bussiness info

Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Parking
Private Lot
Bike Parking
No
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes
By Appointment Only
Yes

Today

Today 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
Closed now
Local time (Santa Rosa) 03:39 Thursday, 12 June 2025

Business hours

Monday –
Tuesday 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Wednesday 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Thursday 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
Friday 9:00 am – 7:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Sunday –

Description

Specialties

Sonoma Tanning emerged in 2007 as the premier airbrush tanning service in Northern California. Once of the first mobile airbrush tanning services in the United States, their following grew, and quickly expanded to a salon location and satellite locations in some of California’s top spas, including the Lodge at Sonoma and Meadowood Napa Valley.

Sonoma Tanning employs several airbrush artists throughout California, and has affiliate artists throughout the United States and Canada that provide their clients with the same amazing tans no matter where their travels take them. Our mobile artists are available on site for weddings, bodybuilding competitions, and pageants. They have been the preferred chocie of the Miss California Pageant since 2007, and they work extensively with the Natural Bodybuilding Association.

Sonoma Tanning is dedicated to their clients, friends, and community. Working side by side with many community organizations to assist with fundraising and charity events.

History

Established in 2007.

Sonoma Tanning emerged in 2007 as the premier airbrush tanning service in Northern California. Once of the first mobile airbrush tanning services in the United States, their following grew, and quickly expanded to a salon location and satellite locations in some of California’s top spas, including the Lodge at Sonoma and Meadowood Napa Valley.

Sonoma Tanning employs several airbrush artists throughout California, and has affiliate artists throughout the United States and Canada that provide their clients with the same amazing tans no matter where their travels take them. Our mobile artists are available on site for weddings, bodybuilding competitions, and pageants. They have been the preferred chocie of the Miss California Pageant since 2007, and they work extensively with the Natural Bodybuilding Association.

Sonoma Tanning is dedicated to their clients, friends, and community. Working side by side with many community organizations to assist with fundraising and charity events.

Meet the Business Owner

Kelly R.

Business Owner

Kelly Richardson, president and head airbrush artist, is reknowned throughout the airbrush tanning industry, and has been quoted in national publications such as the USA Today and the Chicago Tribune regarding tanning industry issues. Kelly, has been featured on ABC & CBS in both Las Vegas and Phoenix, and she has authored several articles on «tanning alternatives» for Les Nouvelles Spa & Esthetic Magazine, Phoenix & Tucson Bride & Groom, and other major magazines.

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20 reviews of Sonoma Tanning

No registration required
Place rating: 5
Fresno, CA
Great product! Works really well with my red hair. Hard to find. I’ve been going to Kelly for 10 years!
Place rating: 1
Novato, CA
My best friend got married in July, and the owner of this salon came highly recommended by my friend’s wedding planner. We we’re all super excited to get our tan on, before the rehearsal– because who doesn’t want a beautiful bronze glow before a wedding?! It’s kind of a big deal, right? The girls in this wedding party have all had a lot of experience with tanning, beds, spray, lotions, you name it, we’ve done it! So, we thought we knew what to expect.
The owner showed up to the venue, and didn’t show us an ounce of enthusiasm. Fine– there were 13 of us, maybe we were annoying. I don’t need a new best friend, I just need a tan. Although, with what my friend paid for our tans, she could have pretended to be slightly interested.
I am VERY fair skinned, so normally I ask for two rounds of spray, to get a deeper tan. While she was spraying me, I didn’t see any color. She said she created her own product, that did something with your skin to create a glow. I tried to explain how fair I am, and that I like a deeper tan. She was curt, and fairly aggressive with her response. So, I stepped out of the room, not wanting to make her even more mad with my questions.
We all patiently waited for our tan to «develop,» but it never showed up. My friend (the bride) spent the morning of her wedding trying to contact this woman, because it was the big day– and I was still albino, and she felt bad. Totally not her fault, I just didn’t want to ruin her pictures! A few other girls were also still pretty light. The tan only seemed to work on the girls who were already tan.
I ended up running to a drugstore to grab every option of tanning lotion they had. The bride had this great bronzing lotion. But guess what, we ended up getting tanner all over her dress. Great, just what you want to do to you friend, right?
The owner never called my friend back. Never remedied the situation. She wasn’t friendly, professional, nor did her own special blend of tanning work.
If she comes recommended to you for a wedding, try someone else. She isn’t worth the headache, and she’s rude.
Place rating: 1
Santa Rosa, CA
What started as a totally botched spray tan by a poorly trained employee of Sonoma Tanning ended with a simple request for a refund and by far the worst customer service experience I have ever had. Seriously. When the issue was escalated to Kelly the owner, I had the complete opposite experience of several other reviewers that gave Sonoma Tanning the 5 star reviews; she was curt, impatient, and unwilling to help quickly and easily resolve the issue that was clearly the fault of Sonoma Tanning. Instead she delegated the task of processing my refund to another employee who was just as rude and indifferent. Any further attempts to contact Kelly resulted in course, crude, impolite e-​mail exchanges with her. Clearly she does not care.
There are so many other options available in Santa Rosa. Why not do business with a tanning salon that operates with integrity and a reasonable level of hospitality and customer service?
My advice: steer clear of Sonoma Tanning.
If Unilocal had the option of no stars for this review I would have given Sonoma Tanning that rating.
Place rating: 5
New York, NY
I’ve been going to see Kelly at Sonoma Tanning since I started planning my wedding more than a year ago. I went upon recommendation from my wedding planner and every time I’m in town (I live in NYC) I go to get a clean and clear tan. Kelly is not only incredibly professional, but she knows her stuff. She developed the formula for the clean and clear tan and as someone who gets a lot of spray tans (I’m very pasty) this is by far my favorite. It goes on clear and develops over the course of the next 6 – 8 hours. It works well with your skin so it doesn’t turn orange or look too dark, and when you want it to stop processing you just take a shower and it’ll stay that lovely color.
The best part about the clean and clear is that you put your clothes right back on and it doesn’t rub off! This came in handy as I got a tan the day before my wedding and had lots to do while it was processing. I didn’t have to worry about lines or if it would ruin my clothes (given that I wore a white dress for the rehearsal).
Kelly was very flexible in working with me around all the things I had to do for my wedding. I was supposed to go the night before rehearsal but due to a delayed flight I knew I wouldn’t make it in time, so she came in early the next morning to fit me in. She also let me bring one of my bridesmaids who needed tan lines covered and squeezed her in.
I can’t recommend Sonoma Tanning enough for your spray tan needs!
Place rating: 1
Brisbane, CA
Terrible customer service and the owner is super rude. Hung up on me. NEVER go here.
Place rating: 1
Napa, CA
This place has the WORST customer service I have ever experienced. I left several messages with no call back, I tried to use their online booking service and it did not work and I called and spoke to a severely rude employee who said they were not taking any appts right now and I would have to sign up for the «wait list». I informed her the online booking was not working and she told me that I could just go to Groupon and get a refund in the most rude, annoying voice I have ever heard. I wouldn’t recommend this place to my worst enemy!!!
Place rating: 1
Santa Rosa, CA
This place is absolutely horrible. Terrible customer service and bad communication. I called 3 times and left messages for someone to call me back to help book some teeth whitening treatments (purchased on Groupon, so theres an expiration date) — no call backs or response. I tried to use their online booking system for about 2 months but kept getting «wait listed». I finally physically went in there to book the appointments and the owners were very rude, told me their ‘system was down’ and asked me to leave. Ridiculous. Dont even go here.
Place rating: 1
Windsor, CA
Don’t go here! Don’t roll your eyes and don’t bring your children! Zero stars
I should have listened to the previous reviews. From the time I walked in the owner was very rude and unfriendly. I had my sleeping child with me and was lectured very rudely on their ‘no children’ policy and how I need to call ahead of time to make special arrangements if I was going to bring in children. I found this extremely uncalled for since he was asleep and did not warrant a lecture from a stranger. I just kept saying ‘ok’ after she explained her policies and was about to walk out, when she told me I could leave if I wanted to. So I took my sleeping child and left
This is not even the worst of it. After leaving I received an email from her, further reprimanding me for ‘rolling my eyes’ and that I was being rude. I found this to be incredibly unprofessional and almost like harassment. One would think that as a business owner, that works mainly on referrals that one would try every effort to satisfy every customer not drive them away.
Believe the hype people this place is horrible!
Place rating: 5
Santa Rosa, CA
The very best sunless tanning I’ve ever had!
For years I’ve used sunless tanning before trips
to warm, tropical places.
Sonoma Tanning is the best place. The owner
is an expert at it and it shows. Went in today for
just a little color, it’s absolutely perfect!
I can honestly say I’ve never had it done so
well! I’ve been to Kelly many times in the past and
It’s always great but this time it is just perfect!
The trick is to go lightly, just enough to look
healthy and not overdone:)
Highly recommend Sonoma Tanning!
Place rating: 5
Santa Rosa, CA
I went to Sonoma tanning for my first spray tan ever on Tuesday and Kelly gave me a fabulous natural glow. I couldn’t be happier with the outcome! Thank you Sonoma Tanning :)
Place rating: 1
Kenwood, CA
This is the worst. When you read the other reviews about the owner, it doesn’t even begin to touch on how awful this woman is. Called me a b_​_​_​_​because I pointed out how splotchy the spray was. Never again! Wish they had negative stars!!!
Place rating: 1
Moreno Valley, CA
I hate to give a bad review, since I ignored the other ones I had read before going to get a spray tan, but I feel it is necessary.
I went to get a spray tan on a Friday morning for a Sunday wedding. — I mostly went for moral support for the bride who was also being sprayed. Neither of us had visited Sonoma Tanning prior to our visit, but trusted that based on the website and professionalism on the phone, we would be getting the same quality tan we receive at home (the wedding was out of town) since we have both had spray tans before.
NOT SO.
We arrived at 9:00 am and the front doors were wide open, in March. Needless to say it was pretty chilly. The bride went first and I sat on a chair and waited — looking around, there was a messy sink with chemical stains and bottles all around (not tidy). The tanning technician also was covering the front desk/​phones/​payment, so I was told to go in and get ready while the bride paid. Remember how I said it was chilly? Well the tanning room was FREEZING. Concrete floor and no heat, just a small padded shower mat to stand on for the tan. I was told to put my purse on the chair (I did not since the tanning gun was draped over it and dripping chemicals). I undressed and stood there shivering for what seemed like forever. The tanning technician didn’t knock on the door (which I noticed she did with the bride as well).
The spraying part was ok, besides adding the extra cold and her not telling me to hold my breath before spraying my face.
She said to let it dry for a minute before putting my clothes back on; there was no fan/​dryer and it felt like it was turning to ice on my skin instead of drying. I asked for any special instructions and was told «not to sweat», shower, etc.
The bride and I sat in tube tops and sweat pants all day and didn’t shower for 8 full hours (man that tanning stuff makes your skin smell funny!) and we were horribly streaky!!! Since «washing hands» was not mentioned, neither of us thought about it and both ended up looking like we were wearing white gloves (you can kinda see it in my profile photo). The bride was more blotchy than I was, and I tried to smooth it out using a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser while she was getting ready for her wedding.
Customers beware: The $ 40 is not worth an imperfect tan and a potential case of frostbite.
Place rating: 1
Sebastopol, CA
I bought a Groupon for two tans. Because I had to have a medical procedureon my skin, which had to heal, I only used one before the expiration date. The owner was adament that she did not have to honor the 2nd, or to honor the remaining face value amount. I spoke with Groupon who explained that according to their policies I was correct. They said they would contact her to explain. I asked her to apologize. I told her I planned to write a review on Unilocal.She told me I was threatening her and not to contact her again. Though the young woman who gave me the spray tan was knowledgable and lovely, this is not a place I would want to do business with again.
There was no attempt at good will or working anything out.
Place rating: 1
Walnut Creek, CA
I must agree with the majority of people that have left reviews, that sonoma tanning
has atrocious customer service. I have never experienced such an unpleasant owner. She is incredibly rude and unprofessional. Read all of the filtered reviews and see that almost everyone has experienced this sadly. I doubt she will stay in business much longer with the way she treats her customers.
Someone as obviously unhappy and angry toward perfect strangers that are paying for her services should not be a business owner.
I recomment finding another spray tanner who is more professional and pleasant.
Place rating: 1
Healdsburg, CA
I was referred to Sonoma Tanning by my aunt who swears that they do the best spray tan in town. I booked my appointment two days before my wedding so that I would have a nice even tan.
I had previously had a issue with a facial I received the week before as my skin is very sensitive. When I called to ask what the what was in the tan I was told that they «don’t have anything typed up.» When I then asked if they could tell me over the phone I was told that «everything was natural and told that there were 3 people on hold and many waiting in the main lobby; if I had questions I would have to wait for my appointment and then she hung up on me.»
Later in the day my cousin went for her tan. She was told by the same person that she didn’t like her attitude, refused to give her a tan, and then the woman chased her out of the store!
Coming from the retail industry myself, I was shocked at the horrible customer service, especially considering that I was just trying to figure out if I was allergic to their products or not. Not to mention this was just a few days before my wedding and I was stressed enough as it is! I later found out the woman who talked to me was the owner and I can not believe that she would treat her customers this way. The last thing you want when you are naked in front of a stranger is to feel more uncomfortable than you already are.
Honestly, I would give this place 0 stars if possible!
Place rating: 2
Sebastopol, CA
Wow. What a really rude lady. Relieved to read other peoples reviews here & learn that it’s not just me. If you’ve gotta strip down & let someone airbrush your @$$, you want that person to be sweet & make you feel comfortable. This is not your girl. I gave her 2 stars because she might actually be good, I just never made it past the phone call. Don’t bother.
Place rating: 5
Rohnert Park, CA
Just to start off, I am an esthetician, so ethically I’m not really supposed to worship the sun. :(After years of trying different self-​tanners and machine operated spray tans, I got an air brushed full body bronzing from Kelly at Sonoma Tanning. It was AMAZING!!! The results usually last (for me-​a person who showers every day) about 5 – 7 days. The tan is ALWAYS perfect and just the right shade of Bronzed Goddess.
The staff is SUPER helpful, FLEXIBLE and reliable. I find myself looking for excuses to go in to get air brushed! :)
So if you are reading this looking for a place to go and get GLAMOUROUSLY BRONZED, this is THE place! Trust me!
Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
I have been trusting Kelly to spray-​tan me for all my important events for the last couple of years and I wouldn’t consider going anywhere else! Her tanning formula is way better than others out there — it doesn’t streak, it stays on for at least a week (usually longer) and it looks natural.
Kelly is always professional and very QUICK! If you want an efficient spray tan and professional results, you should definitely go with Sonoma Tanning! My fiancé and I just got sprayed by Kelly’s staff yesterday for our engagement photos and we’ll definitely go back for our wedding! Thanks Kelly!
Place rating: 5
Washington, DC
FULL DISCLOSURE: I have never been in the actual store, so my review is based entirely on the product and services received off-​site.
If you need a tan, ABSOLUTELY call Kelly and her crew at Sonoma Tanning. I’ve had Kelly tan me dozens of times over several years and have never had a single problem with any of my tans. Not one has even come out off color.
Having someone personally spray you instead of the booths is 100% the way to go. You’re guaranteed to get exactly what you want with no mistakes. Kelly and her staff take their time to make sure that they don’t miss a spot, everything is even, and you are completely satisfied. On top of that everyone is really friendly and most importantly knowledgeable about the products they use.
Oh the products? Only the best! Won’t stain your clothes or bedding, and usually lasts well beyond the standard 3 – 5 days of spray booth tanning.
Don’t waste your time anywhere else and if you are able to have her come to you, all the better.
LOVE YA KELLY!
Place rating: 2
Santa Rosa, CA
Ok, giving a 2 star rating sucks, but I have to. I went to this tanning company based on their website (which is nice and professional), and the one review from Unilocal.I went three days before my wedding — just enough time for the spray tan to remain if it was good, and enough time to scrub it off if it was bad.
Well, going to Sonoma Tanning was certainly an experience. I went with my mom, who was going with me to all my pre-​wedding errands. We were both SHOCKED by how incredibly rude the owner was! I don’t know if we caught her on a bad day, or if she is always that nasty, but damn, she was straight-​up mean. My mom couldn’t stop talking about how awful this girl was. And my mom is super nice. The girl was that bad.
Ok, here are my grievances with this place…
1) She walked in on me when I was changing… I mean, c’mon…can you knock before you open my door? Do you have to expose my nakedness to the entire front room?
2) The spray tan was uneven… like, really uneven.
3) When my mom and I pointed out the unevenness (I mean, it was so obviously blotchy that we noticed right away), she made a point to try and blame ME for the unevenness… uh, I didn’t spray it on myself… you did
On the positive side, it was really fast. I was in and out in 7 minutes. Also, I was able to apply some makeup and store-​bought spray tan to the poorly sprayed areas, and was able to blend it so that it was not even noticeable. Hmmm… maybe I should go into the spray tan business…
I did get many compliments on my tan (after I blended it, scrubbed it, applied makeup to it, and worked hard to get it totally even). I will not be going back to Sonoma Tanning though. And regrettably, I would not recommend it to anyone else.