The VersaSpa and VersaPRO are both automated spray tan booths made by the same manufacturer, and they share most of the same core technology. The PRO is the upgraded version — and while the differences between them aren’t enormous, they do matter, particularly if you want more control over your result.

The short answer: if your salon has the VersaPRO, use it. It offers more solution options, more color levels, the ability to target specific areas like just your legs or face, a more refined three-step treatment process, and improved heating. If only the original VersaSpa is available, you’re still getting an excellent spray tan — just with fewer customisation options.

Here’s exactly what each machine offers, where they differ, and what to expect from both.

Key Takeaways

Both the VersaSpa and VersaPRO use the same DHA-based, paraben-free, gluten-free solution with marine algae for skin conditioning.
The VersaPRO adds targeted area tanning — you can spray just your face, just your legs, or add a double-layer to specific areas.
The PRO offers 4 levels of color compared to the VersaSpa’s 3, plus rapid solution options that allow you to shower in as little as 1–3 hours.
The VersaPRO features a three-step process: a pH-balancing prep spray, bronzing application, and an anti-aging hydration finish.
Both booths complete a full session in under 5 minutes, are voice-guided, and feature infrared heating for comfort.
Neither provides any UV protection — always apply SPF separately when spending time in the sun.
A spray tan from either booth typically lasts 5–10 days with proper aftercare.

What Is the VersaSpa?

The VersaSpa is an automated spray tan booth found in tanning salons across the US and internationally. You step inside a ¾-enclosed, open-fronted booth, follow voice-guided positioning instructions, and three HVLP spray nozzles travel along a vertical track to deliver an even, fine-mist application from head to toe in a matter of minutes.

The solution uses eco-certified DHA combined with erythrulose and marine algae to tan, firm, and hydrate the skin simultaneously. It’s odorless, gluten-free, paraben-free, and cruelty-free. Salons typically offer three color levels — light, medium, and dark — plus a choice between an instant bronzing formula (which gives visible color right away) or a clear solution (which develops over 4–8 hours with no initial color). Height sensors guide the spray head to ensure consistent coverage for any body type.

What Is the VersaPRO?

The VersaPRO is the upgraded iteration of the same system. It uses the same base technology and solution formula as the VersaSpa but adds several meaningful upgrades: more color levels, a wider range of solution options, the ability to target specific body areas, and a three-step treatment process that goes beyond just tanning the skin.

Where the original VersaSpa is primarily a spray-and-go machine, the VersaPRO operates as a more complete skin treatment — beginning with a pH-balancing prep spray that conditions the skin for deeper, more even DHA absorption, followed by the bronzing application itself, and finishing with an anti-aging hydration pass. The improved heating system wraps warm air around you after each spray pass so you leave the booth dry and comfortable, ready to redress immediately.

What They Share: Features Both Booths Have

Before getting to the differences, it’s worth knowing what you get regardless of which machine your salon uses.

DHA-based solution with marine algae to firm, hydrate, and detoxify the skin — eco-certified, odorless, paraben-free, gluten-free, and cruelty-free
Three HVLP spray nozzles with height sensor technology for even, head-to-toe coverage
Voice-guided positioning instructions — the booth walks you through every position and movement step by step, so there’s nothing to memorise or stress about
¾ open booth design — enclosed enough for privacy, open enough that it never feels claustrophobic
Infrared heating for a warm, comfortable environment throughout the session
Wi-Fi-ready touchscreen with cloud data storage
Auto wash-down system between clients
Choice of bronzing or clear solution
Full session completed in under 5 minutes

Key Differences: VersaSpa vs VersaPRO

1. Targeted Area Tanning (PRO Only)

This is the biggest functional difference between the two machines. The VersaSpa sprays the entire body — that’s the only option. The VersaPRO adds the ability to spray just your face, just your legs, or both legs with a double layer (sometimes called the BronzeBoost feature).

This matters more than it might seem. It’s one of the most common complaints with automated spray tans that legs don’t tan as easily as the rest of the body — the VersaPRO lets you address this directly by adding an extra pass on the legs alone. Similarly, if you want a deeper color on your face specifically, or you already have a good body tan and only need a refresh on one area, the PRO handles all of this. The original VersaSpa can’t.

2. More Color Levels

The standard VersaSpa typically offers three color levels: light, medium, and dark. The VersaPRO offers four levels — light, natural, dark, and extra dark — and some salons extend this further, offering up to five shades. For anyone looking for a deeper, richer result or for those building color progressively, the additional levels give meaningfully more range.

3. More Solution Options

The VersaPRO’s solution lineup has expanded significantly beyond the original VersaSpa. Depending on your salon, you may have access to:

Catalina — cool brown with violet undertones for a deep, rich result that reads as a genuine tan rather than an orange one
Malibu — a blend of warm brown and cool violet undertones, one of the most popular all-round options
Venetian — cool violet undertones with rapid development, allowing you to shower in as little as 1 hour
Rapid Clear — clear formula (no instant bronzer) with rapid development, shower-ready in approximately 3 hours
Standard Clear — the classic clear formula with 4–8 hour development time

The original VersaSpa typically offers a more limited choice — usually just a standard bronzing formula or clear solution at whichever levels the salon provides. The PRO’s rapid options are particularly useful before an event or vacation where you need a tan that’s fully developed quickly.

4. Three-Step Treatment Process

The VersaPRO’s session structure goes beyond a single spray. The full experience involves three passes:

pH-balancing prep spray — conditions the skin and balances pH levels before the DHA is applied, which helps produce a deeper, more even tan with longer-lasting results
Bronzing application — the main tanning spray, with your choice of clear or bronzing formula and color level
Anti-aging hydration finish — a post-tan moisturising treatment applied as warm air, sealing in the result and leaving skin visibly smoother

The original VersaSpa’s session is typically a single spray pass followed by a warm air dry. The PRO’s prep and finish steps genuinely improve both how even the color develops and how the skin feels after the session.

5. Improved Heating and Comfort Drying

Both booths are heated, but the VersaPRO’s infrared warming system has been significantly upgraded. Rather than a single drying pass at the end, the PRO delivers warm air after each spray application — so you’re continuously comfortable and progressively drying throughout the session rather than just at the end. You exit the booth dry and ready to redress, which makes the whole experience noticeably more pleasant.

Which Is Better: VersaSpa or VersaPRO?

The VersaPRO is the better machine in every meaningful category — more levels, more solutions, targeted application, a three-step process, and better heating. If your salon has a VersaPRO, that’s the one to book.

That said, the original VersaSpa is still a high-quality automated spray tan booth that delivers excellent results, particularly for straightforward full-body applications. If it’s the only option at your salon, you’re not settling for something inferior — you’re just working with fewer customisation options.

For a comparison between the Versa system and a different booth brand altogether, check our full breakdown of VersaSpa vs Mystic Tan.

How to Prepare for Either Booth

Preparation is the same regardless of which machine your salon uses. Exfoliate thoroughly 24 hours before your appointment, shave or wax at least 24 hours before, and arrive with clean skin free of deodorant, perfume, oils, and moisturiser. Wear or bring loose, dark clothing to leave in. You can go fully nude or wear minimal disposable underwear — whichever you prefer. Our full spray tan preparation guide covers everything in detail.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a VersaSpa or VersaPRO tan last?

Both produce a tan that typically lasts 5–10 days, depending on your skin type, the color level chosen, and how well you follow aftercare. Daily moisturising, avoiding long hot showers, and patting skin dry rather than rubbing all extend the result significantly. Our full spray tan aftercare guide covers every step.

Which spray tan booth is the best option overall?

The VersaPRO is the most capable version of the Versa system, and for most people looking for a customisable, even, salon-quality automated spray tan it’s an excellent choice. The ability to target specific areas and access rapid solutions makes it more flexible than the original VersaSpa. That said, the best booth at any given salon is the one that’s well maintained, uses fresh solution, and is staffed by consultants who help you choose the right level for your skin tone.

Does a VersaSpa or VersaPRO spray tan turn you orange?

A well-matched solution at the right level for your skin tone shouldn’t produce an orange result. The VersaSpa and VersaPRO solutions are formulated with violet-brown undertones specifically to counteract the orange tendency that older or lower-quality DHA formulas were known for. That said, no spray tan is completely immune to orange tones — going too many levels darker than your natural skin tone or having very dry skin can push results in that direction. Choosing a level that’s appropriate for your skin tone and understanding what causes orange spray tans helps you avoid the issue entirely.

What spray tan do celebrities use?

Many celebrities use custom airbrush tanning applied by a professional technician for events and red carpets. For at-home options, brands like Vita Liberata — a non-toxic, organic formula — are widely reported among names including Sofia Vergara and Lily Aldridge. Automated booths like the VersaPRO are more commonly used for convenience tanning between events rather than for red carpet preparation.

Can you shower right after a VersaSpa or VersaPRO tan?

It depends on the solution you chose. If you selected the standard bronzing or clear formula, wait at least 4–8 hours before showering for optimal development — ideally 8 hours. If you opted for a rapid solution like Venetian, you can shower in as little as 1 hour. If you used Rapid Clear, 3 hours is the minimum. The initial bronzed color you see immediately after a bronzing session is a cosmetic rinse — it washes off in the shower. The actual DHA tan beneath it continues developing and is what provides lasting color. Avoid sweating or water exposure before the development window has passed.

Does either booth provide sun protection?

No. Neither the VersaSpa nor the VersaPRO provides any UV protection whatsoever. A spray tan is purely a cosmetic color — it has no sunscreen activity. Always apply a separate broad-spectrum SPF when spending time in the sun, regardless of how tanned you look.

Final Thoughts

The VersaSpa and VersaPRO are both solid automated spray tan options that produce genuine, salon-quality results with no UV exposure required. The PRO is the better machine — more levels, better solutions, targeted application, and a more complete treatment process — but the original VersaSpa is far from a compromise if that’s what your salon offers.

Whichever you use, the preparation and aftercare matter just as much as the machine itself. Exfoliate the day before, arrive with bare skin, choose a level appropriate for your skin tone, and follow the aftercare routine — do all of that and you’ll get a great result from either booth.