Los Angeles — SUGARED + BRONZED, the nation’s largest sugaring and sunless tanning brand, has opened its 50th location, marking a major milestone in the company’s journey from a $1,000 startup founded in a Santa Monica, Calif., apartment to a nationally recognized beauty services brand.
Founded by Courtney Claghorn, SUGARED + BRONZED began in 2010 when Claghorn set out to solve a problem she experienced firsthand: finding affordable, high-quality spray tanning services. What started as Courtney airbrushing clients in her apartment during lunch breaks and after work evolved into a thriving business that has helped bring both sugaring and sunless tanning into the mainstream beauty conversation.
“When I started spray tanning clients in my apartment, I never imagined we’d one day be celebrating our 50th store!” Claghorn says. “This is a testament to our incredible team and loyal clients and we’re excited for the opportunities ahead as we continue expanding into new markets, introducing more people to our services.”
The company’s first storefront opened on Montana Avenue in Santa Monica, Calif., in 2012. Claghorn grew the business to 10 locations before taking on outside investment in 2019. Today, SUGARED + BRONZED operates 50 locations across 10 markets nationwide and plans to enter at least one new market annually.
“While our 50th store is an exciting milestone, what I’m most proud of is the community we’ve built along the way. We’ve created opportunities for hundreds of women across the country and fostered a culture centered on growth, education and exceptional client care. Our people have always been the foundation of our success, and this achievement belongs to every member of our team,” Claghorn says.
The company’s growth story includes overcoming significant challenges. After reaching 10 stores and securing a growth partner in 2019, SUGARED + BRONZED faced the unprecedented disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic just months later. With locations shuttered for extended periods, the company quickly launched its e-commerce business, helping sustain operations until stores could reopen. As restrictions eased, the brand resumed expansion and has since experienced consecutive record-breaking years of growth, revenue and new store openings.
S+B locations are available across California, New York, Pennsylvania, Miami, Texas and Washington, D.C., with many more salons on the horizon. For more information, visit https://sugaredandbronzed.com/.
[EDITOR’S NOTE: To read our April 2026 cover story on S+B, please click here.]
SOURCE: SUGARED + BRONZED