Okay, spray tans. The thought may conjure all sorts of
unflattering images of orange, splotchy skin tone, Oompa-Loompas, bimbos from the
Jersey Shore, etc. There is, however, a
way to spray tan that looks natural and healthy. I’ve been spray tanning for about two years
now; after some trial and error I’ve got down the art of doing it right. I’m referring to spray tanning booths, not spray
tans done by hand, although some tips might be useful for both.
Why spray tan?
- Reduce risks of tanning booth/sun tanning such as skin cancer and premature aging (age spots, wrinkles).
- Faster than tanning booth/sun tanning - desired color shows up by the next day, or instantly.
- Reduce risks of tanning booth/sun tanning such as skin cancer and premature aging (age spots, wrinkles).
- Faster than tanning booth/sun tanning - desired color shows up by the next day, or instantly.
What to wear?
Wear loose clothing.
Even though there is a drying cycle in the spray tan session, your skin
will stay wet for a while and tight clothing can make the tan look uneven in
spots. No tight jeans or leggings. Shorts or sweat pants/lounge pants are the
best. I also recommend wearing a V-neck
shirt, I realized the other day that I had a slight ring from wearing a regular
t-shirt and lower cut shirts didn’t look right.
Open sandals are best for your feet, but I don’t usually have a problem
putting socks and sneakers on after.
Problem areas/Where to put the barrier cream:
Barrier cream should be used on your knees, hands, inside of
the elbow, inside of the wrist, and bottom of your feet (careful it’s
slippery). These are areas where the
spray can get concentrated and show up too dark. I also put barrier cream where my bra straps
would be because after getting dressed there is often a darker line where tight
clothing sticks. Covering your hands with
barrier cream is really important because the knuckles can get extra dark and
between the fingers can be missed completely.
What you’ll find in the spray tan booth:
Salons may vary, however both places that I have gone keep towels,
wipes, hair nets, barrier cream, and Vaseline stocked and ready to use. Vaseline can be used on your nails if they’re
not painted, as well as on your lips.
Some places also have nose plugs so the spray doesn’t get inhaled. I pull the hair net over my ears and slightly
behind the hair line (you don’t want a line on your face from the hair net!).
Additional useful products:
I just recently was persuaded to buy a primer from my salon,
it looks like tanning lotion and is simply applied just before the spray tan
with a 60 second dry time. I was
skeptical for a while, but after trying a sample I realized that it does help
even out the color and it makes my spray tan last a couple days longer. It seems like every time I go in to the salon
they’re trying to get me to buy something, but I would definitely invest in a
primer. Many are available online for
cheaper than you will find in the salon.
I also find the foot protectors very useful. They look like the bottom of flip-flips, and
stick to the bottom of your feet. Since
you’re standing where the spray falls, the bottom of your feet can get really
orange. If you don’t want to spend the
money on them I recommend barrier cream or putting down wipes to stand on.
Step by step, what to expect:
I’m currently using the VersaSpa, but I’ve used the Mystic
Tan as well. Some machines will need to
warm up for a minute and they will let you know when they’re ready to use. So, once inside, undress (anything you leave
on will be stained!), pull your hair back if necessary, put the hair net on
over your ears and behind the hair line, put the barrier cream on where
necessary, and put on your foot protection (if you choose). Once ready, step into the booth. There is usually a button to press or
somewhere to hold your hand when you’re ready to start. The audio will instruct you on where to move,
and there are diagrams showing you which positions to stand in. After all cycles have finished, step out of
the booth. Wipe off your hands and the bottom
of your feet with a towel or wipe. I
like to stand in front of the fan for a few minutes to make sure the spray is
really dry before getting dressed.
Carefully get dressed. They say
not to shower for at least 8 hours after.
To prolong your tan, keep yourself moisturized every day. There are spray tan specific moisturizers,
but any good lotion will work.
One last thing...
A few last thoughts - I usually keep my makeup on while I go in. The spray gets through just enough, and I find that when I go without foundation my face looks unnaturally dark. In order to maintain a nice glow on your face, use a facial self tanner at home daily. I used Amber Sun 4 Faces last year, and applied with a sponge makeup applicator under my regular makeup. I also use Jergens self tanning lotion on my arms and legs every couple of days. Make sure you exfoliate before going in, whether in the shower or with exfoliating wipes that many salons carry. With exfoliating, priming, and daily moisturizing, your spray tan should last about 5 days. Pricing varies, but I currently have a good deal that costs $50 a month and allows me to go as often as I like for sprays only. Let me know if you have any other tips or good/bad experiences in the comments :)
One last thing...
A few last thoughts - I usually keep my makeup on while I go in. The spray gets through just enough, and I find that when I go without foundation my face looks unnaturally dark. In order to maintain a nice glow on your face, use a facial self tanner at home daily. I used Amber Sun 4 Faces last year, and applied with a sponge makeup applicator under my regular makeup. I also use Jergens self tanning lotion on my arms and legs every couple of days. Make sure you exfoliate before going in, whether in the shower or with exfoliating wipes that many salons carry. With exfoliating, priming, and daily moisturizing, your spray tan should last about 5 days. Pricing varies, but I currently have a good deal that costs $50 a month and allows me to go as often as I like for sprays only. Let me know if you have any other tips or good/bad experiences in the comments :)
Examples of spray tan on me, VersaSpa on medium level. My natural skin tone is very super white, English/Irish/German roots. First picture Day 1, second picture Day 3.
This is the primer I tested last time I went in, just bought a bottle today. Designer Skin Faux Natural Sunless Color Perfecting Primer. It smells really nice and you can use it before tanning in the sun or a tanning bed as well.
