Preparation :
1. REMOVE UNWANTED BODY HAIR (shave, wax or thread), shower and exfoliate your face and body (paying special attention to problem areas such as knees, elbows and feet) the day before or day of your appointment. This is a crucial step in order to extend the life of your tan since DHA activates with your top layer of skin. We want to spray the solution on your newest and freshest layer of skin for an optimal and longer lasting tan result. We highly recommend you don’t use over the counter scrubs as they typically are oil based. Oil can act as a barrier on your skin and repel the tan solution resulting in a lighter and/or uneven result. We suggest you exfoliate with just a wash cloth at the end of your pre-tan appointment shower. If you feel you want to heighten the exfoliation process, feel free to add some baking soda to the wash cloth. Baking soda will not leave an oily residue, yet will help slough off dead skin cells nicely. If you don't have baking soda, just gently scrub your face and body with a wash cloth while showering. At the end of the shower, rinse well.
2. DO NOT APPLY moisturizer, make-up, *deodorant or perfume before your appointment as these products can act as a barrier on your skin, possibly leaving you with an uneven tan. Clean, dry, newly exfoliated, non-sunburned skin will allow the tanning solution to adhere to the skin better to achieve your optimal tan. It is best to get your manicure and pedicure before your spray tan appointment. If you can’t manage that in your schedule, ask for suggestions on how to get your nails done without compromising your newly tanned skinned. (*If necessary, you may use a small amount of deodorant, but just in the center of the underarm area. It’s much better to avoid sweating during the tan application.)
3. WE RECOMMEND you wear dark, loose clothing and shoes. The tanning solution contains a bronzer which acts as a guide for the spray tan artist and leaves you with an instant tan before the DHA processes over the day. You will be showering off the bronzer in a matter of hours (wait time is dependent upon whether you opt for the classic or rapid solution) where your end result will be revealed. Until you shower, some bronzer could rub off onto your clothing. The bronzer is water soluble and can be washed out of cotton fabrics in the laundry, but we recommend dark, loose clothing to avoid that from happening as you go about your day. (NOTE: It is more difficult to remove bronzer that possibly rubs off onto silk and satin fabrics so we suggest your avoid those delicate fabrics while waiting for your post tan rinse.)
Please Note:
1. Avoid a sunburn before your tan appointment. Skin that is damaged and peeling will only look worse after the spray tan develops and the damaged skin continues to shed. The color difference between the spray tanned top layer and the newly exposed skin is accentuated. Even getting a spray tan on recently sunburned skin that appears to have healed can develop uneven and blotchy. Warn your technician about a previous sunburn so they can assess your skin before the application and possibly add a prep spray.
2. Avoid anti-aging and anti-acne topicals such as AHA, retinoids, salicylic acid and azalaic acid 1-2 weeks before your spray tan appointment or use of self tanner. These products cause the epidermis (top layer of skin) to peel at a faster rate. The DHA (main ingredient that ‘browns’ the skin) will make the expedited peeling of skin from these topical treatments look more intense due to the skin color variance. When you speed up the shedding or regenerating cycle from anti-aging & anti-acne topical usage too close to your spray tan/self tanner application, your skin will most likely peel too quickly and create an uneven tan. Additionally, if you resume the use of these products too soon after your spray tan/self tanner application, your skin will most likely fade prematurely and often times in an uneven pattern leaving your tan looking blotchy as well. Some clients choose to continue using these topical treatments before & after their spray tan in order to not lose the benefits it has on their wrinkles and/or acne and instead opt to either avoid getting their face sprayed or purchase daily skin bronzer makeup, tan extender cream and/or self tanner to improve the blotchiness and maintain a tanned face. These three products and other professional grade skin care products are available for purchase at your appointment or for pick up.
2. DO NOT APPLY moisturizer, make-up, *deodorant or perfume before your appointment as these products can act as a barrier on your skin, possibly leaving you with an uneven tan. Clean, dry, newly exfoliated, non-sunburned skin will allow the tanning solution to adhere to the skin better to achieve your optimal tan. It is best to get your manicure and pedicure before your spray tan appointment. If you can’t manage that in your schedule, ask for suggestions on how to get your nails done without compromising your newly tanned skinned. (*If necessary, you may use a small amount of deodorant, but just in the center of the underarm area. It’s much better to avoid sweating during the tan application.)
3. WE RECOMMEND you wear dark, loose clothing and shoes. The tanning solution contains a bronzer which acts as a guide for the spray tan artist and leaves you with an instant tan before the DHA processes over the day. You will be showering off the bronzer in a matter of hours (wait time is dependent upon whether you opt for the classic or rapid solution) where your end result will be revealed. Until you shower, some bronzer could rub off onto your clothing. The bronzer is water soluble and can be washed out of cotton fabrics in the laundry, but we recommend dark, loose clothing to avoid that from happening as you go about your day. (NOTE: It is more difficult to remove bronzer that possibly rubs off onto silk and satin fabrics so we suggest your avoid those delicate fabrics while waiting for your post tan rinse.)
Please Note:
1. Avoid a sunburn before your tan appointment. Skin that is damaged and peeling will only look worse after the spray tan develops and the damaged skin continues to shed. The color difference between the spray tanned top layer and the newly exposed skin is accentuated. Even getting a spray tan on recently sunburned skin that appears to have healed can develop uneven and blotchy. Warn your technician about a previous sunburn so they can assess your skin before the application and possibly add a prep spray.
2. Avoid anti-aging and anti-acne topicals such as AHA, retinoids, salicylic acid and azalaic acid 1-2 weeks before your spray tan appointment or use of self tanner. These products cause the epidermis (top layer of skin) to peel at a faster rate. The DHA (main ingredient that ‘browns’ the skin) will make the expedited peeling of skin from these topical treatments look more intense due to the skin color variance. When you speed up the shedding or regenerating cycle from anti-aging & anti-acne topical usage too close to your spray tan/self tanner application, your skin will most likely peel too quickly and create an uneven tan. Additionally, if you resume the use of these products too soon after your spray tan/self tanner application, your skin will most likely fade prematurely and often times in an uneven pattern leaving your tan looking blotchy as well. Some clients choose to continue using these topical treatments before & after their spray tan in order to not lose the benefits it has on their wrinkles and/or acne and instead opt to either avoid getting their face sprayed or purchase daily skin bronzer makeup, tan extender cream and/or self tanner to improve the blotchiness and maintain a tanned face. These three products and other professional grade skin care products are available for purchase at your appointment or for pick up.
During Your Session :
1. A certified spray tan artist will discuss your desired tan results and then choose the appropriate solution and shade for your skin type.
2. We are often asked what to wear during the spray tan application. It is a personal choice and really depends on whether or not you want any tan lines. Full body spray tans can be done in shorts/underwear and a tank top/bandeau/bra, bathing suit or nude. However, men and clients under the age of 18 must wear some kind of undergarment such as a bathing suit or underwear. A disposable shower cap will be provided to protect your hair and other undergarments are offered to clients, such as a disposable thong underwear, disposable bra and adhesive nipple covers. Some clients opt to use them, while other feel more comfortable in their own undergarments. I’d say 90% of clients wear only bottoms to avoid tan lines from showing on their shoulders and back, but it truly comes down to your own comfort level.
2. We are often asked what to wear during the spray tan application. It is a personal choice and really depends on whether or not you want any tan lines. Full body spray tans can be done in shorts/underwear and a tank top/bandeau/bra, bathing suit or nude. However, men and clients under the age of 18 must wear some kind of undergarment such as a bathing suit or underwear. A disposable shower cap will be provided to protect your hair and other undergarments are offered to clients, such as a disposable thong underwear, disposable bra and adhesive nipple covers. Some clients opt to use them, while other feel more comfortable in their own undergarments. I’d say 90% of clients wear only bottoms to avoid tan lines from showing on their shoulders and back, but it truly comes down to your own comfort level.
Post Spray Care :
1. Wait until the recommended time to take a luke-warm rinse for this initial shower. As you rinse, you will see brown water from the bronzer running off your body. This is completely normal. We want the make up portion of the tan solution to be washed down the drain. It no longer serves a purpose. We recommend using your hands as washcloths (but don’t use a washcloth) to gently rub off the bronzer to make sure it all wash off. Doing this gentle motion ensures you get off the bronzer to avoid it from transferring the color onto clothing and to any brown colored sweat if you perspire. Avoid using soap for this initial rinse except for where needed (underarm areas/body parts hidden by a bathing suit). It’s best not to wash your hair during this initial rinse, but if unavoidable, rinse off the tan solution first, then wash hair. After your rinse, pat dry gently with your towel and begin your daily routine of moisturizing your skin. *Ask about spray tan safe after care products such a as body wash, moisturizer and tan extender cream. These products will extend the life of your tan because they are made to work with spray tanned skin where other over-the-counter products can cause premature fading. Tan extender cream has a minimal amount of DHA, that main tan ingredient, to give your skin just a litter more color as the week goes on. Clients rave how their tan lasts 3 days longer…especially while on vacation and the chlorine pool water and ocean a water are causing the tan to fade sooner. Tan extender cream is your secret weapon to keeping your tan longer.
2. We ask that you are cautious not to exercise or participate in any activities that would cause you to sweat or get wet until your first post-tan application shower. Excessive sweating before that initial rinse can cause an uneven tan and the bronzer to rub off onto your clothing. Also, do not wash the tops of your hands or do anything that could compromise your developing tan until you take that 1st shower. But after that initial rinse, you are free to exercise, sweat, get caught in the rain, etc!
BE AWARE: You will see brown water run off your body initially during your first lukewarm rinse. You are NOT losing your beautiful tan you just paid for. You are only rinsing off the bronzer which is basically the make-up portion of the solution that gives you some instant gratification after the tan application and the spray tan artist a visual guide. The tan can take up to 24 hours to fully develop from the time of application. If you opt for the Rapid Rinse Tan, you get to shower sooner than the Classic Rinse Tan and your tan will look lighter after your shower because it still needs to continue to develop and darken. Scientists have only figured out the science to allow you to shower sooner with the Rapid Rinse Tan, not develop your tan faster than the Custom Rinse. So while you will see a tan line after your Rapid Rinse shower, your tan still needs to develop and darken if you opted for a darker tan.
2. We ask that you are cautious not to exercise or participate in any activities that would cause you to sweat or get wet until your first post-tan application shower. Excessive sweating before that initial rinse can cause an uneven tan and the bronzer to rub off onto your clothing. Also, do not wash the tops of your hands or do anything that could compromise your developing tan until you take that 1st shower. But after that initial rinse, you are free to exercise, sweat, get caught in the rain, etc!
BE AWARE: You will see brown water run off your body initially during your first lukewarm rinse. You are NOT losing your beautiful tan you just paid for. You are only rinsing off the bronzer which is basically the make-up portion of the solution that gives you some instant gratification after the tan application and the spray tan artist a visual guide. The tan can take up to 24 hours to fully develop from the time of application. If you opt for the Rapid Rinse Tan, you get to shower sooner than the Classic Rinse Tan and your tan will look lighter after your shower because it still needs to continue to develop and darken. Scientists have only figured out the science to allow you to shower sooner with the Rapid Rinse Tan, not develop your tan faster than the Custom Rinse. So while you will see a tan line after your Rapid Rinse shower, your tan still needs to develop and darken if you opted for a darker tan.
Tips to Extend the Life of Your Tan :
1. Moisturize daily with a non-oil based moisturizer. Ask about our spray tan safe products that enhance the longevity of your tan. They can extend your new spray tan by up to 3-4 days longer. Many moisturizers actually degrade a spray tan quickly and can lead to uneven fading. Products infused with DHA will give a boost to your color to keep it looking fresher longer.
2. Scrubbing, exfoliating, shaving and waxing will cause your tan to fade faster, therefore do not scrub, exfoliate, nor wax over the next week to extend the life of your tan. If you shave daily, maybe try shaving every other day. Also, don’t push too hard on the razor and use hair conditioner on your skin so the razor glides gently over you skin.
3. Avoid long soaks in hot baths, hot tubs or pools as it will shorten the life of your tan.
4. A spray tan does NOT provide UV protection so you must use sunscreen when out in the sun. You could burn if you don't use sunscreen. Waterproof lotion type sunscreen is recommended as it puts a layer protection on your spray tan to help ward off harmful effects of chlorine, salt water and sand. Avoid clear spray-on type sunscreens as they are usually alcohol based and can dry your skin out and prematurely fade your tan.
2. Scrubbing, exfoliating, shaving and waxing will cause your tan to fade faster, therefore do not scrub, exfoliate, nor wax over the next week to extend the life of your tan. If you shave daily, maybe try shaving every other day. Also, don’t push too hard on the razor and use hair conditioner on your skin so the razor glides gently over you skin.
3. Avoid long soaks in hot baths, hot tubs or pools as it will shorten the life of your tan.
4. A spray tan does NOT provide UV protection so you must use sunscreen when out in the sun. You could burn if you don't use sunscreen. Waterproof lotion type sunscreen is recommended as it puts a layer protection on your spray tan to help ward off harmful effects of chlorine, salt water and sand. Avoid clear spray-on type sunscreens as they are usually alcohol based and can dry your skin out and prematurely fade your tan.
Enjoy feeling thinner and sexier with your new customized spray tan!