SPRAY TAN

Spray Tan Frequently Asked Questions

 

Do you customize the solution?

Yes, we customize the “Sun Kiss’d Glow” & “Island Vacation Bronzing” solutions. We take several factors into consideration- your skin type, hair color, eye color, and most importantly, what shade of tan you desire. With the “Two Snaps & a Twirl” solution, you have the opportunity to customize it with your post session shower time- 1 hour for a light tan, 2-3 hours for a medium tan, and 4 hours for a dark tan.

 

Do I need to worry about looking like an orange pumpkin or streaking?

Absolutely not. Our solution is made with the highest quality DHA that is derived from organic sugar beets and sugar cane instead of beta-carotene (carrot extract). This guarantees that your tan will be golden brown.  In addition, our airbrush artists are highly experienced and trained to avoid streaks and unevenness.

 

What is the difference between the “Sun Kiss’d Glow” & “Island Vacation Bronzing” solutions versus the “Two Snaps & a Twirl?”

The only difference is shower time. Both solutions have the ability to be as light or as dark as you desire and they both last for the same amount of time.  It is important to note that after you shower off the “Two Snaps & a Twirl” tan, you will feel quite a bit lighter due to the fact that the dark colorguide will be gone and your tan will only be 1-4 hours into development.  The tan will then continue to develop for 8-20 hours after your shower. With the “Sun Kiss’d Glow” & “Island Vacation Bronzing” solutions, the tan will darken until you shower (anytime after 10 hours). You will then wash off the colorguide layer and instantly become a shade lighter. The color that you see when you finish showering off the “Sun Kiss’d Glow” & “Island Vacation Bronzing” tan will be the actual color of your tan.

 

How should I prepare for my tan?

We highly recommend that you shower right before before your appointment and wax or shave two days prior to your tanning session. A glycerin soap is most ideal because it tends to leave the least amount of residue on your skin. (On the other hand, oil-based soaps should be avoided.)  Exfoliating is very important because it will help your tan last longer.  The best way to do this is to use a sugar scrub in combination with exfoliating gloves (available at our salon).  It is also important to schedule manicure/pedicures, sugaring, and/or waxing appointments before rather than after.  (It is okay to wear makeup and/or lotion during your session as long as it is not oil-based.)

 

What should I wear to my appointment?

It is best to wear dark, loose fitting clothing and flip flops. (There is cosmetic bronzer in the solution and there is a chance that it can rub off on clothing. It washes out of most materials, but it is better to be on the safe side and not wear anything light in color.)  As a side note, better to use old sheets on your bedding the night post your tanning appointment.  Wear flip flops to your appointment, otherwise we have some available for $5.00 upon request.

 

What should I wear during my treatment? 

You are welcome to wear as little or as much as you are comfortable wearing- just keep unwanted tan lines in mind!  We have disposable undies, bras, underwear and shower caps available as well.

 

How long does the appointment take?

The appointment is set for exactly 15 minutes, so it is very important to be punctual.  If you are a first time client, we recommend that you arrive 10 minutes before your scheduled appointment time so that you can fill out forms and receive a consultation from your airbrush tanning artist.

 

How long should I wait before I work out or shower?

This depends on your solution choice.  With the “Sun Kiss’d Glow” & “Island Vacation Bronzing” tan, we strongly recommend that you wait at least 12 hours before you sweat or get wet. With the “Two Snaps & a Twirl” tan, you must shower (without soap) sometime in between 1-4 hours of your tanning session. With “Two Snaps & a Twirl”  tan, you are allowed to do a light workout after your shower. (However, hot yoga or sitting in a steam room could affect the overall darkness of your tan if done within 12 hours post session.)

 

Why do you recommend showering without soap when selecting the “Two Snaps & a Twirl?”  It has been proven that soap neutralizes the development of DHA.  We strongly recommend just a warm water rinse so that your tan is able to obtain it’s full color.  If you would like to use a limited amount of soap in certain areas, that is completely fine as well.

 

How long will my tan last?

This depends on several factors including your skin type, skin cycle, lifestyle, and care. It should last for the minimum of a week and has the potential to last as long as two weeks. The best thing that you can do to increase the longevity of your tan is to apply our Wax Lounge Tan Extending Moisturizer once a day.  Also, try to avoid activities that speed up your skin’s natural exfoliation process.  Keep in mind that exfoliation long showers/baths, hot tubs, heavy sweating, and swimming in salt water and/or chlorine all tend to dry out your skin.

 

I have very fair skin, will a spray tan still look natural? 

Yes. We will customize a solution that will work with your specific skin tone. However, if you are new to spray tanning, we suggest selecting a lighter shade for the first session.

 

Why does my face tan fade faster?

This is due to several reasons. First, facial skin is thinner than skin found on other parts of the body. The face is also more exposed to the environment and endures more frequent washing.  In addition, makeup, anti-aging creams, astringents, etc. tend to break down the tan more quickly.

 

Will my spray tan protect me from the sun?

Unfortunately, it does not, so remember to wear SPF!

 

Why do some sunless tans start to become patchy when they fade?

The active ingredient in spray tanning solution is DHA (dihydroxyacetone). The DHA reacts with your dead skin cell’s proteins, resulting in a bronzing effect. Therefore, as your skin goes through its natural exfoliation process, these dead skin cells shed. It is important to note that not every cell sheds at the same rate. You may have some “tanned” cells that remain or last longer than others. (The result of this is an appearance of dark spots that looks similar to freckles.) This has no correlation to your spray tan technician or the solution. Keep in mind that this process tends to be a bit more noticeable when you choose a shade that is significantly darker than your natural skin color. However, you can usually counteract this by moisturizing with the Wax Lounge Tan Extending Moisturizer.

 

Will really dry skin affect my spray tan?

Dry skin may cause the tan to fade unevenly. (This is often more of a concern during the winter months.) If you have dry skin, we recommend that you moisturize twice a day for a week leading up to your tanning session. We suggest that you also apply A TINY BIT of lotion to ONLY SUPER DRY areas on your skin before your session.  Otherwise, if you apply lotion in other places, the tan will NOT take.  This is only to avoid the tan taking in a concentrated form on the super dry areas.

 

Is sunless tanning safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women?

The active ingredient, DHA, has never been tested extensively on pregnant or breastfeeding women. We simply request that clients ask their doctor for an approval before they book a session.

 

Can I get a spray tan if I have a sunburn or my skin is peeling?

This might be the one time that we recommend that you’d don’t get a spray tan! Oh, and wear sunscreen next time!!