Things To Know Before You Spray

As prom and wedding season approach, many people are scrambling to achieve the perfect tan for their event. However, for those who do not want to tan in UV equipment, sunless tanning is the perfect solution. Spray tans are a quick, convenient way to acquire an even glow—all you need to do is visit your favorite tanning salon, step into a spray booth or schedule an airbrush appointment and voilà! Well, actually, there is a little more you should know.

Prepping To Spray

Before you jump into spray tanning, make sure your skin is in the best condition to absorb the DHA (dihydroxyacetone), which is the main ingredient in spray tanning solution that literally dyes your top layer of skin. Start by gently exfoliating your skin to remove dead skin cells—since the tanning solution is simply “sticking” to the top layer of your skin, you don’t want it to stick to dead cells that will slough off the next day. After exfoliating, moisturize your skin with a water-based lotion—an oil-based lotion can make it harder for your skin to absorb the solution.

Wear loose, dark clothing to the salon so that after your sunless tan, there is less chance of the solution rubbing off and staining your clothes. In addition, this prevents smears—even after the session is over, the solution still is setting.

While spray-tanning, be extra careful with the parts of your body that tend to tan unevenly. For example, because of the folds in skin, your hands, feet, knees and elbows will accumulate more of the tanning spray than other parts of your body. There are several options when it comes to covering these spots up, including special barrier creams that prevent these areas from absorbing the solution. Paper booties and Sole-O’s—strapless sandals that attach to the bottom of your feet with a skin-friendly adhesive—also are available to protect feet from overspray.

Keep in mind that it is best to spray tan approximately one to two days prior to any event to allow the solution to fully absorb and set. You wouldn’t want any of the solution to rub off on your outfit, especially if it’s your wedding gown! At the same time, however, you don’t want to spray tan too far in advance; a spray tan fades as your skin sloughs off, lasting five to seven days for most people.

Hint: If you’re attending two events back-to-back, try to spray tan within two days of the first event so that you have the best chance of retaining color for the second event.

Avoiding Spray Remorse

To ensure that you receive a gorgeous, just-off-the-beach look, follow the instructions of the spray tan booth. These will tell you how to stand and when to turn while in the booth so the spray is distributed evenly. (You don’t want to end up looking like Ross in Friends when he decides to try out a spray tan booth, do you?) This goes for an airbrush tan as well; in this case, the specialist will tell you which positions to stand in and when to turn.

After you’ve completed your session, make sure to gently pat your body dry with a towel. Don’t worry about wiping off some of the solution—anything that comes off at this point is excess and won’t affect your tan.

Wait approximately four to six hours to shower after receiving the spray tan. Remember that swimming in a pool or the ocean also will shorten the life of your tan.

If you’ve never tried a spray tan before, you should probably do a test tan (or two) a couple of weeks before the event. Go in and spray tan as you plan to for the event. That way, you’ll know what to expect when you tan for the event, and you’ll have time to make adjustments if the tan doesn’t come out the way you wanted. Practice makes perfect after all.

Pricing

Spray-tan booth sessions can cost anywhere from $20 - $60, while airbrush treatments generally range from $30 - $70. However, many tanning salons offer deals and packages for those who are tanning for a special occasion—so just ask what your salon does or ask friends for recommendations.