Throw A Spray Tan Party

Written By: Rachel K 

The trendiest party you can throw this summer is a Spray Tan party! Forget sitting in the sun all day, you can get a tan in 5 minutes in the A.C. while sipping on wine. Why not grab your friends and turn it into a party. No need to worry about the weather or about getting a sunburn. We asked owner Anthony Cortes of Trend Studios for some advice on achieving the perfect spray tan, not too orange not too pale, just perfectly sun kissed.

Skin Preparation Before

Preparing for your EVOLV spray tanning session can be done in a few easy steps:

1. Exfoliate and shave the day before or the day of your spray tan. We sell a great scrub that work against the spray tan and cleans it off the skin completely before your tan!
2. The day of your tan, try not to use moisturizers, perfumes or lotions because it may create a barrier between your skin and the tan.
3. Shower the night before.
4. Don’t apply lotion or perfumes. We try to tell the clients to not wear anything on their skin before their tan. It creates a barrier between the skin and the tan.

Combining Waxing and Tanning Services

The response to skin therapies like sunless tanning and waxing is different from patient to patient because of biological variables. For example, when we speak of recommend drug doses, we calculate the dose based on the individual 's weight. To determine the "who, when, how and why" of the skin we also need to have criteria to help predict suitability and effectiveness of a specific procedure. A variety of classification methods have been developed to assist us, the simplest of which is the classification of skin condition (normal, dry sensitive, combination). While important, classifying skin condition is not vital in the assessment for laser hair removal or other hair removal therapies, like waxing. Skin typing  is a more detailed classification that defining skin condition. It gives indications as to how a certain skin type will react to various treatment conditions. 

The condition of the skin is especially important for an effective waxing service. This is particularly true of soft wax, which adheres to the surface of the skin and less so for hard wax, which does not. Skin that is dry may present with scaly patches of dead skin cells that may benefit from the exfoliating properties of soft waxing, but the dry skin may also trap multiple hairs that should be released with exfoliation prior to the service. Very moist or hydrated skin can also be problematic as the moisture inhibits the wax from adhering to the skin and from being left behind during the removal process. Continuous dusting with powder during the service helps alleviate the problem.

Spray Tanning: Winter-White Skin

Who doesn’t love winter-white skin?! *insert eye roll*

Spray tanning and using sunless products are the best ways to add a little glow to your winter wonderland body. Try EnvyTan’s Lasting Envy: Spray Tan in a Can ($24). Fabulous color and easy application make it ideal for everyone.

Lasting Envy has a 12% DHA level. For those of you who don’t know, DHA is the active ingredient in spray tans and sunless products that reacts with the skin and is responsible for the color change we call a sunless tan. 12% is perfect for people who already have color, whether that means naturally medium-dark skin or skin kissed by the sun. People with fairer skin should be a bit more conservative when using Lasting Envy (or any 12% product)—you don’t want to go overboard!

So what happens if you do?

There are many at-home ways to remove a spray tan.

My favorite is to apply baby oil to the affected areas. Allow this to soak in for about 45 minutes. Then soak in a warm/hot bath and use a loofah to buff away the offending tan. It may take more than one trip to the tub, but it will definitely get you where you want to be.

You can also try exfoliating with scrubs, applying lemon juice to fade the tan, or rubbing baking soda into damp skin to even out discolored or streaky patches.

Tips for next time?

Always be sure you follow the directions for sunless products. When it says “Exfoliate,” make sure you exfoliate! Those instructions are on there for a reason, not just to take up space. Exfoliating your entire body sloughs off dead skin cells, allowing the tan to be applied to the freshest cells possible, which makes for a more even, longer-lasting tan. Grab a container of Ambush: Pre-Tan Exfoliating Scrub ($26) for fabulous (not to mention deliciously-scented) results.

Try to avoid using tons of product on dry areas of the body. Elbows and knees can soak up self tanner like nobody’s business—leaving you with “oompa-loompa pox!”

Don't forget... if you ever have a question or concern, it's easiest to address it before the tan is applied, rather than attempt to fix it after!

Written by Envy Tan

Tanning Consultant Tip: Preparing for Winter Weddings

by Victoria at Sun Tan City

On your wedding day, you want your dress to be a pristine white, but your skin doesn’t have to match (even if you are getting married during the coldest season of the year)! We’re offering winter brides and grooms a pre-wedding, just-back-from-the-beach glow at Sun Tan City.

But before you step into one of our sun beds, be sure you know the best (and safest) way to get a glow that will make you say “I do”.

First, know that whether you have three months or three weeks, there is a perfect pre-wedding tanning plan for you. If you plan on tanning in one of our tanning beds, make sure your skin is ready for a new tanning routine. If you’ve never tanned before, start by only staying the bed for a few minutes at a time so you don’t burn. If you have a few weeks, or even months, before your wedding, coming to Sun Tan City 2-3 times a week will have your skin glowing in time for you trip down the aisle.

Even if you do have a tanning bed plan, brides, grooms, and members of the bridal party should consider trying into our MyMyst or VersaSpa sunless tanning booths prior to the event. But, if this is your first time, you’ll want to have a pre-wedding trial run for your tan. In our sunless booth, there are many options for color, and you’ll want to find the perfect, glowing shade for you. We recommend coming into Sun Tan City two weeks before your big day to have a trial run for your sunless tan. That way, you’ll know if you have found the perfect shade to compliment your wedding-day attire. Then, come back in two to three days before you wedding and have your final sunless tanning session. Because the color takes 24 hours to develop (and because you can’t shower for a recommended 6-8 hours after your session), you don’t want to partake in your sunless session too close to your wedding day.

Planning your wedding can be stressful, but planning your tan doesn’t have to be (even for winter weddings)! Congratulations to all the brides and grooms out there, and we hope to see you at Sun Tan City! Happy Tanning!

Make Your Spray Tan Last Longer

A spray or airbrush tan is the best way to maintain a glow without feeling guilty but how can you make it last? Spray tanning any more frequently than once every two weeks is time consuming and expensive, so knowing the best preservation methods is in your best interest. Without proper aftercare your tan could fade quickly and even become patchy.

Following these important aftercare instructions will keep your tan looking tremendous.

• Wear loose dark colored clothes to your appointment
• Bring flip flops to your tanning appointment and wear them on your way out. 
• Avoid wearing socks until after you've showered. 
• No bra or belt immediately after your tan
• Avoid the shower for 8-10 hours following your appointment. The longer you wait, the better
• If you went in to the tan snowman-white, rinse the tan off 8 hours after the appointment
• After the first day, use a moisturizing body wash to cleanse and hydrate the skin
• Do not wax any sooner than 3-5 days after your treatment
• Do NOT use wash cloths, scrubs or exfoliants after tanning
• Keep your tan well hydrated (this is especially important for Denver spray tans because of the lack of humidity)- moisturize twice daily
• Avoid mineral oils and baby oil products
• Don't use scented body lotions or washes- they'll fade the tan faster. 
• No long hot showers or baths
• Skip the gym! You have my permission. Don't exercise for 10 hours or until after you've showered. 
• Absolutely NO hot tubs or steam rooms!
• If you swim in a chlorinated pool, apply sun block before getting into the water. 
• Don't go into the sun unprotected! Your spray tan will not protect you from the sun's rays

Sunless Spray Tanning FAQ

This content was found on Soleil Tans

Before starting your spray tan session in a reliable tanning salon, you should ask relevant questions from the staff. Your main goal is to ensure that, indeed, you know exactly what you are going into, what you can get out of it and how you can enjoy its benefits to the fullest.

Is the Procedure and Product Safe?
The best tanning salon uses products with FDA-approved dihydroxyacetone (DHA) as the primary active ingredient. The substance has no known toxicity to humans and has been proven effective in chemically yet temporarily changing the color of skin from its natural tone to golden brown.

The result: A golden tan with a healthy radiance that mimics sunbathing under the warm Caribbean sun but without the actual sun exposure. Such is the high level of safety of any spray tan product that the American Association of Dermatologists considers it to be the most effective sunless tanning method.

Still, it is best to protect your eyes, lips and nose during any spray tan session because it can lead to irritation in these sensitive areas. The staff of your favorite tanning salon will provide the appropriate protective gear for this purpose including under-eye cream and goggles. Just make sure not to inhale or ingest the product and you should be just fine in the hands of these tanning professionals.