PREPPING FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT

Shave or wax at least 24 hours before your session. If you shave right before it can cause streaking on the legs.

Do manicures/pedicures/massages the day before your session. If you do it right before the massage oils will cause a problem with the tan. If you do a pedicure after your spray tan it will remove the self-tan from your feet and the massage oil can cause the color to streak.

If you are having lash extensions applied, be sure to schedule that appointment 24 hours before your tan, or 24 hours after you have rinsed off the cosmetic bronzer, as the Tanning solution may affect the glue.

By exfoliating before a spray tan, you are turning your skin into a clean slate for your spray tan consultant. This is the single most important aspect of your before-appointment regimen. Exfoliate 24 hours prior to your session. Do not exfoliate the day of as the product can create a skin barrier effecting the outcome of your tan.

Exfoliation is important so the skin can be an even canvas and will help your tan last longer.

Please do not exfoliate with oil-based scrubs. The oils in these scrubs can stay in your pores, which creates a barrier and can cause an uneven tan.

When exfoliating, pay special attention to dry areas such as hands, elbows, knees, and ankles.

Do not shower right before your session. I know you think that “clean skin” is good but many soaps, hair conditioners and shower products leave an invisible film on the skin. Showering right before your session will hydrate the skin which means that all of the spray tan solution will not be absorbed. This will result in a lighter color.

Stay away from any Dove products, both before and after your tanning appointment. Using any bar soap or body wash— especially Dove—will cause your tan to fade quickly and possibly become patchy. It can also make your tan look orange.

Important Notes:

Applying a new Airbrush Spray Tan over an old Airbrush Spray Tan will cause an unfavorable result. Please be sure to completely remove any old Airbrush Spray Tan you might have left on your skin prior your next appointment.

If you have a sunburn or are peeling, we do not recommend you receive an Airbrush Spray Tan until your skin is completely healed.

Women’s tans may develop differently during various hormonal changes, such as ovulation, menstruation, pregnancy, breast feeding, or menopause. Your Airbrush Spray Tan may be streaky, patchy, fade unevenly, or produce lighter, and in some cases, no color. It is also important to note that some medications can also affect your tan.

Products to Avoid

The following is a list of commonly used body care products that can have a detrimental effect on an Airbrush Spray Tan. This is not all-inclusive, but simply a guide for products to avoid, as they can lighten or make a sunless tan blotchy or change color:

Aerosol sunscreens
AHA products (Alpha Hydroxy Acids: Glycolic, Lactic, Malic, Citric, and Tartaric acids)
Anti-acne products that exfoliate or dry the skin, such as Accutane and Salicylic acid
Antibiotics or other medications that affect your skin can also affect your tan
Anti-aging products that "renew," "refresh," or otherwise exfoliate skin
Band-Aid or adhesive tape applied to skin will pull the tan off
Bar soaps and body wash, especially deodorant or antibacterial varieties
BHA Products (Beta Hydroxy Acids: salicylic acid)
Body hair bleach products will bleach the tan. Non-bleach skin lighteners are fine. Biore-type adhesive facial strips or “peel-off” masks
Bug spray, perfumes, or body sprays that are sprayed directly onto skin can remove or fade the tan. Instead, spray clothing, or spray a "cloud" of spray that you can walk through, instead of spraying directly onto skin.
Curel lotions will fade a tan faster, on some people
Facial masks
Exfoliating scrubs
Hair Inhibiting Lotions (Jergens, etc.) tend to make a sunless tan yellow
Makeup remover cleaning products, or oils used to clean away eye makeup
Retin-A type products (Retin-A, Renova, Tazorac, Tretinoin) all will cause faster fading
Shaving cream or body wash
Toners containing alcohols or witch hazel in the top three ingredients listed can lighten a tan
Wax or Depilatory hair removal products such as Nair, Veet, Neet, etc.

The Day of Your Spray Tan

Do not apply any deodorant, moisturizer, lotion, cream, or makeup before your spray tan. Any of these products will block the spray tan from setting to its fullest and deodorants can turn the bronzer in the spray tan green so unless you want Incredible Hulk armpits I would advise against it (The DHA tan will not be green, just the bronzer). If you have an appointment later in the day then be sure to rinse off your deodorant or moisturizers with a washcloth before your appointment.

Please do not shower for at least 4 hours prior to your Airbrush Spray Tan. Doing so can open up your pores and may result in an uneven tan.

Limit Contact with Water- Do not go swimming, shower or work out during the hours that your tan is setting to ensure that the tan is given enough time to properly develop.

What to Wear to Your Appointment

Because our sunless tanning solution is oil-free, it should not stain your clothes, bed sheets, or your couch; however, we do suggest that you wear dark, loose clothing so that your clothes don’t rub against the spray tan while it is setting.

Tight clothing will create streaks. All fitted pants, including yoga pants, will remove the tan from your legs.

Men are required to wear underwear or swim shorts during their Spray Tan.

For Your First Shower: Rinse Only!

You should always only wash off with water during your first shower. When getting out of the shower blot your skin dry, do not rub. After that, soaps and shampoos that have not been designed for spray tanning could still lessen the quality of your spray tan. Alcohols and oils in products could produce a crackling effect on your fade and certain soaps dry out your skin, causing your tan to vanish faster than any of us would like.

Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize!

A spray tan’s worst enemy is dry skin; a spray tan’s best friend is a fantastic moisturizer. By using moisturizers on a daily basis (and after every shower!), your skin will stay soft, supple, and most importantly tanned for days longer.