Sunless tanning is the only safe way to achieve the perfect tan
you want. They can be used year round or just for a holiday or
vacation. You can achieve a beautiful artificial tan at home or
visit a salon or spa for a session in a sunless tanning booth. A
benefit of self tanning is that it can be done at any time and
in any weather.
Sunless Tanning at Home Some people cringe when they hear self
tanning. They are usually thinking about the earliest self
tanners, which were notorious for the ugly orange color they
produced. Products have improved dramatically over the years.
Self tanner products come in a variety of forms including
lotion, crème and spray. You can find them in stores or on the
internet wherever tanning bed lotions are sold. Preparing your
skin is very important before using a sunless tanning lotion.
Shower and exfoliate the skin before using any product. This
removes dead skin cells and prepares your skin to accept the
tanning product. Good exfoliation results in better absorption,
more even color and a tan that lasts longer.
Applying the product evenly is very important. Tinted lotions
help you see where you have applied the lotion and help ensure
even coverage. Wear plastic gloves during application to help
prevent the hands from staining. Apply the product to the rough
and dry areas of your body last. This includes the elbows, knees
and ankles.
The best lotions contain an active ingredient called DHA. The
DHA reacts with your skin cells to change the color. It can take
between 45 minutes and 1 hour to see the full effect of the
product. The tan will last between five and seven days. To
maintain the color, apply the lotion every three to five days.
Sunless Tanning in a Booth Sunless tanning booths are popping up
in day spas, beauty salons, tanning salons and health clubs
across the country. As people become aware of the dangers of UV
exposure, the popularity of booths increases. A few minutes in
the booth, and you can have the color that it would take days in
the sun to achieve.
Booth tanning is done in two ways. The first is a shower booth
with nozzles on every side that spray your body with the
solution. You get into the booth naked with a shower cap on your
head and eye protection. The nozzles spray you down with the
tanning solution. Bronzers in the spray give you some instant
color. The full effect of the tan will be seen in a few hours.
In some cases, you will need to rub the solution into your skin.
It’s important to blend it evenly for the best color.
The other method used is airbrush. A technician uses a hand held
airbrush device to apply the solution. Since the mist is much
finer than a spray and a technician is applying it, the color is
perfect and even. You just wait about five minutes for the mist
to soak in before getting dressed. Wear very loose clothing to
the salon, as tight clothing can rub off some of the color.
Most people enter the booth naked for no tan lines. If you are
shy being nude with a technician, you can wear a bathing suit.
Choose an old bathing suit for the booth. The solution will
stain the bathing suit.