Having been in the spray tan industry for over 15 years helping clients achieve their perfect glow, I’ve heard all the common misconceptions and myths. I get it. Spray tanning can be intimidating if you’ve never done it, so I’m here to help put your mind at ease. Here are just a few thoughts you may have had (that I’ve heard more times than I can count) that I can put to rest for you.

“I don’t want to be orange or look like an Oompa Loompa.”

Well, of course you don’t, and we don’t want you to either! Oompa Loompas may have their place in Wonka’s Chocolate factory, but let’s leave them, and that orange skin, there. These days spray tans are formulated to counter orange undertones. And at SOL SPA, just like makeup foundations, our spray tan is customizable to match your skin and meet your tan goals, so no worries of orange hues or streaks!

“Am I going to stink?”

Not if we can help it! All skin chemistry is not the same. That’s why your favorite perfume smells different on you than your best friend. If you’re not into the smell of your spray tan, consider adding a fragrance. It’ll enhance the overall experience and you can be assured you’ll smell good, too!

“How will I know how to stand or when to move? I don’t want to end up like Ross in that episode of Friend’s!”

This may be my personal favorite. While that episode is hilarious (youtube it if you haven’t seen it), it is not a true depiction of what to expect in one of the Sunless booths at SOL SPA. Here’s how it works, the short version. Wearing your birthday suit or a swimsuit, you’ll stand in the booth. Automated nozzles spray a fine mist of self-tanner solution on your body and a prerecorded voice instructs you when to turn around to get your other side. The nozzles pass over your body with air at the end to dry you. The entire process takes 5 minutes or less. I know it sounds too good to be true, but it is! You can’t beat it!

Lastly, here are the dos and don’ts you need to know to ensure a quality spray tan.

DO

• Exfoliate prior to your spray tan. We offer a few amazing exfoliation choices that won’t irritate your skin and perfectly prep it for your Sunless color.
• Shave prior to your spray tan. This is essentially another form of exfoliation as it takes the top layer of your skin with it.
• Apply a body butter to areas that are prone to grab more solution like knees, backs of ankles, elbows and definitely your hands and feet. I say body butter rather than lotion because it creates more of a barrier.
• Use Booster, our skin pH balancing moisturizer, before your spray. Booster acts just like a makeup primer would, but for our spray tan solution. Apply it all over your body and face prior to hopping in the booth to ensure faster results, more natural looking color, and for your tan to fade more evenly. Remember if your skin is dry, your tan will flake off with it.
• Moisturize in the days following. This will retain your tan and keep it looking fresh longer. Ask one of our Spa Consultants to assist you in choosing the best SOL SPA moisturizer for your skin type!
• Pat yourself dry; don’t rub after showering.
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DON’T

• Exercise, bathe or swim sooner than 6 hours after your spray tan.
• Mistake a sunless tan for sunscreen. There is no UV protection in sunless tanning solution.
• Wear light-colored clothing or your prettiest lingerie. Choose loose, dark clothing instead.
• Wear any jewelry or hair ties on your wrist.
• Apply deodorant if possible before your spray tan. Because deodorant is an aluminum-based product, you may notice that your armpits have a green hue after tanning. This happens when the aluminum in the deodorant reacts with the sunless solution. It’s best to arrive with clean, fresh skin so that there are no barriers for the application.

Spray tanning just got way easier and more convenient! At SOL SPA our fully automated spray tan process is quicker and easier than ever, and the best part of all is, it’s available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Get Your Glow Anytime. It’s That Easy!

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Written By: Paige Stuart, VP of Spa Operations