Please find below a list of advice to help to make the most of your spray tan treatment and give you an idea of what to expect if you haven't had the treatment before. If you have, then please do read on as I am very specific in what I would like you do do/not do and there may be a few things in here you may not have been aware of before!
If you are considering a spray tan it is very important you take all of the information below into account. I take my job, my reputation and the service I provide to my clients very seriously and I want you to be nothing less than delighted with your spray tan. Preperation and aftercare will affect the quality of your tan.
If you have any questions or require any further information please do not hesitate to contact me! I am here to help!
How long does it last?
Depending on your skin type and lifestyle, you should expect your spray tan to last between 5-10 days. The average is 7 days. Clients who have very dry skin and those who swim or go to the gym a lot may find it doesn't last as long.
How long does it take?
A full body spray tan will take around half an hour, a half body around 20 minutes. This includes time to get undressed/dressed, prepare the skin with barrier cream where needed and dry the tan off before you get dressed again.
Is it messy? There is absolutely no mess whatsoever! You'll be amazed! What brand of spray tan do you use? I am proud to be an official stockist of genuine Fake Bake products. Fake Bake originates from the US and is the worlds leading spray tan product, loved by celebrities, therapists and clients alike. I love it because I can be confident that my clients will enjoy a deep, even, long lasting tan time and time again. Many other cheaper products are available but I am committed to using only top slaon quality products for all of my treatments. How long have you been spray tanning? I have been a beauty therapist for 17 years, and have been spray tanning for over 2 years. I have sprayed over 1,000 bodies and have previously worked as a spray tan trainer. I was recently featured as one of Vogue magazine's best kept secrets! I spray tan professionally and do not simply do it as an evening job for a bit of extra income after doing a one day course. I hold professional skin care qualifcations and have a wealth of experince in the beauty industry. I am flexible, professional and reliable, and I will always ring you back! So how does it work!? Will I be orange!!? Is it safe? Spray tanning is now widely considered to be the only safe method of tanning. The active tanning agents in Fake Bake solutions are derived from sugar beet so are completely safe and natural, and are also rich in natural botanical ingredients and is completely paraben free. Is there anyone who shouldn't have a spray tan? Spray tanning is extremely safe and suitable for most people. However, it is not recommended that clients during the first 3 months of pregnancy have a spray tan. This is mostly as a precaution, but also bear in mind that pregnancy hormones can directly affect pigmentation in the skin and may cause a patchy effect. As the solution is derived from sugar, caution should be excercised when spraying diabetics, however it is possible to spray diabetics under certain conditions after a full consultation. Clients who are, or who have recently suffered from illlnes, injury or are on medication should consult their therapist as some illness'/medication can affect the results of a spray tan. Clients with infectious diseases/disorders are not advised to have spray tan treatments, however it is possible to spray clients who suffer from psoriasis/dermatitis/eczema provided they are not inflamed/infected at the time of the treatement. If you have recently had a tattoo or botox/fillers, it is advided that you wait 7 days after the procedure before having a spray tan. Clients who have previously had an allergic reaction to any tanning product or any other ingredient in the solution should have a patch test 48 hours before having a spray tan. How often should I have a spray tan? You are welcome to have a spray whenever you wish, for holidays, weddings, proms, parties etc. If you would like to have a spray tan regularly I would recommend once a week. What do I wear? What do I need to do before my tan? When you come for your tan, please wear/bring some loose fitting and preferably dark coloured clothing to wear afterwards. It is strongly recommended that tight fitting clothing such as bras, jeans, socks, knee high boots are avoided as these can rub the tan off before it has had a chance to fully develop and will leave you with a mark. Pyjamas, bath robes, jogging bottoms/t-shirts/loose hoodies/flip-flops are perfect. How do I look after my spray tan? Moisturising regularly and always patting yourself dry after your shower will help your tan to last longer and fade more evenly. Think of moisturiser as 'glue' holding your tan on and keeping it looking nice and smooth and even. Exfoliating every other day from then 3rd day will help your tan to fade evenly and look beautiful right to the end. A full range of care products especially designed to prepare your skin before and care for your tan afterwards are available. I'm going on holiday. Can I have a spray tan and will it stop me from getting a real tan? A holiday is an ideal time to have a spray tan. You can arrive at your destination and put your bikini on with confidence! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE WEAR SUNSCREEN!!! It won't have any effect on your spray tan whatsoever, in fact it will keep it nice and moisturised which is great. Your spray tan will not stop you from getting a real tan in the sun, but it won't stop you from burning either. Please don't undo your good work of getting a beautiful, safe, sunless tan by over-exposing your skin to the health risks and premature ageing effects of the sun. I'm getting married. When should I have my spray tan? I would strongly advise that if you are getting married, and I haven't spray tanned you before that you have a trial tan sometime before the big day, maybe for the hen night. This will ensure that you feel happy, comfortable and confident with the tan and the therapist and have nothing to worry about. It will also enable you to decide when you would like to have your tan. Some clients prefer their tan immediately after it has been applied, others prefer it 2-3 days after when it has had a chance to 'settle down'. If you are getting married on a Saturday, you would be looking to have your tan on the Thursday or Friday of the that week. Please also do remember that if you require any waxing that it will have to be carried out 1-2 days before your tan. As if you didn't have enough to plan! Do remember that a spray tan party is a great way for you and all of your bridal party to prepare for your hen night and wedding! How much does it cost? A full body Fake Bake spray tan is £25
Here's the science bit!! A spray tan works by applying a solution containing active tanning ingredients to the skin. These active ingredients combine with the protein present in your skin and the oxygen in the air to cause a process of oxidisation which turns the skin cells in the very top layer of your skin brown, in very much the same way an apple goes brown when exposed to the air. The solution is coloured to allow me to see where I am spraying, and you will see an instant colour change, but this is not your tan! Over the development time you may find that you get marks/creases in your guide colour, for example at the elbows, neck etc. This is completely normal and will wash off when you wash your guide colour off to reveal your even, natural looking tan.
During the development time, you will notice your tan becoming darker and darker... and darker! Please don't freak out and wash it off! This is completely normal. Remember, as well as your tan which is now starting to develop, you also have a layer of coloured solution on your skin which you are going to wash off! Washing the tan off before the full development time may cause it to be uneven and patchy in places. You just have to trust me!
When I spray tan I am aiming to replicate a natural tan, and due to the superior formulation of the product and professional application techniques your tan will look as natural as possible, not orange!!!!! Fake Bake, unlike other solutions, contains 2 active tanning ingredients to ensure a deep, long lasting tan. Fake Bake comes in 2 colours, fair and regular. Most skin tones are suitable for the regular solution, but I will give you a full consultation before we begin.
During the application, you can wear whatever you wish! Most people wear their own old or dark coloured underwear or swimwear, but disposable underwear is available if you would rather not wear your own. You are welcome to be sprayed topless, this is certainly the most popular choice, or wearing a bra or bikini top if you would feel more comfortable. Do bear in mind that whatever you wear will leave a mark, so think about the dress/bikini etc you will be wearing and if the tan lines will show. I will provide you with headbands/hair clips and a cap to protect your hair. You will need to remove your jewellery where possible. the tanning solution will not damage your jewellery but it will leave a mark where it has been,
Exfoliate and moisturise as much as possible in the days leading up to your tan. That will give us the best possible 'base' for your tan and help it to last longer and fade more evenly.
Please wax/shave at least 24 hours before your appointment!!! This is very important as the tanning solution does not absorb very well into skin that has been recently shaved or waxed, especially on the legs, and can cause streaks. The tan can also collect in the hair follicles and cause the appearance of 'dotting' in the area.
On the day of your tan it is important that your skin is freshly showered and exfoliated and free of any make-up,perfume,deodorant,body creams lotions oils etc. Products such as these will create a barrier to the tan and will prevent it from taking evenly. Deodorant can react with the tanning solution and make your skin appear green.
What do I need to do after my tan?
Please be prepared to leave your tan undisturbed for at least 8 hours to develop to it's full colour. This means wearing loose clothing, not touching your face/body, not wearing any perfume, body lotion, make-up or deodorant, not getting it wet and not doing any activity that will cause you to sweat, thus removing the tan. Leaving the tan on overnight is fine, and wearing loose fitting pyjamas prevents the majority of the tan transferring to bed sheets etc. If it does get onto your clothes/linen/towels, I find that it washes out completely on a hot wash.
After a period of at least 8 hours you will thoroughly wash off the tan solution. If you need to leave it longer you can as it stops working after 8 hours, it doesn't just get darker and darker! But any less than 8 hours and your tan will not have developed to it's full colour. It is important that you wash this off gently (without scrubbing) but very thoroughly with shower gel, as failure to remove all of the coloured solution may cause your tan to appear streaky. It will look as if a lot of colour is coming off, but this is normal! Remember the solution is coloured and this is what is coming off, not your tan! Pat yourself dry rather than rubbing and apply lots moisturiser.
Once your tan has fully developed and you have washed off the tanning solution, you are fine to go to the gym, use make-up, deodorant, body lotion and oils etc without affecting your tan. However, it is best to avoid spraying perfume directly onto the skin as this can cause patches. It is best to spray it onto your clothes/hair etc. Swimming in the sea or a pool won't directly affect your tan, but it may not last as long due to the prolonged contact with water and the salt/chlorine present which dries out the skin.
