Many women prefer to get tanned in spring time to get a fresh, new look. However, health experts have warned against tanning in the sun. We spoke to makeup artist Salma who enlightened us on the secrets of the perfect sunless tan to achieve the desired skin tone.

Preparation/Pre-tan

Before you go to the salon, there are a few things you should do. First, you need to exfoliate your skin and any light exfoliation, such as with shower gloves would also do. Salma recommends Moroccan Hammam without using any oil-based products. Women should also wax their facial and body hair before tanning and never after for at least a week. “It is highly recommended that you apply nail polish before your tan because it will prevent your nails from staining. Also, do not wear deodorant! If the solution gets under your arms, your armpits will turn blue,” she said.

Process

Salma recommends women to always have a consultation session first to determine how dark they want to be. “Once everything is agreed upon, you should remove any lotion, makeup, sunscreen or oil on your skin at the time of your appointment — even if it has been applied earlier in the day.”

First, the specialist will apply a moisturizer on any dry area that will take a darker color such as knees, elbows, the bottom of the feet and nail beds. Then, she will start spraying on the tan.

Many specialists like to start spraying from the back side of the body because the product might be a little cold and the client can get used to the feel of the airbrush by the time it reaches the front. The expert will direct the client on how and when to stand and turn. The whole spraying process takes about 15 to 20 minutes. Next, the specialist dries the product on the client’s body using a hand fan. After she’s done, the specialist sprinkles some baby powder on the areas that might get a bit sticky, like the top of the feet, the crook of the elbow, underarms and behind the knees. That’s about it.

Maintenance

An airbrush tan typically lasts for five to seven days, but it varies from one person to another. To help make the self-tan last as long as possible, use a lightweight moisturizer or a tan extender.

“If you need to shave your legs, make sure to use a brand new razor and apply a very light touch. Things to be avoided include sweating at the gym, standing under the rain exposed, lounging in a Jacuzzi tub, applying heaving creams, taking a dip in a pool filled with chlorine and taking long hot showers,” said Salma. “When it’s late at night and it’s bedtime, make sure to wear comfortable cotton pajama pants and a T-shirt. Always get your tan in the evening and then go to sleep because you will wake up tanned and ready to go without messing with the color,” she added.

What to expect:

1) You will feel a little sticky and the spray tan does have a slight odor to it — this is normal. You will feel sticky while it is in the developing phase until your first shower.

2) Try as much as you can to not touch your newly tanned skin, even if you are curious to see whether or not it is sticky.

3) If you touch your skin and do not wash the insides of your hands, your palms may end up becoming stained because palms are not supposed to come in contact with the spray tan solution. If you do accidentally touch your skin wash the insides of your hands as directed by your tan specialist.

4) If you really need to wash your hands, try to only wash the palms while the spray tan is developing. The most effective way to do this is with hand sanitizer or an antibacterial wipe. If these are not available, you can also use a paper towel or a towel with soap. You should ask your tan specialist about this at the end of the appointment.

5) The bronzer may get on the inside of your clothes or on your sheets but it should not stain; however this is not guaranteed. It all depends on the self-tan brand you are using. Always stick to dark-colored clothing and try to wear tops with long sleeves with long pants to bed to prevent the bronzer from staining your sheets.

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