Tanning

[Formerly SK]

I'm normally quite pasty pale, but after two weeks in SoCal I'm nice and bronze (for me) and I have to say I'm really enjoying it and I'd like to keep it. I don't want to hit a tanning bed, but was wondering about those tanning salons where they spray the tan on you. Has anyone done that? How safe/dangerous is it?

[Deleted]

I have done it and I came out looking like a Umpa Loompa. Then when it wore off I looked like an Umpa Loompa with a skin disease. they did the medium color on me. Maybe yours will turn out better if you go with the light one.

[robbase]

That's why I prefer the tanning bed......how does the spray tan thing work anyway?

Like how does it get those hard to reach places?

and how does it work like on your head (like how do you avoid getting it on the hair on your head but close enough to the edge of the hari on your head and start of your facial skin (if that makes sense?)?----if you seen my other tanning thread you can see I am very nieve about how tanning salons work))

[Deleted]

Rob, I think you would look great with orange hair!

[Formerly SK]

Rob, I broke out in 20+ sun spots all along my hairline from not applying sunscreen right to my hair while in SoCal (it makes my hair too greasy). Now I'm applying Tretinoin cream every night to get rid of the sun spots!

I'm not too worried about skin cancer (even though I'm checked annually by a derm). But I break out in sun spots sooooooooo easily I just can't chance a real tan. It sounds like spray tan is pretty expensive though ($100+/mo) so it looks like I'm going to be fading back into translucence.

[robbase]

Sept 1, 2011 13:06:50 GMT -5 @familycfo said:

Rob, I think you would look great with orange hair!

ha ha; orange hair!

but how do they paint around your hair anyway?

[gooddecisions]

I've gone to salons for a spray tan. It's probably not the healthiest thing to do. I often have several formal/cocktail parties to go to in the winter, so I'll go in once or twice a winter so I don't look pasty in a dress that has no business being worn in the winter. The rest of the winter I'm wearing enough clothes, that I can get away with using a tinted moisturizer on my arms, face and neck. It works just fine and is much cheaper/convenient. Between April and October, regular outside activities give me enough color.

I do not recommend a spray tan from the salon during the summer. It rubs off in the pool, beach, shower, etc and is just not a good look. In fact, I don't recommend it for anything other than a special event where you will be baring more skin.

That said, it does take some technique. I've only used mystic brand salons and have never come out looking like an oompa loompa. Remove all your clothes. You'll have to coat your entire hands and feet in the provided blocking lotion so no spray gets through (trust me on this, the more you coat the better). Put a little lotion on your knees and elbows. Wear the shower cap and pull it so that it covers your ears but shows your hairline.

Step into the shower stall, when it sprays your back, make sure that the back side of your elbows and arms are facing the spray and not blocked by your body (consider shielding the palms of your hands with your body, since you will not want them to be tan- but you should have already coated your entire hand with blocking lotion), when it sprays your front, make sure your arms are raised away from your body showing the front side. Once it's done spraying your front and back, stay in there standing still for a couple of minutes so that the particles in the air land on you. Once the fan shuts off, get out, rub off the lotion on your hands/feet and use a towel on your entire skin. This may seem counterintuitive, but this is what will also move the spray residue into any other areas and remove the excess so that you don't end up with streaks.

Do not shower for at least 7 hours. It takes 4-5 hours for the tan to really come out. So, also don't do this right before your event. If I have a Friday night cocktail party, I will go either Thursday evening or first thing Friday morning so that I will still be able to take a proper shower that evening before the event. If I need a mani/pedi, I'll do that before the spray tan as well so that they don't rub off the spray on my arms and legs.

Also, don't go on a rainy day, you might end up with streaks because of the extra humidty in the air. I've only used medium. Never light or dark, so I can't comment on the color. But the medium color has always looked natural on me. I look 1000 better in a strapless or sleevless dresses and can get away with not wearing stockings. It's nowhere near as dark as I can get with a real tan, but I wouldn't want something that dark in the winter anyway. Your spray tan will only last at most a week. Do not use a scrub or exfoliater, that will rub it right off. They recommend you exfoliate before you come in for best results. Look for the new customer deals where they'll give you a buy one get one or 50% if you're a new customer. The cost is usually about $30-$40 without a coupon.

[Formerly SK]

Thanks GD for the tips! I really appreciate it!

I (coincidentally) got a Groupon email yesterday for $19 for two Mystic tans so I bought it. I figure I'll try one out in November or so.

[gooddecisions]

Good luck. If you heed this advice and follow the guidelines from the salon, you should get good results. My first time was a disaster because I didn't coat my hands and feet like I should have, including ankles and wrists. I thought I would end up with pale feet and hands if I loaded up too much. Well, I ended up with the stained cuticles, streaks between my fingers, splotchy wrists, and stained palms. My feet and hands just looked dirty. I didn't use the towel, thinking I would rub off the solution before it set in and I ended up with streaks down my legs and stomach. The next time I went back and all subsequent visits, I knew better and my results were perfect.

[robbase]

tanning beds seem so much easier than the spray thing after reading this thread

[Formerly SK]

LOL Rob. We've had gorgeous weather the past week and I've been laying out some everyday. I'm wondering why I'm OK doing that but against tanning beds??? I'm thinking it's easier to just tan in a bed after all.

[robbase]

come over to the dark side and use a tanning bed....as a bonus for you, you do not have to worry about what to do with your "junk" if you tan naked (that was my concern for a while

[tractor]

My gym now includes free tanning for the length of your membership. I just added a year last night. It looks like I might be able to try the tanner for once. My luck I'll turn out looking like the great pumpkin.

[Deleted]

My gym now includes free tanning for the length of your membership. I just added a year last night. It looks like I might be able to try the tanner for once. My luck I'll turn out looking like the great pumpkin.

Just in time for Halloween!