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Important Tips

Pre-Tanning Instructions

Plan ahead. When scheduling your appointment you need to realize that you will be sprayed with a solution that you will keep on your body for five or more hours and then you will shower. During those hours you will need to avoid getting wet (by washing the dishes, washing your hands, exposure to the rain, or by sweating during heavy exercise, etc.).

Prior to your personalized organic airbrush tanning session, you should exfoliate your skin. The exfoliating process should take place after washing and rinsing your hair and shaving your legs. The skin scrub will remove any alkaline residues from shaving creams or soaps and pH adjust your skin producing better results. Remove all makeup prior to the tanning session as well. Do not apply moisturizers after showering and exfoliating the day of your session.

Shaving and Waxing: Women should know that if you shave your legs right before your tanning session it may sting your legs upon application until it has dried. If you wax, you must wax before you come, and then do not wax again until all of your tan has faded --- waxing takes off the first layer of skin, therefore will strip away your tan in obvious sections. It might be best to wax at least a day or two before the tanning session because skin recently reddened or irritated by the waxing process might have a different pH and take color differently than the surrounding (unwaxed) skin on some people.

Men should shave their faces the day of the session.

If you wash your hair, completely rinse all shampoo and conditioner from your hair and then wash your skin with soap (and rinse). Otherwise the residue from the conditioner that ran down your body might interfere with the tanning in spots.

Additionally, make sure you remove all deodorant or antiperspirant prior to tanning. This will require vigorous scrubbing, as it is not easily removed. Be sure to remove from the inside upper part of the arm in addition to the armpit. These products will keep the tanning solution from reaching the skin causing unsightly light spots.

If not tanning nude it is recommended that you use an older swimsuit or undergarment during the tanning process - or buy one specifically dedicated to the tanning process. The bronzer can be easily removed from cotton fibers during a normal wash cycle, however man-made fabrics like Lycra, Spandex and Nylon typically found in swimsuits and undergarments can sometimes stain due to their tightly woven properties.

Do not tan while wearing leather, silk, satin or wool apparell as these materials will all stain when exposed to the solution. These materials may also stain if you put them on after your session while your tan is setting. Several hours later, after you shower off the solution, you may wear whatever you wish.

Loose-fitting darker colored clothing should be worn from the appointment. Sandals and or flip flops are also recommended so you will not have to put shoes and socks on immediately after tanning. This can remove the solution due to excess rubbing and leave light spots. Bring a towel to cover your leather car seat.

If you use Retin-A (or over the counter retinoid) or take Accutane, talk to your doctor about going off for one week before your appointment. These can affect how the active ingredient, DHA, is absorbed, which can lead to a splotchy tan.

Post-Tanning Instructions

Always keep in mind that this is not a perfect process and if you experience undesirable results please let us know so we can work with your skin to get to your optimal results. We are really good at this!

For first time clients it is recommended that you shower between four and six hours after tanning to determine how the solution reacts on your skin. Many of our clients are happy with the tan they receive by leaving the solution on for five hours, so that is our recommendation for first-time clients.

Otherwise you should leave the solution on for at least five and up to twelve hours to achieve the most color from the tanning solution. Results will appear in three to five hours but can continue to develop for up to twenty-four hours after application. Showering is not recommended for at least five to eight hours after tanning. You should also refrain from vigorous exercise resulting in perspiration. This can result in streaky or uneven results. (STAY DRY. Don't forget and wash your hands until you shower off the solution from your entire body, or you will end up with white hands and tanned arms.) On subsequent visits gradually extend the time the solution is left on your skin until desired color is achieved.

We suggest you set your next appointment the day before you would normally change your bed linens thus alleviating the need to change them more frequently. The bronzer washes out of cotton/poly sheets and pillowcases with no problems. Do not get bronzer on silk or satin sheets.

Your ability to follow a daily moisturizing routine will also dictate the longevity of the results. Keeping the skin well moisturized fends off the body’s natural process of exfoliation. A well-maintained sunless tan lasts about seven to ten days depending on skin type. The hands and face will usually lose their color first due to consistent washing and makeup removal - and greater exposure to the elements. Moisturize after showering and before bed or any time the skin feels dry. Consistent use of moisturizer, especially those moisturizers with DHA in them, will extend the sunless tan for up to two weeks keeping it smooth and even-looking throughout its duration.

Note: The body is composed of different types of skin and absorbs color differently. Do not try to scrub color off of the skin even if you don’t like the results. It will result in a substantially worse-looking condition than the occasional darker spot. Refrain from touching the tanned skin prior to your first shower as this will result in tan fingertips and palms. If this occurs, use a pumice stone to remove color from palms. Do not use any type of solvent to try and remove color. It is part of your skin, and it can only be removed by removing skin.

[Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a guardian to employ our tanning services. Please bring ID if there might be any question about your age.]