With the risks of tanning in the sun and on sunbeds being apparent, spray tanning is a safe and very effective way of getting a natural looking tan.
The key ingredient in spray tan solutions is dihydroxyacetone, or DHA, which derives from sugar beet. Solutions come in various shades from light to very dark and once applied to the skin, develop over a 6-10 hour period. They don’t protect the skin from the sun’s harmful rays so sun cream should still always be applied.
To get the best out of the treatment it is advisable to do some research and good skin preparation beforehand. Check the therapist’s credentials, ask how long they’ve been doing spray tanning and don’t be afraid to ask if they are qualified and insured (stay well clear if not). A professional will also tell you how to prepare for the spray tan and how to maintain it afterwards.
If you find the right professional your tan will look natural and totally amazing, if you don’t then you could end up orange, blotchy and very fake looking. BEWARE – from talking to my customers I’ve concluded that there are plenty of bad spray tan therapists out there (quite worrying really).
