What is a Spray Tan?
A Spray Tan is a type of sunless application. There are many ways to achieve a faux glow, my favorite is a custom airbrush tan. This sunless tan is achieved by having a trained professional apply a controlled mist of solution to your body.
DHA:
The active ingredient in sunless tanning is DHA. DHA is approved for cosmetic use through the FDA to be applied externally to the human body. Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) is the active ingredient that will react with your bodies amino acids and begin a color change in the epidermis (top layer of skin).
Cosmetic Bronzer:
After your sunless airbrush tan, you will notice immediate color. This is a cosmetic bronzer and often what we notice in the water after the first shower. It is important to not panic when you see this cosmetic bronzer wash off. You did not lose your tan. Actually, while you had the cosmetic bronzer on the DHA was very busy causing a chemical reaction to your skin. Once you pat dry from your shower you will see you are still tan. This is what we call a seamless transition. The seamless transition is achieved when you are sprayed with a cosmetic bronzer to appear tan and after the shower you are still the same shade of tan.
Lifespan:
Now because DHA is only changing the top layer of the skin it is important to know that this is only a temporary tan. Why you ask? The spray tan only affects the top layer of skin, and that skin exfoliates weekly. There for an average spray tan will last 5-7 days. I do believe that a spray tan can hold onto the skin in certain areas for up to two weeks, causing a "patchy" look. This is not uncommon to see on the neck, armpits, and bikini line. I always suggest to my clients describing this to take one week off of spray tanning to allow their body to fully exfoliate. This will ensure that the next tan is being applied to the freshest layer of skin allowing the tan to have a full 5-7-day life span. I also recommend after spraying for 4-6 weeks to take one - two weeks off and focus on exfoliating and moisturizing the skin to get the body ready for the new cycle of spray tans. Spray Tanning is a lifestyle and you must maintain healthy skin to guarantee yourself a smooth spray tan regardless if it is a custom airbrush, machine spray, self-tanner etc.
Solutions:
Aura Brushed does not provide a "cookie cutter" tan where all clients will be sprayed with the same solution. We offer a range of different solutions to accommodate different skin types and tones. Aura Brushed highly recommends a trial tan prior to tanning for any event. We want to ensure you have been color matched properly with a solution that will provide the most flawless tan for you.