Airbrush tanning is a form of sunless spray tanning. The solution includes a cosmetic bronzer that gives the client a “just off the beach” look instantly. The ingredients in the sunless cosmetic bronzer are similar to those used in cosmetic foundations or powder bronzers. The DHA, or dihydroxyacetone, is the active ingredient that interacts with the top layer of your skin cells to produce the tan. After 24 hours you your results are a natural looking tan for up to 7 days.
DHA (dihydroxyacetone) is a colorless chemical derived from sugarcane that interacts with the amino acids in skin cells to produce a brownish color appearance. DHA is Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved for cosmetic use. DHA has no known toxicity.
The FDA has advised that all users of DHA spray tanning services avoid inhaling or ingesting DHA. When using all-over sunless tanning sprays containing DHA it may be difficult to avoid exposure to sensitive areas including the eyes, lips, mucous membranes or internally.
The FDA, along with SprayChic, recommends you take the following protective measures during your sunless tanning session:
•Use of protective undergarments
• Using protective eyewear
• Sealing lips with lip balm
Above items are available in the spray rooms, with the exception of the lip balm. Lip balm is available for purchase at the front desk.
If you have additional concerns, please consult with your healthcare provider. To understand the complete FDA stance on DHA please visit www.FDA.gov.
The application process is 10-15 minutes, however we book clients for 30 minute appointments. This allows us to discuss the options that would best suit your needs, answer any questions you have, and review the procedure to be sure you are comfortable before the application. The 30 minutes also gives us enough time to advise on any products you may need and for checking out after the service.
Appointments for the Automated Revolution Plus Booth are 15 minutes from start to finish. The spray tanning process in the booth is 3-6 minutes.
It is extremely important to exfoliate your skin the 24-hours prior to your session for best results. We also advise refraining from using any type of lotions or perfumes the day of the appointment to be sure that there is no barrier on your skin. Do not use an oil-based body scrub the day of your appointment. This will leave a residue on the skin that will prevent the active ingredient from working with your skin.
Shaving, waxing or any other form of hair removal should take place 24 hours before a spray tan. The hair follicles need time to close up and we also don’t want any residue from shaving gels, wax, etc. on the skin as those create barriers preventing the tan from absorbing evenly.
During your session, you have the option of wearing undergarments or going topless. We also provide disposable thongs, hair covers, hair ties and Neat Feet (to keep your soles from getting brown) for our clients. If you prefer tanning completely nude to avoid all tan lines, that is perfectly fine as long as you are over the age of 18 or have a legal guardian sign our release/permission form at the time of the appointment. Please note that we require our male clients to wear some form of undergarment if being sprayed by one of our female SprayChic Experts.
Please be sure to have darker colored, loose fitting clothing for after you get sprayed. Socks should be avoided for after your session for at least an hour. We also advise to go without a bra for a few hours afterward to avoid creating tan lines if you chose to go topless for your spray tan session.
The cosmetic bronzer will wash out of all materials except for silk or nylon blend material. The solution may rub off slightly on your clothing, in which case we recommend wearing loose clothing that is darker in color the day of your appointment. After you completely rinse off the cosmetic bronzer the tan will not stain your clothing.
For the Traditional SprayChic Airbrush Tan you should wait 24 hours after your session to shower. This will result in an even tan that will last up to 7 days. Don’t be shocked when you see the cosmetic bronzer rinse off in your first shower. This is completely normal as that is the temporary color guide.
Our most popular option is the Accelerated SprayChic Airbrush Tan for those that prefer to rinse off the cosmetic bronzer sooner. The Rapid solution that is used for the Accelerated SprayChic Airbrush Tan allows you to rinse off in 1-hour for a light tan, 2-hours for a medium tan or 3-hours for a dark tan. Your SprayChic Expert will review which timeline would be best for your skin type if you choose the Accelerated option. We highly recommend reading our blog post regarding the difference between the Traditional and Accelerated options, however we will chat about your specific situation and what may work best for you.
Please wait for 24 hours before working out. Rinsing off prior to working out is ideal. This will rinse away any bronzer – the cosmetic portion of your airbrush tan. That way you won’t have to worry about sweating off the bronzer or streaking the tan. Be aware that the active ingredient in spray tanning (DHA) requires up to 24 hours to fully create the tan appearance. The pH of the skin is a vital factor in the development of your spray tan. An increase in pH can cause the tan to have an orange appearance.
Don’t be discouraged by this answer and rule out getting a spray tan. Give us a call and we will help guide you in scheduling your spray tan based on your routine. Besides, spray tanning makes you feel like you just lost 1o lbs, and you look more tone too!
You will not appear orange with a SprayChic Airbrush Tan. We use the highest quality solution and guarantee that you will not turn orange! Our services include a pH balancing prep spray that we apply prior to the tan to ensure that there is nothing on your skin that could interfere with the development of your tan or cause the tan to look orange. The XL-a-Tan prep spray serves as a mild exfoliation, balances the skin’s pH levels, and assists the DHA to penetrate faster and deeper into the skin. Your SprayChic Experts are well educated with the solution and will use the proper percentage of DHA and application technique so that your tan looks natural.
First of all, we don’t refer to them as age spots…we call them sun spots. The DHA in the solution is the same as the DHA in sunless tanner and will deepen the color of sun spots. However, we will assist you in covering these spots with a barrier cream so that they will blend nicely when you have your SprayChic Airbrush Tan. We also offer clear solution to reduce the chance of sun spots darkening. Be sure to mention this to your SprayChic Expert if you have any concerns.
The length of your tan depends on your preparation of the skin prior to the tan, and the maintenance of your skin afterward. You will want to be very gentle with the skin throughout the week after being sprayed and follow the maintenance tips provided. Most people notice their tan begin to fade after about 5-7 days, at this point you may exfoliate in preparation for your next session with SprayChic.
The best time to get sprayed before any event is 1-3 days prior. The tan will be the most consistent for the first 4 days, and then begins to gradually fade after that.
We understand that, as a bride, you have lots of other scheduling to consider. See the next question regarding nail appointments. Feel free to call us to talk out your situation if you are unsure how to work around other appointments.
Please be sure to schedule your spray tan appointment after you get your manicure or pedicure. The tanning solution will not ruin your nails as they will be protected with a barrier cream that your SprayChic Expert will assist with applying. In addition, your SprayChic Expert will help you with the precise removal of the barrier cream with a baby wipe after the spray tan application.
This is a common question from our African American clients that are looking to even out skin tone or just get a glow before an event. We will ensure that the shade is appropriate for your skin as each client may have a different desire.
Any type of waxing or hair removal will remove your spray tan. Please have waxing appointments done 24 hours or more prior to your airbrush tan. This will ensure that the hair follicles have had the opportunity to close up and that any wax residue is removed.
DHA is FDA approved for cosmetic use and only penetrates the outermost layer of the skin. There is no evidence that DHA is harmful. However, we do recommend that you consult with your physician first. We require our pregnant clients to wear a mask and nose filters while we spray the body and remove the mask while we spray your face. We also like to point out that at SprayChic we are equipped with state-of-the-art filtration machines and ventilation to make your experience the most comfortable. We emphasize the importance of speaking to your doctor about your pregnancy and their guidance is most important. Please see the question regarding DHA above.
The most important thing to remember is that the solution does not contain any UV protection/sunscreen. You will still be able to develop a tan naturally in the sun. Seawater, chlorine and hot tubs can accelerate the fading of the tan. SprayChic recommends wearing waterproof sunscreen to help repel the water. Adding on the Hydro Firm post spray ($5) to your spray tan service is the best choice if you are planning on being exposed to these elements.
The Hydro Firm post spray replenishes and hydrates the skin and includes skin firming ingredients. Its high vitamin content penetrates the skin’s outer layer boosting melanin development to enhance and maintain tanning results. The upgrade cost for the Hydro Firm post spray is $5 and is applied by your SprayChic Expert directly after the tanning solution is applied.
SprayChic’s most popular day is Thursday. The evening appointments between 5:30 pm – 9:00 pm usually book up about 2 weeks in advance in the Spring and Summer. Wednesday and Friday evenings book up about one week in advance in Spring and Summer. Please note that if you do not see a time that you are looking for there is a waitlist option.