The longer you’re prepping your skin with hydration, the better your tan will be. You want to exfoliate with a dry brush before a shower and apply lotion to damp skin when you get out. The top layers of your skin are what develop the “tan” so you want to work on having hydrated and happy skin before your appointment.

If you have some severe dehydration that shows flakiness, scales or rough texture, use a lotion like AmLactin for a few weeks before, but stop a few days before your tanning appointment.

Do any hair removal at least one day before if you’re shaving, and at least three days before if you’re waxing.

Don’t apply body oil before your appointment as this can create a barrier between the solution and create uneven results.

Don’t wear antiperspirants or perfumes.

Don’t wear foundation or concealer.

If your hair is long, have it pulled up off of your neck.

Wear loose fitting clothes and comfortable slip on shoes. You don’t want leggings, jeans, socks, or boots. Think sweatpants and a loose T shirt, or a loose dress, and sandals.

A spray tan solution combines four key ingredients: DHA (the active tanning agent), a carrier base (aloe vera or alcohol), water, and botanical extracts for skin health and fragrance. The DHA reacts with amino acids in the top layer of skin, creating a temporary brown color that develops over 4-10 hours.

Unlike sun tanning, spray tan color doesn’t involve UV damage — it’s a chemical reaction on the surface of your skin that fades naturally over 7-10 days as skin cells shed.

Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) is derived from sugar cane and beets and is completely safe for topical application. Over 50 years of safety data supports its use in cosmetics. When applied to skin, DHA bonds with amino acids in the stratum corneum (the outermost skin layer), creating temporary color that doesn’t penetrate into living tissue.

Solutions range from 8% DHA (light, fast-developing tans) to 14% DHA (rapid solutions and deep tans). Higher DHA percentage means deeper colors and often longer longevity. New clients and sensitive skin typically start with 8-9%, while darker skin tones and experienced clients use 12-14%.

Yes!

No Parabens — safer, naturally derived preservative alternatives.

No Mineral Oil — Plant-based carriers and aloe vera hydrate skin instead of petroleum byproducts.

No Erythrulose — only FDA-approved DHA for safety and consistency.

PETA-Approved & Vegan — Certified cruelty-free with zero animal-derived ingredients.

Ingredients like carmel and walnut husk (safe for those with nut allergies) enhance the formulas and offer customization for a beautiful tan without compromising quality or skin health.

About 90% of clients are nude for their spray tan. I offer a disposable thong for you to wear if you want. You can also wear your own pair of underwear. Men must wear briefs or boxers.

I have a large backdrop wall that has extraction fans that you’ll stand in front of. I walk you through the motions while I use my air compressor spray tan machine to airbrush the solution onto your skin.

I then dry you with warm air and use finishing powder.

During the development time while the solution is on you, you need to avoid water, liquids and moisture. This means you shouldn’t apply makeup, exercise, use the sink for a dishes task, water the garden with the hose or get near dogs that might be curious and lick you.

You also need to be aware of your skin being pressed together combined with sweat moisture, like crossing your legs for a long time.

When you’re rinsing off, do a lukewarm shower with only light body wash. Seeing a brown color rinsing off of you is the bronzer in your solution, it’s not your tan so don’t worry.

Pat dry with a towel when you get out and don’t apply lotion right then. Wait until your next shower to apply lotion afterwards.

Once you’ve rinsed off, the tan continues to develop for another 24hrs. And when you’re rinsed off you no longer have to worry about being near water, swimming etc. You just need to protect your skin from the sun with spf.

Results typically last 7-10 days, but this depends on skin type and care. The tan gradually fades as the top layers of dead skin cells on your epidermis slough off.

Use white lotion for your sunscreen, not spray oils.

Conditions that prolong the life of a spray tan: cool and quick showers, patting dry with a towel and not rubbing, no scrubs of any kind, moisturizing light lotion.

Conditions that lighten a tan faster: soaking in hot tubs, waxing for hair removal, shaving every day, taking baths, chlorinated pools, scrubs and oil for a pedicure or massage service.