I love to be tan. It's unfair really, because I was born as lily white as snow in December. It takes work (and planning) to keep up my perfect J-lo color, and although I've gone to many airbrush tanning salons, most of the time I do my own spray tan at home. It's faster, easier and much less expensive than getting it done somewhere else. People are always asking me how to spray tan yourself with a machine, so I wanted to spend a few minutes explaining it. Before I spray tanned myself I imagined it would be so much harder than it actually was! Having the freedom to tan later at night and not have to leave the salon with no makeup on, weird baggy sweatpants and no more money (joking! but seriously, spray tans are so expensive and they last maximum 4 to 5 days looking their best. If you spend 50 dollars a week on spray tanning and go weekly....It's 2600 dollars a year. Could be a nice little weekend away!Before you go about spray tanning, the first and most important prep step that you must do is to exfoliate thoroughly in the shower. I use a mitt Self Tanning Mitt Pack (3 Gloves), Large Double Sided Sunless Tanner Mit for All Over Self Tan, Small Face Mit, Exfoliating Tan Remover Mitt by VIDI
to exfoliate, followed by a back exfoliator Aquis - Exfoliating Back Scrubber, Deep Clean & Invigorate Your Skin, Linen (4 x 30 Inches)
for all the hard to reach places. Don't moisturize the morning before a spray tan as the moisturizer won't allow the spray tan to develop as well. Make sure that you shave and do any hair removal before spray tanning as well. Shaving will exfoliate and remove the top layer of skin which isn't something that you'll want to do as much of after you've applied your gorgeous new tan.Where should I tan? Can I tan in the shower? When I first started tanning I bought a tent, but decided that it would be just as easy to tan in my shower so I wouldn't have to set up my tent. It seemed like so much work and I just wanted to save time but...I would rinse the shower off after every tanning session and it seemed like that was working really well for a while. After a year or so I stepped back and took a good look at my shower and realized that my grout was no longer white, it was tan. I scrubbed and I bleached and then I scrubbed more, but nothing that I did made it any better. The grout was stained, and there was nothing that I could do to make it better. They actually had to scrape the grout out of my shower and re apply it. (sad face) If you are going to spray tan at home, please purchase (and use) a tent Maxi-Mist Lite Plus Sunless Spray Tanning KIT, Tent, Machine HVLP Airbrush Tan, Maximist PINK
so that you don't ruin the way your bathroom looks like I did!There are so many choices for spray tanning guns. One of my favorites is the Maxi Mist MaxiMist Lite Plus HVLP Spray Tanning System
. It works quickly and gives me a dark, even tan. Another one of my favorites is the St Tropez Pro St. Tropez Pro Light Spray Tan
. It's so small that I sometimes travel with it in my suitcase so that I don't have to find a place to spray tan when I'm away.When choosing a spray tanning solution I'd definitely reccomend one with an instant bronzer Norvell Premium Sunless Tanning Solution - Venetian, 1 Liter
so that you can see exactly where you've applied your tanner. If you like something organic I buy Lavish tan. Best Organic Sunless Airbrush Spray Tan Solution - Bronzed, Sun-kissed Customized Natural Color - Voted 1 in U.S.A. - 8oz
I like to tan myself in a place where I can do a quick mirror check to make sure that my face neck and chest have enough color and look even. I keep the spray gun moving and like to add the color in layers. If you try to make an area dark enough in one pass, the color tends to not absorb as well, and may even streak or bead. I always spray my back before and other area on my body so that I don't have to deal with reaching sticky arms around my body.Be cautious and apply less color to your hands, feet and neck. Really dark color on your neck tends to settle into any wrinkles, and dry hands and feel will absorb more color than you bargained for. Nothing looks more unnatural than a tan which is barely there on the legs, but is super dark on the feet. Fake tan alert! I also wear sticky feet Belloccio 50 Pairs of Disposable Tanning Feet Pads (100 Feet Total); Sunless Airbrush Spray Tanning Tent Foot Protection (Color May Vary)
to protect the bottoms of my feet from color. The tanner settles onto the floor as you go, and walking through it will give the bottoms of your feet a dark brown cast. Not pretty!After you spray tan, you can brush on a little bit of baby powder Nature's Baby Organics USDA Silky Dusting Powder, Fragrance Free, 4 oz. | Skin Relief - Babies, Kids, & Adults! Natural, Gentle, & Soft for Chafing | No Synthetics, Preservatives, Cornstarch, or Talc
(I'd choose natural baby powder) applied with a large makeup brush (so you don't look chalky!) EcoTools Large Powder Brush, Made with Recycled and Sustainable Materials, Cruelty Free Synthetic Taklon Bristles, Aluminum Ferrule, Recycled Packaging
between your bosom, on your neck, between your thighs and underarm area. Don't shower, workout or get wet for 8 hours after you tan. Basically get inside a bubble and don't even think of doing anything:) I'm kind of joking.... but not really:)To maintain your tan after you airbrush:
- Moisturize every day (twice a day is better) with an unscented moisturizer like:
