Spray Tan

Hi L.! I am queen of self tanner because I try not to get a real tan, so I've tried quite a few. I went a few times to get a Mystic Tan at a tanning salon. You go into a booth and a nozzle sprays you from head to toe with a very fine mist of tanner. This works really well and it was an even tan. It is less expensive then going to a spa and having an actual person spray you.

Another good thing, if you just don't want to get the spray tan, is buy the self tanners that build up to a deeper color per application. It's really easy to use and it is a very even tan. Any of the brands work well and I never get that yucky smell that regular self tanners can give you.

Hope that helps!

Patty

Hello I did have this done about 3 years ago, and yes it will turn your hands and the bottom of your feet orange, that's why they provide a special cream that you put on your palms, finger nails, bottom of your feet and toe nails. This stuff prevents you fron turning orange. It does cost about $30 and up depends on where you go. It does last about 1 week or so maybe longer. Just make sure you use this cream and when you get out of the machine make sure you pat yourself dry not wipe it okay. and wash your hands a.s.a.p. Hope this helped a little, Have fun on your trip....:)

I use to manage a tanning salon and I really love the spray tan. Couple pointers though, It truly looks better if you are somewhat tan to begin. because as the spray starts to fade, if you are very pale it will look streaky but if you are even a tiny bit tan it will look better. Also, when you walk into the room there is barier cream. Load up on this. you are suppose to put it on your hands,feet, ears. cake it on!!! Then when you get out, rub, rub, rub!!! The more you blend and rub the solution into your skin, the more even it will be. Then for best results dont shower, sweat excessively, swim or anything for 24 hours. They will tell you 3 hours but the longer you wait the better. Also most places now have bronzer free spray tans. Bronzer is what makes girls look orange. You can tell which lotion has really orange bronzers by looking at the color of the lotion, if it is orange then it has bronzer. DO NOT use these, you will look ridiculous!!! I have not used the bronzer free(there wasnt one where I worked) but I wish I had!! I have friends that have used them and love them!! Also do not go to LA tan. Thats not where I worked, I worked at ultimate exposure. But most, but not all la tans are dirty!! and Dont wash your hands, dont come in any contact with water. If you use the barrier cream and really slop it on, you wont be darker. The barrier cream is for the drier parts of your bosy because they soak up more of the solution. but if you wash your hands they will be white and the rest of you will be tan. and dont pat, rub in. I would go once a few weeks before vacation and then the morning of the day before you leave. This way you can get a practice round in before vacation. good luck and have fun on vacation!!!!
Engaged mom of a seven month old girl!!!

I have done spray tanning many times, at both LA Tan and Palm Beach Tan. I would say that Palm Beach Tan is BY FAR the better of the two. They are a little pricier but the staff will help you and the finished look is better (and they have a vanilla scented one if you don't like the smell of the tanning solution). The orange palms, oranges creases in your knuckles, and ankels can be avoided by putting on the lotion they provide in the rooms (and cover your hair). Just lather it on in the areas you don't want to get the solution on..but be careful not to be too sloppy about it or you'll get lines in places you want to be tan. I'm not going to lie, it takes a little practice, but once you get it, it's super easy, convenient, and SAFE. I am super fair so I love it. I would only go once, maybe twice in a few days or you might look orange - it's not really the same concept as tanning in the beds... you don't build it up (it's like skin makeup). They usually last about 3-5 days each, depending on how you shower, and if you loofa your body before you go it will last longer and be more even.
As far as getting color for your trip, you may want to do a little regular tanning too before you do the spray (I did this once at PBTan and I think they call it a tanning cocktail or something like that). You just might want a little base color so you don't get fried the second your midwestern skin sees the sun! ;)

Hi L.,

I have had this done may times, and love it. LA Tan has them for $10.00 on Monday's, and I think they have a special where you buy 4 for 44? Well worth it. The hands do look a little bit weird, kind of spotty after a few days. But if you are going to be in the sun in Mexico, this will not protect you from getting a sunburn, I would tan for at least a week before you go. They also do 19.99/month for unlimited tans.

Have a great time! ;-) H.

I've done it probably 4-5 times. I prefer the Mystic Tan brand over the others. I too am very pale and hardly tan in the sun and absolutely have to wear a 30-45 or will burn. That being said, in preperation I would use an exfoliater all over my body several days before the tan application. I would also mousterize every morning and night. The reason hands, feet, areas around nails, knees and elbows turn orange is because they absorb more of the color because they are dry. Don't shave your legs the day of the tan because that can be drying as well (a day spa gave me that tip). When you go for the tan, make sure you get the correct application; there is a scale of, like, 1-3 based on height and size. I am 5'4 and 30 lbs and use the lightest application level. Pay attention to the video they should offer for you to watch and take your time with the blocking cream. I have put the very lightest, lightest coat on my toes and just the outside soles of my feet for great results. As far as someone peeing in the booth, I don't really know what to say about that. Never heard of that happening before! Good luck! By the way, I know that Mystic is at Time 2 Tan in Lake zurich and if you google Mystic Tan, their website has the instructional video online.

I have more of an olive skin tone, but get fair in the winter. I used Mystic Tan once. I'd think you'd have to go a few times b/c I didn't really notice much difference. The only self tanner that I've been successful with (no streaking) has been Tan Towels. It's the only thing I feel comfortable using on my face w/out the risk of looking blotchy or streaky.
Have a great vacation!!

L.,

A little warning for you: I mentioned to my sister that I wanted to try the spray tan and she shared the following story with me....
A friend of hers went to have the spray tan-as soon as the solution hit her body she peed on herself. She left the place with the tan and water marks down her body.
I'm sure everyone is different in terms of how they react to different temps on the body. But I just decided to stay away from that awful experience.

Good luck and enjoy your upcoming trip.

F.

I have used the spray tan at LAtan it's not so bad. The first time i went lighter and i barely noticed a difference it was practically gone after the first shower. I went darker the next time and again it didn't last long at all. Now i just do two weeks of short light tan sessions before a big event or trip otherwise I am white as a ghost. And over the summer i just turn a wonderful red.

My niece did it -use alot of lotion. She only went once and then she used some tan lotion to make it more. You need to go a couple times.

Hi L.-

I've gone to Wake UP Beautiful in Schererville on Rt. 30 and loved it. I got an airbrush tan. I tried the booths and DON'T like them...I have a bit of a problem being enclosed in a box that sprays you (it freaks me out).

The airbrush tan, is more open, the coverage is even and natural looking. However, if you get Viola, you have to actually tell her, you need to go a little darker b/c she tends to go VERY light...and it doesn't darken as much as she'll tell you it will. It's only $25 a session, so I know it's cheaper than some places. And I think you could probably go nude, but since someone is spraying you, I always wear the tiniest pair of underwear and strappless bra to get most of my body covered...that's just me. I'm actally getting it done for our Florida trip this month!

Hope this helps! Have FUN!

M.