While we all need sunshine to survive, in
order to receive the healthy glow of a tan you essentially need
to stay in the sun far past our vitamin D requirement. Excessive
sun exposure ages your body quicker, damages the outer skin
layer and can ultimately lead to skin cancer. Luckily for those
sun gods and goddesses out there, technology has come to the
rescue. With the advancement of a more natural looking tan from
sunless tanning products, the potential exists for that
realistic tan without going outside.
DHA
The great advancement in sunless tanning came
to us in the form of a chemical called, dihydroxyacetone (DHA).
It is the active ingredient in all spray tanning products on the
market today, allowing them to offer the natural tans they
advertise. DHA is essentially a sugar molecule that reacts to
amino acids on the surface of the skin. A product that has been
listed by the FDA as a color additive for the body and found
inside many cosmetic products for over 30 years. It is
completely non-toxic and not absorbed into the body. Designed
for external application only, avoid getting DHA onto your lips,
eyes or mucus membranes for safety.
The amount of DHA within the spray tanning
mixture is particularly important. Too much DHA creates a rusty
unnatural look and too little generates only a light tan that
fades quickly. The effects of a spray tan session with DHA last
about five to seven days as the chemical reaction takes place
within the most outer layer of the skin surface. Therefore, as
the dead skin cells slosh off, so does the tan.
Coloring Process
DHA does not instantly color your skin. The
process is actually an interaction response that causes the skin
to gradually darken over the next day or so, with maximum color
usually reached within twelve hours.
Sunless Tan Care
Before applying a spray tanning product it is
ideal to prep the skin. About six to twelve hours before your
session, gently exfoliate the skin you plan to tan, particularly
the more exposed areas. Take a shower and clean the skin right
before the application to remove all lotions and cosmetics that
will inhibit the chemicals from absorbing into the skin. It is
also a good idea to avoid showers and baths for at least twelve
hours after the application.
Keep in mind that sunless tans are not a true
tan and will not offer any natural sun protection like an
authentic tan would. Keep your DHA tan well moisturized for
maximum performance and always apply sunscreen when outside.
Spray Tanning Booths
Sunless tanning booths have cropped up all
over offering a quick effective way to apply a spray tan. The
booths are designed into a shower-like system that sprays the
product all over your entire body in a short amount of time.
Lotion is applied to the areas that you do not want to tan, like
the palms of hands and fingernails, and a cap over your head to
protect your hair. Essentially, you are provided a private room
with a spray tanning stall. After undressing and covering your
hair, you enter the booth, close your eyes and hold your breath.
The mist lasts about fifteen seconds and then you step out of
the stall to take a deep breath. Next, you step back in and turn
around to even out the product on both sides.
Sunless tanning booths are the fastest method
of acquiring a fake tan, but make sure the place you choose uses
standard cautions. Obviously everything should be clean and
sterile, but also double check that they take all precautions to
ensure no spray chemicals enters your nose, eyes or mouth.
Air Brush Tanning
A similar concept to the spray tanning booth,
but a more precise application process - the spray tanning
chemicals are applied to your skin by a technician with a
compressor and air brush. The solution contains DHA, but also a
temporary bronzer to help the technician apply the product
accurately. The bronzer provides you with an instant tan that
washes off with your next shower, usually about the time that
the DHA reaction has kicked in to develop your tan.
As the air brush method is more precise, you
can either have an all over body treatment or simply select a
facial application. While the shower booth system takes seconds
to apply, air brush tanning sessions usually last about fifteen
minutes. Both do require a drying time of ten minutes before
replacing your clothing.
Take Home Products
If you want to avoid the cost or hassle of a
professional session, you can purchase your own spray tanning
product for a homemade tan. An example is the product Spray Tan
in a Can (http://www.salonweb.com/spray_tan/)
which advertises the same 8% DHA concentration found at the
sunless tanning booths. When spray tanning at home keep all the
safety cautions in mind and work with a steady hand!
