Are you a first time self-tanner? No worries, we have got you covered! We have compiled a handy little guide on how to apply fake tan that will leave you looking sun kissed and gorgeous.

Before you do anything, you need to decide how you want to obtain your tan. Do you want to get spray tanned or use tanning lotions? If it is your first time spray tanning, go to a salon that is recommend by your friends – do not try to do it yourself. The ability to apply a perfect spray tan comes with time and lots of practice so leave it to the pros if it’s your first time.

As for tanning lotions make sure you pick a colour and shade suitable for your natural skin colour. Always do a patch test of the tanning lotion by applying it to a small, hidden area of your body. See how it looks after a day. Experiment with the time you keep it on your skin. Remember the longer you leave it on the darker it will be. If you are happy with the colour and have found your optimum length of time to keep it on for, then you’re ready to get started.

These next steps apply to both processes – spray tanning and applying a tanning lotion. Two days before you tan, shave, exfoliate, and moisturise. You will need to remove any unwanted hair because hair will tan darker than skin. You should wait two days to one day before self tanning because it gives your skin time to heal. Next, you need to exfoliate. Using a scrub, lather all over your body and face (if that is to be tanned as well) to help clean away dead skin cells. Finally, moisturise. Use lotions to help hydrate your skin which will better prepare it for tanning.

If you decide on spray tanning, all you need to do now is show up to your appointment! Make sure you dress in dark, comfortable clothes that you won’t mind getting stained. A professional tanner will explain the process and will give you precise directions to follow.

If you decide to use a tanning lotion, here’s how to apply fake tan:

Most of the time, it is advised you wait at least 8 hours before showering or bathing. However, if you’re doing it yourself and have worked out the perfect time with your patch test then go with that. Your tan should last between five and ten days, and then it’s time to do it all again.

There you have it first timers – a guide on how to apply fake tan.

Spray tanning is one of the most convenient ways to get a sun-bronzed glow in only a few minutes. Applying a spray tan takes only about 10 minutes and the even result will be visible almost immediately after the application. Most people probably have heard about the “magic substance” dihydroxyacetone or DHA. But, what is it exactly and what else can be found in a spray tan solution? Let’s have a closer look at all the different ingredients found in spray tan solution.

Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) DHA is the main active ingredients of a spray tan solution. Basically, it is a simple carbohydrate derived from sugar cane and sugar beets. DHA is a cosmetic substance which is used in almost every self tanner. It has been approved since the 1970s and the substance is non-toxic which makes self-tanning a healthy and safe alternative to natural sun tanning with its dangerous UV rays. Amino acids react with DHA and result in sunless pigments, melanoidins. These are similar to the natural melanin in the deeper skin layers that usually lead to tanned skin.

Erythrolose Erythrolose works similar to DHA in terms of its reaction with the skin surface. It is another carbohydrate that can be found, for instance, in fruits. However, it produces a slower and lighter tan, which can take up to 48 hours to fully develop. Erythrolose causes a more reddish colour than the DHA tan so that the final result is less orange. Together with the DHA tan it is ensured that the tan will fade away in a natural and smooth manner.

Aloe Vera Aloe vera is another major active ingredient of a spray tan solution. Aloe vera or aloe barbadensis as it is called amongst experts has proven to be one of the most important ingredients in all cosmetic products. It contains a range of acids, minerals and vitamins that our body cannot produce on its own.  Aloe Vera is therefore an essential moisturiser and is intensively nourishing to our skin.

Vitamins Most spray tan solutions contain vitamins A, C or E or a combination of the three.  Vitamins C and E are antioxidants. Anti oxidants are used frequently in cosmetics to heal skin damage. Vitamin E also protects the skin from harmful “free radicals” found in the air and from sun damage. Vitamin A is used in a spray tan solution for its skin firming properties.

Next time you pick up a bottle of spray tan solution have a look at the label and check it has these essential ingredients to give you a flawless, golden glow.

Need an idea for your next girl’s night in? You’ve done the clothes swap party, the lingerie party; hell, you’ve even done the Tupperware party. Ready for something new? Why not add the perfect glow to your party and host a mobile spray tanning party?!

Mobile spray tanning is definitely the latest craze. No longer do you need to travel incognito in transit to the salon for fear of someone you know seeing you looking, well a little browner than normal. No longer do you need to struggle at home with fake tan lotions that just don’t quite get you that nice even tan. With mobile spray tanning, you get all the benefits of a flawless spray tan without having to leave your house. What better way to get that perfect tan, than getting together with your besties and making a day of it.

Spray tan parties are easy, fun and a great way to pamper you and your girlfriends. All you need to do is invite some of your friends, get some bottles of nice champagne and get the party started with some hot summer tunes. Typically, most mobile spray tan companies hold parties with at least five guests. Hosts of spray tan parties receive some special benefits for hosting the party. Most of the time, companies offer at least a free mobile spray tan. Depending on how many friends you have invited, how many additional products could be sold and how successful the party goes, spray tanning parties are a way to get cheap and sometimes free prices on other tanning products. As many women get tanned every two weeks, think about rotating a mobile spray tan party each fortnight amongst your friends. This is just about how you are covered for the summer!

So now you’re thinking that this sounds like a good idea, but what about the furniture? There’s no need to worry. Mobile spray tanning companies will bring with them a tent so that there is no chance of staining the carpets, furniture or curtains. However, if you’re really worried there’s no reason why you can’t take it outside. You needn’t worry about anything except the food and the drink. You mobile spray tan company will bring with them a pop up spray booth, disposable g-strings and hair caps as well as sheets and feet protectors.

Usually, a mobile spray tanning process does not take longer than 20 minutes including setting up things and packing up. This means you can easily save time and money as a mobile spray tan takes about 10 minutes for each person. Why go to a spa or tanning salon if it is so easy to get the perfect glow to your home? It is a quality spray tan made by professionals and the convenience and speed is definitely one of the main advantages.

If you’re feeling really confident you can even think about doing the spray tanning yourself. All you need to do is purchase a spray tan kit that comes complete with the spray tanning system, solution, tent and accessories. Then you’re good to go! By having you’re friends around you can rotate applying the tanning solution so you all get a nice, even, natural looking town.

So, get your friends together and try something new for your next party! Have fun, girls!

Fake tanning has become increasingly popular over the past few years as a healthy alternative to sun tanning. From tanning lotions to tanning sprays and tanning foams to tanning extenders there are so many sunless tanning products and options to help you achieve that perfect natural looking tan. However, what do you do if you misapply one of these products and end up with an orange, streaky looking tan? Here we offer some simple tips to help turn a bad fake tan into a good one.

1. Hydrogen Peroxide As this is a chemical solution this is best used in small doses, on smaller streaks and patches you want to fix. We would never suggest you douse your whole body in it. Most of us keep Hydrogen Peroxide in the medicine cupboard to help disinfect little cuts. Apply it with a cloth, let it sit for a couple minutes and then clean it off with water. Repeat this till the bad fake tan mishap starts to fade.

2. Scrub Scrub your body with a dermatological buffing cloth or loofah. While scrubbing your skin with hot and soapy water, the orange colour will fade away. Remember to take it a little easy with this method as you probably already exfoliated before you applied your tanning solution (or maybe you didn’t and that’s why you’re left with a bad fake tan) and you want to leave yourself with some skin left.

3. Self-Tanning Removers Some manufacturers not only offer a range of self tanning products, but also provide self-tanner removers as a bad fake tan is very likely to happen when using tanning products for the first time. The ingredients will lighten your skin and are available at your local beauty store or pharmacist.

4. Alcohol Another solution might be alcohol. Put it on a cloth and apply it to your skin in circular motion. Be careful with little wounds as they might burn. However, alcohol is the all-rounder that disintegrates most of the ingredients.

5. Baby Oil Rub some baby oil into your skin, let it soak in for about 30 minutes, then take a hot and long bath. While bathing use a cloth or loofah to scrub your skin. This will help to fade any bad fake tan.

6. Cover Up If all else fails – cover it up! Arm yourself with some foundation, concealer, loose powder and long sleeves. And comfort yourself with the fact that in a few days it will all just fade away.

The silly season is almost upon us and with it comes Christmas parties, lunches and formal dinners where you need to look your best. I think we would all agree that most of us look better with a little bit of a golden glow. What better way to get a healthy natural look than by getting a spray tan? Yet when it comes to getting a spray tan before a big event the last thing you want is for it to go wrong. So in order to avoid a nasty tanning experience, let’s have a look at some fast and easy tips to ensure you are looking your finest.

First up, if the event is really important and you have little experience in giving yourself a spray tan or applying fake tan, you should probably look at getting a spray tan with a professional tanning salon or mobile tanning company. Make sure you have either been to them before or have a good referral from someone who has. However, if you are confident in your own self-tanning abilities go for it on your own!

Before you get your spray tan you need to prepare your skin. The first thing to do in the morning is to take a shower and exfoliate your skin. Make sure you do not use an oil based exfoliant as the oil will act as a barrier to the spray tanning solution. Similarly, ensure you don’t put any lotions, creams, deodorants or perfumes on as they will alter the tanning process and make your tan look uneven.

Another important pre-tannnig tip is to choose your clothes carefully. As your skin might lose colour directly after the spraying, it is best to dress casually and wear loose-fitting clothes. If you are doing it yourself remember to use gloves in order to keep your hands clean and Vaseline to protect from staining in key areas.

After getting a spray tan you need to ensure you do not shower or bathe for at least 8 hours. This will help you skin absorb the tanning solution remember the longer you keep it on, the deeper your tan will become. Once you have showered, the most important thing to do is keep your skin hydrated. Hydrating your skin will influence how long your tan will last. This involves not only moisturising it regularly but also drinking a lot of water to keep your body from dehydrating. It is also important to avoid long showers or baths as this will wash your colour off faster. You can also use a special tan extender to help lengthen the life of your tan.

Getting a spray tan doesn’t protect from UV rays. Please remember, that it is still important to put on sun screen, wear a hat and cover up in the sun.

Finally, timing is another crucial factor. Getting a spray tan on the same day as the celebration could end in a horrible disaster. So make sure you allow yourself at least a day before your big event to tone down and for any last minute fixes should anything go awry. With the help of these little tips you will be easily able to improve your tanning results.

Are you sick of pale, pasty white skin? Summer is just around the corner and with it comes bikini season, so if you haven’t got your tanning sorted you need to act fast. If you are looking for a way to get a perfect golden glow, you might want to look into airbrush tanning. This tanning technique is becoming increasingly popular as it gives you one of the most even, natural looking tans around. Many people don’t know much about this technique, so here you will find out all you need to know about it.

What is Airbrush Tanning?

In general, airbrushing is a painting technique used in arts, model making, advertising and cosmetics. An airbrush is a spray pistol, which mainly works through the process of nebulisation (i.e. converting liquid into a mist or fine spray). The first pistol was patented in 1876 by Francis Edgar Stanley. When a tanning airbrush is used in spray tanning, it is attached to a tanning system that contains a spray tan solution.  The tanning airbrush then converts the tanning solution into a fine mist which can be applied directly to the body. This technique allows you to obtain an extremely smooth colour gradient and even application. The airbrush has now been used for over 30 years in the cosmetic industry and is popular for its fine and precise application.

Where to go?

Most professional tanning and beauty salons offer airbrush tanning. By visiting a salon you are ensured a professional looking tan and an even application. As salon therapists use a tanning airbrush day in and day out, you can be confident that they will also be able to match your skin colour to the right tanning solution.

What to Expect?

By getting your tan done at a professional salon, staining your hands and feet is no longer a problem as you do not need to handle any self-tanning products – it is all applied directly onto your skin by a professional. This process is quick, easy and effortless. You can expect to have the application over in as little as ten minutes. You should not shower for at least eight hours after getting your airbrush tan.

Your tan will last around five to ten days after application. Exfoliating before and using a tanning extender afterwards will help extend the life of your tan.

What are the benefits? Aside from getting a perfectly even tan, airbrush tanning is also the healthy tanning option. Unlike sun tanning or using a tanning bed, airbrush tanning does not damage your skin cells. Therefore, there is no danger of skin cancer.

We hate it when it happens to us, but love to laugh when it happens to others – it’s the dreaded fake tan fail. Save yourself (and your friends) the embarrassment of ending up with a bad fake tan by reading our important tips!

There are a few different ways you can have a fake tan fail, but the most common is that nasty orange glow.  Turning an orange colour comes from one of two mistakes – applying a solution that is too dark for your skin or applying too many coats of fake tan. We’ve all got that friend who we wish would stop over doing their fake tan and who we don’t know how to tell them they should tone it down a notch or two. But even some celebrities keep making this mistake! We’ve all seen those funny shots of Lindsay Lohan, Christina Aguilera and Jessica Simpson sporting that orange look.

These people tend to equate beauty with having a tan, therefore thinking that the darker they are, the more beautiful they will be. This is a major mistake to make! While we all want to look good, it’s always best if you can maintain a natural appearance. A shade or two darker can give you a lovely glow, so it’s best to stop there.

There’s also other ways to experience a major fake tan fail Forgetting to exfoliate before tanning can lead to patchy and uneven fake tan. Also remember that if you wax your upper lip, it should be done about two days before you tan. You never want to end up with an orange moustache! Don’t forget about your hands and feet either – make sure to tan them unless you want them to look white against the rest of your body. And please, when the directions tell you to wait a certain amount of time before moving, be sure to wait that time. If you don’t it’s likely that you’ll end up with blotches, streaks, and stained clothing.

The best ways to fix a fake tan fail include exfoliating, applying lemon juice and rubbing with a lotion on tanning errors. However, the best fix will come with a little bit of time – at least one week’s time. Always remember less is more – you can always apply more spray tanning solution but taking away is not so easy. Also, if you are not confident applying your own spray tan solution or self tanner then go to a professional tanning salon that you’ve been to before or have been recommended by a friend.

How can you get a cheap spray tan? You can do it yourself! Spray tanning leaves your skin with a natural-looking glow even if it’s applied by yourself. Although a salon spray can give you a flawless application, the process can come with a heavy price tag especially if you get spray tanned often.

Fortunately, the DIY process is a viable alternative, saving you money but still giving you that sun-kissed touch. We’ve outlined some key points below to help you with your application, making it possible to have a cheap spray tan whenever you want one.

Tip 1 Hop in the shower, grab your exfoliating gloves and scrub away! Exfoliating before spray tanning rids your skin of any flaky dead skin cells. When exfoliating, take extra notice of the drier areas on your body, notably your elbows and knees. Once this is done, apply a generous amount of an oil free moisturiser all over your body. Exfoliating and moisturising before applying your spray tan leaves you with fresh, smooth skin, helping to even out the spray as well as prolong the time your tan will last.

Tip 2

Avoid staining parts of your body that you are not trying to tan. Cover your hair with a shower cap and rub Vaseline along your hairline and eyebrows. Don a pair of latex gloves for your hands, fingernails and toenails.

Tip 3 What to wear? Simple: a dark, skimpy bikini you don’t mind staining. And once you’re finished applying your spray tan? Go in the nude (don’t be shy!) or throw on dark, loose fitting clothes. Your choice!

Tip 4 Where to tan? The shower is your best bet as you can easily rinse away any spray that hit the floor rather than your skin.

Tip 5 An optional step, although a great choice, is to grab a friend for some help. They can help to spray your back and any other parts of your body that are difficult to reach. If you have a friend that’s happy to spray you all over, that is the best option of all.

Tip 6 Start by spraying your feet and work your way up… slowly. You’re in no rush! Keep the canister at least six inches from your skin. Apply the solution to your face by hand, using your fingertips in circular motions. Stay clear of spraying too much tan onto your elbows and knees. Remember a critical rule: the thicker the skin (elbows and knees), the more fake tan it will absorb.

Tip 7 The final tip to your cheap spray tan is to apply moisturiser at least once a day afterwards. This will help to extend the life of your tan.

While doing it yourself will solve your need for a cheap spray tan over the long term, you will need to invest in the right equipment up front. There are however numerous affordable spray tan kits that give you an “all in one” solution to your DIY tanning needs. Remember you’ll also need to practice using the spray tan system, but practice does make perfect and soon enough you’ll be giving yourself a flawless tan from within your home, as you need it.