If You Can’t Tone It, Tan It: Spray Tans

Now, unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last few years, you’ve heard about the importance of wearing your sunscreen. 

But, I still see some of you lovely ladies forgoing sunscreen because you don’t want to be “pasty white.” 

Well, today’s blog is right up your alley. 

My friends, I am about as pasty white as you can get. Seriously, I am so fair complected that my white bed sheets look tan compared to my legs. 

I also know that when it comes summertime, I want to look as good as possible in my bathing suit by the pool. And, let me say this, everything looks better with a little tan.

So, believe me when I say I want to be tan, too. But with the bombardment of information about sun damage, wrinkles and importance of sunscreen, what’s a girl to do?

Well, that girl gets a spray tan. 

Yep, I absolutely LOVE spray tans. They get you a beautiful, even tan without all the sun damage. 

So, since I’ve had about a million spray tans in my life, and plan on getting about a million more this summer, I thought I’d walk you through the process of getting a spray tan.

I prefer not to use the spray tan booths. You know, the ones you get in, push a button and have a machine spray you. I don’t think they ever look as good or as even or last as long as when a person sprays you. And, I always secretly have a fear that I’ll pull a “Ross” from that Friends episode…

Nope, I go to a salon that has an actual person spray you. It can be intimidating the first time, so I thought today I’d give you some tips and what to expect on your first spray tan:

Wear Loose Clothing: When I go to get a spray tan, I try to go wearing looser clothes. Things like tight waistbands or tight bra straps can rub off some of the tan and leave a little while spot. You don’t have to wear a mu mu, just pass on the skinny jeans. 

Wear Panties That Don’t Interfere With Your Bathing Suit: Lesson learned the hard way here. If you’re getting a tan and will be wearing a specific bathing suit that weekend, make sure your panties match the tan lines of your bathing suit. Or better yet, just wear those bathing suit bottoms so your tan lines match up. 

What To Wear When Getting Sprayed: Now, I get sprayed just in thong undies (TMI??) But, you can get sprayed in any amount of clothes you want (bra, panties, bathing suits, swim trunks for the guys.) But before stripping down to your birthday suit, you might want to check with your tanning professional on their policy of spraying “in the buff.”

Tan May Color Your Clothes: The spray tan color may rub off on your clothes after you first get sprayed. If it does, just stain treat them and wash them immediately. It should come right out. 

Schedule Your Tan Around Your Event: It’s usually recommended that you not take a shower for 8-10 hours after your spray tan. (And if you’re like me, you’ll definitely want a shower before you go out to your event.) So, book your spray tan either the day before your event or early enough in the day so you can wait 8 hours before showering.

 

Don’t Workout or Sweat: You can’t get wet for 8-10 hours. That includes sweating (whether that is at the gym or pulling weeds.) You’ll sweat the tan off and have weird tan lines. 

Stay Lotioned Up: If you keep lotioned up, your tan will last longer. So, keep those arms and legs moisturized to get the most life out of your tan. 

Don’t Be Self-Conscious: It can be scary and intimidating to have someone hold a spray gun of tanning solution inches from your booty while you stand there in your undies. The first time I got a spray tan, I stood there scrutinizing my arms, boobs, extra jiggle and dimples, but guess what – the girl spraying you doesn’t care a lick what you look like. She’s sprayed a ton of bodies before you and will spray a ton afterwards. She’s just happy you’re there so she can get a paycheck that day. Get over yourself here and don’t let your insecurities keep you from getting a killer glowing tan. 

So, as this summer (and bathing suit weather) approaches, do NOT soak in the sun to get that tan. If Dateline and 20/20 and every magazine cover on the shelf haven’t been enough to convince you, listen up: soaking up the sun without that sunscreen is horrible for you.  And, though you might look nice for a summer, those wrinkles you’re making are going to stick around a lot longer than that summer tan. Instead, try a spray tan. 

Stay tan (just spray tanned….)

 – Rebecca