How To Spray Tan Yourself With Machine Effectively
Are you looking forward to spending time outdoors in a tan but have no time to book an appointment at the tanning salon? If yes, do not fret, you can spray tan yourself. It is also possible that tanning at the salon is somewhat costly and you would like to get the same tanning services but at a cheaper rate, right?
As summer approaches, almost everyone is thronging to their favorite tanning salon to get the desired shade of sun-kissed glow. You may have had a busy week and have no time to visit the salon even though you want to get tanned; here is how to spray tan yourself with machine.
More...
What Do You Need?
Before we get to preparing for the tanning session, you need to have the following with you:
- Towel/ sticky foot pads
- Professional Spray Tan system
- Barrier cream
- Your choice of tanning solution
The components mentioned above are a must have, however, you may want to have other additional gear such as a hair cap, blending brush or even a tan applicator mitt.
Preparation For The Tanning Session
Every process requires preparing, and, so does tanning. If you have been through a spray tanning session, you are aware of what you need to do before the tanning starts. If you never have, you need to follow the outlined steps below to prepare for the tanning:
Exfoliate
Exfoliation is necessary before any tanning session so that you can remove the dead skin cells from your body. Dead skin cells cause the pigmentation from the tanning solution to be uneven. It is also a necessary process, for healthy skin.
Remember to use an exfoliator that doesn’t have any oils in it. Oil prevents the tanning solution from taking hold. If you have to shave or wax, then, do this a day before you have your spray tanning session.
Wipe Down Your Body
If you are straight from the shower, pat yourself dry. Otherwise, you need to wipe down the traces of lotion, deodorant, moisturizer, etc. from your skin. You can use a moisturizer on your eyebrows to keep them from changing color.
You can use wet wipes or baby wipes for this. Remove makeup or any product that you may have used, for your daily skincare routine.
Strip Down
You are now almost through with the preparations. In this stage, you have to decide how you want to tan. Do you want to cover your whole body with the tanning solution or just up to the outlines of your swimsuit?
Whatever your choice, it doesn’t matter as you will be doing this by yourself. You don’t have to worry about a stranger seeing your nudity. Put on your hair cap if you don’t want the solution to get to your hair.
Apply the barrier cream on dry parts of the body, e.g. ankles, toes, fingernails, etc. These are the areas that you don’t want the solution to change their color.
Getting Started
Now that you are set, it is time to initiate the process. Well, before you get right on it, you have to choose a room which you will use for your session. Keep in mind that, the area that you settle for is likely to get messy.
You also need to choose a room with adequate ventilation, to pull the fumes out. You won’t have to worry about dirtying a particular place if you have a tan tent. So, set it up, with a towel on a particular spot inside the tent, to act as a base for standing. You may consider putting a mirror near the tent, where you will be able to see how the tanning is progressing.
Set Up The Spray Tan System
I will not dwell in the nitty gritty of the spray tan system set-up. You need to shake you tanning solution before you pour it into the cup of the tanning system. As you pour in the solution, ensure that it reaches the level of the tube of the spray tan system.
This way, the machine can pick up the solution from the cup. Use more solution if you want a dark color and also depending on your body mass, the bigger you are, the more solution you will need. Close the lid of the cup and attach it to the hose of the spray tan machine.
Start With The Lower Half
Hold the can a few inches from you, say, at least 8-12 inches away. Your spray motion should be in overlapping circles or up down motion. Use slow but steady movements as you want an even outcome.
Start from the thighs, head to the calves and finally to your feet. Twist and turn when needed, to ensure that all parts of the body get the solution. By starting with the lower half, you minimize the risk of ending up with weird tan lines.
Work Your Way Up
Use the color of your legs as a benchmark for the rest of your body color. Spray the solution, to each layer, at a time. If you spray it dark, all at once, it may end up darker than you wanted.
Move to your sides, stomach, and back. If your back proves difficult to spray, you can use a back brush that has some spray tan. Go easy on your armpits; you don’t want them to be as dark as the rest of your body.
It also applies to your hands, face, and feet. Only spray a light mist on them, using three downward ‘swooshes’ for the face. Ensure that you spray dry.
Finishing Touches
Once you are through with the spray tanning, you can use a wet wipe to clean off any solution on your palms, nails, the bottom of the feet. Do this after you have turned off the spray tan machine. Use gloves or a blending brush to even out any streaky patches.
Remove the cup with the solution from the machine, then turn it on to spray air all over your body, so that the solution dries.
Conclusion
Once you have ensured that all parts of your body are evened out, rinse the airbrush. If you leave it like that, it will clog, and you will have to deep clean it before using it again. Well, if you love, Do It Yourself Tips, here’s is another way to get the sun-kissed glow from the comfort of your home without having to worry about a stranger having to see you naked.
Spray tanning requires a lot of practice, if your first attempt doesn’t turn out as expected, you can always wash up and have someone else do it for you. However, with time and practice, you will be able to do it all by yourself. All you need to do is twist and turn, making sure that every part of your body that needs color gets in contact with the tan solution.
If you are not that flexible, you can always, have a tan applicator mitt to use on your face and a back brush with some of the solution, for your back. Let us know about your spray tanning success or failure, below.
