| Spray Tan Solution comes in many sizes & | | | | see their actual tan develop over time. The |
| varieties & it would be impossible to cover all the | | | | bronze pigment bares no relation to the final tan |
| variations here, but I will attempt to offer a few | | | | & will wash off after their first shower. |
| points which are worth considering when | | | | Because of these variations it is always a good |
| purchasing spray tan solution (S.T.S). | | | | idea to try a tan before you commit to that five |
| STS is usually applied via an HVLP (High Volume | | | | litre bottle. Also ensure that you are buying fresh |
| Low Power) or airbrush system. The solution | | | | stock, & if you decant it ensure it is into a |
| once applied produces a tan which generally | | | | suitable HDPE plastic bottles. STS should be stored |
| develops over the next 5 – 10 hours. The tan | | | | in a cool dark place (preferably a fridge). |
| wears off over the next 1-3 weeks. | | | | STS may not be suitable for everyone |
| STS contains dihydroxyacetone (DHA) as the | | | | occasionally some people can have an allergic |
| active ingredient. DHA is a colourless chemical (it is | | | | reaction to DHA. There are also certain skin |
| derived from sugar cane) that interacts with the | | | | conditions which may result in an uneven, |
| amino acids in dead skin cells to produce a brown | | | | unattractive "tan." These conditions include skin |
| colour change. Since these dead skin cells are | | | | that has been previously damaged by the sun, |
| constantly being shed, the colour change produced | | | | "older" skin, mottled or freckled skin and scars. |
| by DHA usually lasts about five to ten days but | | | | Care should also be taken to prevent DHA |
| there are reports of tans lasting upto four weeks. | | | | colouration of the hair and nails. It should also be |
| DHA is not absorbed through the skin into the | | | | noted that a sunless "tan" is not really a suntan |
| body and it has no known toxicity. DHA was first | | | | and affords no protection whatsoever against the |
| discovered by the Germans in the late 1920's & | | | | skin damage the sun may cause. |
| has been used in cosmetic preparations for | | | | It has been known for tans to last upto four |
| almost 30 years. | | | | weeks, sometimes it can just come down to an |
| STS can also contain other ingredients which can | | | | individuals skin type however there are steps the |
| affect the quality of the tan & the durability of | | | | client can take before application, which will help |
| that tan. Some of these ingredients can include | | | | the tan to last longer, these can include a full body |
| Aloe Vera which will help sustain the tan through | | | | exfoliation (with particular attention paid to knees |
| skin moiturisation & Eurythrolose which has a | | | | & elbows). Exfoliating basically eliminates the |
| similar effect to DHA but because it is very | | | | already-dead skin cells, which means that the |
| expensive it can be left out of some cheaper | | | | spray tan mist will dye the layer of skin that is |
| STS’s. | | | | likely to last for a longer period of time. Encourage |
| Many STS’s quote the % of DHA which can | | | | the client to not apply any deodorants, perfumes |
| act as a guide to darkness of the tan they should | | | | or makeup prior to application, sometimes shaving |
| perhaps quote the Eurythrolose content as well. A | | | | prior to application can also help prolong the tan. |
| good STS is in fact a balance of all the | | | | After application clients should be encouraged not |
| ingredients, simply going for a higher DHA is not | | | | to bath for six hours & to keep their skin well |
| always the best way to go. It is for this reason | | | | moisturised. It should be noted that the STS will |
| that you should be wary of companies which | | | | only stain the outer layer of the epidermis |
| seem to offer STS in many different % DHA as | | | | therefore anything that could encourage |
| often they simply add more drops of pure DHA | | | | exfoliation of this top layer of skin may shorten |
| but fail to balance the solution with proprietary | | | | the life of the tan. If someone exercises daily & |
| ingredients such as Eurythrolose. Generally the | | | | showers three times a day then towels |
| higher the DHA content the longer it will take to | | | | themselves down vigorously then the tan may |
| dry & the tackier it will feel on the skin & the | | | | only last a few days. |
| more chance you have of rubbing it off before | | | | I am not going to go into the machines (which |
| the DHA has had time to “take”, this can | | | | you can use to apply spray tan) here but you |
| produce a patchy affect. More care must be | | | | should take into consideration just how noisy |
| taken when dealing with solution which is a higher | | | | some machines can be & the amount of |
| DHA. The strongest spray tan (at 15% DHA) is | | | | overspray they can produce (particularly the |
| Siennasol Extreme. | | | | HVLP systems), also you should consider the |
| STS is usually available in tinted or clear. Most | | | | after sales service you will receive from the |
| people go for the tinted as it can sometimes be | | | | manufacturer. If you are planning to take it up |
| easier to see where you have been, however | | | | professionally you should also ensure that you |
| with a bit of experience & a good application | | | | receive training from an officially verified & |
| regime clear STS can sometimes be the | | | | insurable training school. If you are setting up on |
| preferred solution for the more experienced | | | | your own keep records of everything from day |
| spray tan technician, as it stops the solution | | | | one. |
| staining cloths, walls, carpets etc. Clients love to | | | | |