The solution used for airbrush tanning is made up of dihydroxyacetone, which is a chemical that interacts with the dead layer of skin that is on the out-most layer of the epidermis. When the dihydroxyacetone touches the skin, it creates a darkening in color that mimics the look of a real tan. Dihydroxyacetone is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for external use as an airbrush tanning agent.
Application
Airbrush tanning may is applied to the skin using an airbrush gun that looks similar to Paint Sprayer. The solution is individually added for each tan to provide custom tanning results. The gun diffuses the solution in to tiny particles that are aimed at the skin to cover it completely and evenly. The solution dries, and with four to six hours, the color appears as it dries and alters the color of the skin.
Longevity
Airbrush tanning can last up to two weeks, depending on the level of activity you participate in, and how often you bath. Because the dihydroxyacetone interacts with your dead skin cells, if you exfoliate often you run the risk of your airbrush tan not lasting as long as it might if you hadn’t exfoliated, as the dead skin cells to which the dihydroxyacetone has interacted with become sloughed off.
Why Airbrush Tan?
The National Cancer Institute warns against any type of tanning, but especially artificial tanning done in tanning beds. In fact, the NCI notes that women who use a tanning bed only once per month put themselves at a 55 percent higher risk of contraction malignant melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer. If you love the bronzed look of a tan, but aren’t willing to sacrifice your health for it, airbrush tanning may be a better choice. The tan sits on top of the skin, so it is a safe way to get a tan. If you’re considering an airbrush tan, understanding how it works can help you feel more comfortable with the procedure.
Body Buff and Sun Drench with Air Brush Tanning
Help save your skin from harmful UV rays and still have a beautiful golden tan. Exfoliation and sunless bronzer application. Approximately 1 hour $75. 5 tans for $150, includes personal size exfoliant.
Exfoliate yourself at the spa with our exclusive body scrub and then let a professional apply the bronzer $40.
Exfoliate yourself at your home prior to the service then have a professional apply the bronzer $35 single application.
The first step to ensuring a great sunless tan is to exfoliate the skin. The skin needs to be clean and free from dead skin cells in order to alleviate uneven distribution. Clients also need to exfoliate well and then dry off completely before applying a sunless tanner. For example, if a client is young and has soft, supple skin, he or she probably doesn’t need to exfoliate as much. If he or she has naturally dry skin or are in a place with a lot of humidity, exfoliation is the key to getting an even, all-over tan.
The second, and probably the most important step, is application. Some experts suggest spot testing the product to see what shade of bronze will result. The key to obtaining an even tan is to apply a smooth, thin layer of the self-tanner. Avoid using too much self-tanner in one application; you can always go back and apply another layer if the color isn’t dark enough.
The self tanning mechanism is not melanin pigmentation but a coloration of the upper layer of the skin (stratum corneum) . DHA interacts with the amines, peptides and free amino acids in the horney layer to generate the brown coloration. Differences in color come from the different depths of the stratum Corneum, so the thicker the top layer of skin the darker they will be. Also the darker you tan naturally, the darker you can expect to be from the sun drench.