Believe it or not, tanning catastrophes are not inevitable. When you step foot into a tanning salon in preparation of sunless tanning products being applied to your valued skin, know that it is not your fate to walk out orange, streaky or blotchy. However, this bad turn of events can occur. Without the proper tanning supplies or execution of your spray on tan, tanning terror can absolutely occur. That’s what we at The Tanning Store call entering the “Dark Side of Tanning.”

No, not that fun deep, bronzy glow dark side. We mean the awful and even laughable dark side that can only consists of poor spray tans that are forever etched in your memory as the epitome of what not to do when it comes to all things sunless tanning. The dark side may even deter many from even thinking about using sunless tanning products, but it’s important to note that the best of the best spray tans are those that leave you completely unaware that one has actually been applied to the person in front of you or on the television screen.

By this point, we may have left you wondering what classifies as a bad spray tan. Well, the answer is actually pretty simple and easily avoidable as long as you take these proper precautions:

1. Don’t Overdo It – One of the easiest ways to ruin your spray on tan is by choosing a tanning solution that is far too dark for your skin complexion and your overall appearance. Most tanning experts will suggest only going one shade darker than your natural skin tone on your body and face. Anything darker will simply appear far too fake.

*Tanning Tip: Easily lighten your tan with moisturizer before applying the product to your soft body and fragile face. One of our most popular and effective moisturizers is the Hempz Triple Moisture Whipped Herbal Cody Crème which can be found here.

2. Don’t Be Blotchy – Before you apply any sunless tanning products, be sure to consult with a tanning specialist and read all of the instructions on your spray tan bottle. All of our products specify on our website as well on the products themselves the distance in which the nozzle should be held from your skin (typically 8 to 12 inches), as well as other pertinent details regarding the execution of a proper spray tan.

*Tanning Tip: Say goodbye to blotchy skin by keeping the spray bottle at the proper distance while also aiming to avoid sudden movements as you’re releasing the solution onto your skin. You also want to keep the flow at a consistent speed, as an uneven tempo will only leave you looking spotty, streaky and uneven.

3. Say Bye to Stripes – Nobody wants to walk away from their spray on tan with white stripes or spots that only reveal to others that your tan is artificial. A perfect sunless tan appears as real as can be, so be sure to strip down to your skivvies and pin every single strand of hair up while applying the product to your face and neck.

*Tanning Tip: Pull that hair back as tight as can be (ie: hair clips, bobby pins), in order for every inch of your neck and ears to be the same tone as the rest of your body. If any hair gets in the way, you’ll look like a tiger with stripes – white stripes, and nobody wants that. To make the job super simple for you, check out the Tanning Store’s pack of 100 disposable hair caps by clicking here.

4. Don’t Forget Your Elbows & Knees – Head, shoulders, knees and toes. It’s a fun song that should also be applied to all of your tanning sessions. Therefore, be sure to pay particular attention to your knees and elbows, as these two spots are notoriously known as the roughest and most dry spots on your body.

*Tanning Tip: Give those rough joints some love, and the rest of your body while you’re at it, by applying an effective exfoliating scrub (like this one right here) before you apply your spray on tan. Spread it evenly across your body, but then spend an extra minute or two scrubbing it over your knees and elbows because those two spots will significantly absorb more of the solution than the rest of your body will. Miss this step and risk the chance of those spots appearing darker than the rest of your body.

For more tips on achieving the perfect spray tan, click here. Or, dial us directly at 540-265-9035 to learn how our products can benefit you and the skin you’re in!