What to Expect With an Airbrush Tan

By: Aysha Schurman

Airbrush tans are a quick and easy way to get the look of healthy skin without having to spend time in the sun or tanning booth. You get all the color without having to take the risks involved with traditional tanning methods. Of course, there's still some risk involved, since you are using chemicals instead of light to produce a tan.

Most airbrush tans are applied at a salon rather than at home. You can buy an airbrush tan system for your home, but that doesn't mean you'll be able to work the system correctly. For the best, most professional looking results, you just have to use professional airbrush personnel.

Depending on the location you choose, you may enter a booth or just a curtained cubicle for the airbrush session. You may or may not be naked, depending on the overall coverage desired. You should always be given protective glasses and such to help protect your eyes, nose and mouth during the airbrush session. Again, depending on the overall coverage desired, the session can take anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes.

The best salons and spas help prevent discoloration problems by offering an exfoliating scrub before applying the airbrush tan. These discolored patches are often caused by calluses or deposits of dry/dead skin that absorb too much or too little of the tanning solution. Properly exfoliating and moisturizing before an airbrush tan session reduces the chances of discoloration problems.

The airbrush tan personnel will then use an air compressor to force air and color out of an airbrush and onto your skin. The mixture then dries on your skin surface, showing a small color change immediately. The color slowly becomes darker and richer over the next few hours.

The airbrush tan can last up two weeks, depending on your skin health and regeneration rate. Proper care, such as regularly moisturizing your skin and drinking water to keep hydrated, can help make the tan last longer. An airbrush tan does not help protect against the sun though, so you'll still need to use sun block and other burn prevention methods if you're planning to spend the day on a sunny beach.

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