All Your Questions Answered

About Spray Tanning

  • The solution used in spray tanning is called Dihydroxyacetone or DHA. DHA is a colorless sugar that interacts with the skin cells located in the stratum corneum of the epidermis (the upper and outermost layer of your skin). As the sugar interacts with the dead skin cells, a color change occurs. This change usually lasts about five to seven days from the initial application. DHA has been in use since the 60s, when it was first approved for cosmetic application by the Food and Drug Administration.

  • There are two main factors that can cause the orange undertones that you see with bad spray tanning:

    1. Too much DHA applied to your skin- too many applications or too high a concentration of DHA in a single application.

    2. The balance of your skin’s pH level.

    A true spray tanning professional knows how to identify and prevent these combinations from occurring with your tan. A spray tan will not go orange if applied correctly. A fair complexion would receive a solution that is completely different from someone with olive skin.

    At our salon, we custom blend our solution to match your skin tone, ensuring a flawless glow every time!

  • Absolutely! The DHA solution used at The Sun Gun has clean ingredients and is alcohol-free, fragrance-free, and vegan.

  • It really depends on your skin type, the solution used, and the length of time between the application and the first shower. Most will last 5 to 7 days but can be extended up to 10 days if using an extender and following the proper aftercare instructions.

    If you want to keep your tanned look, it is recommended to get a spray once a week and apply a moisturizer daily to maintain the tan.

  • No! Only moisturizers and tan extenders can extend the life of your tan.

    Every day, millions of dead skin cells are sloughed off or worn away from the surface of your skin. This is the same area where the solution interacts with your skin to create the tanning effect. Every 35 to 45 days, you have an entirely new surface. This is why tans from sunless or self-tanning lotions will gradually fade – as the dead cells are worn away, so is your tan. The more you moisturize, the longer your tan will last!

  • If you have skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, or dermatitis it is best to perform a patch test before deciding to be spray tanned. We can perform a patch test for you and will do so if you have specific skin conditions. If we find that you can be spray tanned, it is important to apply a lot of moisturizer as part of your aftercare routine, as the solution can have a drying effect on your skin.

  • For creating the best fake tan in one application, professional spray tanning can’t be beat! Automated technology makes the application process a breeze, and you can mix and match spray tanning products for a custom color that flatters your unique complexion.

  • Those on Accutane or still in their first trimester of pregnancy aren't recommended to be spray tanned. Although it is safe to tan with our product, we like you to wait until you are out of your first trimester and feeling better. We also always recommend you check with your doctor as every person and pregnancy is different.  

    Because inhaling chemicals is always a risk, talk to your doctor if you have respiratory problems or are pregnant. To minimize exposure, ask your salon technician for a disposable mask and nose plugs.

  • Yes and no! The solutions we use have a bronzing agent so we can see where we are spraying. This will ensure even color all over your body and results in a bronzed glow leaving the salon.

    The bronzing agent will wash off with your first shower, BUT DON'T PANIC! The DHA in the solution develops underneath the bronzer over the 8 to 10 hours following your appointment, even after the bronzers are washed off.

  • Your skin will feel like you have been sprayed, but you will not feel sticky. We also use a setting powder to help the formula absorb into your skin more effectively. Within an hour or two your skin should feel quite normal. If you have been sprayed with a moisturizer or anti-aging additive your skin will feel better than before you came in!

  • No! The spray tan solution can penetrate past the hair to achieve the same result as spraying someone without hair.

  • Yes! You will have to do a few extra steps, but you can still achieve and maintain your spray tanned look. You should exfoliate your skin for three successive days before getting spray tanned. After being spray tanned you should moisturize twice daily to slow down your skin's exfoliation process.

Your Appointment

  • You don't have to remove hair to be spray tanned. BUT if hair removal is part of your routine, it is advised to shave or wax at least 24-36 hours BEFORE being spray tanned. Both to remove the top layer of the skin and allow your pores to close. Spray tanning right after removing hair can clog your pores and give the appearance of freckle spots where you have shaved or waxed.

    If you shave or wax after your spray tan you will accelerate the exfoliating process and reduce the life of your tan. You can also exfoliate the tan unevenly giving a patchy or streaky look. If you must shave, use a very sharp razor applied lightly so you remove only the hairs – not the tan.

  • Sweat and water, including rain, will immediately halt the tanning development process. To diminish excessive sweating, you should exfoliate your skin before getting your spray tan. Try to avoid spray tanning on a hot day to help with sweating.

    Every client gets dusted with Glow Dust, our setting powder. Let your technician you are prone to sweating and they will make sure you have extra dust! It is also recommended to wear dark, loose, cotton clothing to allow your skin to breathe.

  • During the spray tan you can wear as little as you are comfortable with! Our staff is very professional and discrete. If you wear a bathing suit, it should be dark and form fitting. Male clients are required to wear bottoms.

    After your spray tan you should wear loose, dark, cotton clothing with slip on shoes so as not to leave any marks or rub the spray tan off your skin. You should also not put jewelry back on, as it can rub off the tan.

  • Because staining can happen when your color is still fresh, be sure to show up for your appointment in dark, loose-fitting fabrics.


    The bronzers should rinse out of most fabrics but know that anything you choose to wear after your tan, will be getting solution on it which can cause discoloration. 

  • We use a High Volume Low Pressure (HVLP) turbine unit to do your spray tan. We can do a tan in about 15 minutes, but usually take 20 minutes to be sure that your tan is completed thoroughly. The time it takes for you to enter our location, have a consultation, disrobe, spray tan, dry, and re-dress is about 30 minutes.

  • If you are attending a wedding, party, or other special event you should be spray tanned one or two evenings before the actual event. You should wait at least 36 hours before the event – this allows time for the tan to fully activate and settle. You also have at least two showers to remove bronzers that may be left on the skin so as not to stain your garment for the event.

    If you are tanning specifically for a trip, we like to get you sprayed as close to you leaving as possible so it is nice and fresh for your trip!

Aftercare

  • You can apply a light-coverage makeup after being spray tanned, but if you wash and rinse your face before waiting the full 10 to 12 hours you will stop the tan from developing fully. Spray tanning the face is always optional. If you are hoping to do your makeup after, we recommend getting only a light spray applied. It’s easier to blend makeup on a lighter face than to lighten up a tanned face and still look natural.

  • With most formulas, the majority of the DHA reaction time occurs within the first 5 to 8 hours after the application. However, the tan can continue to develop up to 12 hours after the application.

    We will send you with rinse-off instructions based on the solution used and your skin type. As for exercising, the longer you wait to workout the better, allowing the tan to properly develop.

  • The more the better! A good moisturizer will deliver water to the skin very effectively and keep it in the skin for as long as possible. If you don’t moisturize your skin after being spray tanned, your skin will dry out and exfoliate quickly, removing your tan. Your tan will also come to appear more patchy as time wears on.

  • You can extend the life of your tan by a few days by using a tan extender product. These are moisturizers with DHA that help reduce the sloughing of dry, dead skin cells while adding light color back into the skin. If you have dry skin, these products are a must for getting the most out of your tan.

  • ABSOLUTELY!

    There is no SPF protection in any of the solutions on the market today. Just because your skin looks tanned does not mean that your skin is protected from harmful UV rays. You can still get sun-burned if you do not apply protection.