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During the peak of the summer season, one of the things most people do is head outside and give themselves a nice natural tan. However, natural tanning underneath the sun could be a bit difficult. After all, you would need to be extremely careful not to increase the risks of sunburn or skin cancer. On top of that, you may even need to change your diet to successfully get that sun-kissed skin.
Additionally, sunlight may be weaker during seasons outside of summer and causing the difficulty of sun tanning even higher. Because of this, other people prefer to use other tanning methods like spray tanning. In this article, we'll be diving into what spray tanning is. You also don't want your tan all messed up like Ross from F.R.I.E.N.D.S. So, we'll share with you what you should do for a successful spray tan for men. Anyway, let's get started.
What is spray tanning?
Our skin gets tanned by using a mist containing an active ingredient known as dihydroxyacetone. This chemical reacts with the amino acids present in our dead skin cells. The product of this chemical reaction is melanoidin. Melanoidin is a substance that causes our skin's shade to darken and acquire that beautiful bronze glow.
But, you may wonder why other men tan in the first place. Well, if you're a guy who frequents the gym, tanning can help enhance the definitions and lines of your muscles. That would definitely help you show off your gains more. But other than that, some men like tanning simply to try out a new look. And there's nothing wrong with that. So, if you feel like getting a tan, don't hesitate to visit your nearest tanning salon.
Difference between spray tanning and tanning beds
Now that you know what spray tanning is, how is it different from tanning beds? Does it have any advantages over the latter option? If you guys answered yes, you are correct. Spray tans do have benefits over tanning beds. One of the primary advantages of spray tans is that they inflict little to no harm to your skin, unlike tanning beds. Why is that the case?
To give your skin a nice tan, tanning beds use artificial ultraviolet (UV) light to darken the pigment of your skin. While you may not immediately feel the effects, cumulative exposure to these beds' UV lights can bring severe adversities to your skin. A couple of examples are premature skin aging and cancer.
On the other hand, spray tans don't have much-known side effects that could negatively impact your health. However, while spray tans are safe for external use, they aren't for internal use (Herndon, 2022). This means that you must not inhale or ingest any of this chemical. Also, don't let it come into contact with your eyes since it could harm them. In case any of this happens, please consult a medical professional immediately.
How long do spray tans last
On the norm, spray tans usually last about one to two weeks. As you can see, the duration of your tan doesn't seem very long, so to maintain that pigment, you would want to visit your local salon every other week. You may be thinking of going to a tanning bed salon instead since tanning beds give you tans that last a bit longer than tans from spraying. But, we assure you that the slightly longer duration of tan isn't worth risking your health.
Spray tan procedures
The primary thing to note when you're about to get a spray tan is that thorough preparation could lead you to better results. Hence, the spray tan tips we'll be sharing with you will mainly focus on what you should do before a spray tanning session. Of course, we'll also share what you should do after your spray tan appointment. If you're wondering what to do during the tanning procedure, you only really have to listen to the staff's instructions. That aside, here are the tips about the spray tan procedure you want to know for a better spray tan experience.
Preparing for the spray tan session
1. Wear loose clothes and appropriate underwear
When visiting a tanning salon, one of the things people wonder is what to wear to a spray tanning appointment. Firstly, you would want to wear loose-fitted clothes since you wouldn't want your spray tan to get smudged by the fabric of tight-fitting clothes.
Additionally, you would want your whole body tanned and get your money's worth. To maximize the spray tanning experience, you'll have to go into the spraying booth with your clothes off. This doesn't mean you should go in fully nude, though. Instead, you might want to go into the booth in your underwear so that the spray tan can cover most of your body. Whether you wear a boxer or briefs is up to you. But some men prefer to wear briefs since wearing them would allow more skin to be reached by the spray tan.
2. Shave before heading to the tanning salon
Many men tend to ask the question: do guys have to shave before getting a tan? When preparing for a spray tan schedule, you may want to consider shaving your beard. This tip isn't necessary, but it would help you prevent forming any unwanted tan lines around your beard if you decide to shave it off after a spray tan. But if you are growing your beard to a full one and don't want to shave it off, that's fine as well.
Regarding body hairs, you don't have to wax or shave them off before a spray tanning appointment. Since most men's body hair doesn't really grow as thick as their beards, the chance of them leaving any funny tan lines is minimal. But if you wish to shave or wax before your schedule, feel free to do so.
3. Exfoliate and cleanse your skin
One essential part of preparing for a spray that most men tend to forget is exfoliating and cleansing their skin. Though, it is understandable. After all, not many people would think of exfoliating their skin before heading into the spray tan booth. But why would you even need to do so?
By exfoliating and cleansing your skin, you are removing unwanted debris and excess oil on your skin's surface. Similar to why you use a facial wash first in your care routine, you want your skin's surface to be clean, so other topical products can apply properly onto it (Santos-Longhurst, 2018). The same thing could be said about spray tanning. By cleansing your skin, the mist could stick better onto your skin, and your tan's finish would look much more natural.
One method of eliminating excess oils and pollutants from your facial skin is by using an anti-acne serum. A prime example of an effective serum is the Mantisfy anti-acne serum. It contains salicylic acid to help reduce excess oils and soothe inflammation. Plus, it uses glycerin to hydrate your skin. For exfoliating your body, we recommend using an exfoliating body scrub to get rid of dead skin cells.
If you need to build your skincare routine, there is the best skincare routine guide you can find, it will help you understand your skin and build your routine from scratch.
4. Consult about your skin tone
This tip is something you must always do if you are getting a spray tan for the first time. When you head into your appointment, don't hesitate to ask the spray tan artist for advice on what shade of tan is best for you. Some people are afraid to ask since they're feeling shy. Another possible reason is their confidence in the shade they wish to pick. However, there are times when you can't be too sure. So, to be safe, always ask for the advice of a professional before your spray tanning appointment.
Things to do after the session
1. Avoid showering and activities that make you sweat
After your spray tan procedure, you would want to avoid activities that could make you sweat. That is because it would take a few hours, around 4 to 8 hours, as an estimate to settle (Bennett, 2019). If you choose to swim or work out right after your session, your tan might not develop as expected, causing it to look awkward or less pigmented. This rule also applies to showering, so avoid showering for at least 8 hours (for certainty) after your appointment.
2. Observe proper maintenance
Aside from the previous tip, you will also have to learn how to maintain your tan. Like we mentioned earlier, a good spray tan will only last up to a week or two. Hence, a visit to your local tanning salon is required to maintain your tan. You can book an appointment every other week or every 2 weeks.
By the way, you can extend your spray tan's duration a bit by regularly applying moisturizers when your tan has fully settled after 24 hours. Moreover, using regular lotion will be enough to help extend your tan. You can moisturize how you would in your daily routine.
Conclusion
Spray tanning is a healthier option for tanning. So, you should definitely consider it when you want that beautiful bronze tan. Moreover, preparing for a tan is simple and easy to follow. Thus, whenever you want to try getting a tan, never hesitate to book an appointment and consult a spray tan professional.
References:
HERNDON, J. (2022). Can Your Spray Tan Cause Cancer? Weblog[Online]. June. Available at: https://www.verywellhealth.com/can-getting-a-spray-tan-cause-cancer-513780. (Accessed at: 17 December 2022).
SANTOS-LONGHURST, A. (2018). Meaning of Exfoliating: What Does It Mean to Exfoliate? Why You Should and How to Start. Healthline. Weblog[Online]. October. Available at: https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/meaning-of-exfoliating. (Accessed at: 17 December 2022).
BENNETT, B. (2019). When Can I Shower After a Spray Tan? Learn the Answer to This and Many Other Post-Spray Tan Questions. BeBronzeStudio. Weblog[Online]. November. Available at: https://www.bebronzestudio.com/blog/when-can-i-shower-after-a-spray-tan (Accessed at: 17 December 2022).