Spa tanning treatments
Part of the Spabreaks.com Spa Treatment Guides
From pre-wedding prep to maintaining a healthy summer glow, spray tans to creams, a good fake tan can work wonders for a feel-good factor. However, there’s definitely an art to applying it, and the best kind is the therapist applied kind. Spas are an excellent place to prepare skin for a fake tan with the treatments and therapist knowledge to get an even colour and make it last as long as possible.
You might choose to start with a scrub treatment to prepare the skin and nourish it first, or simply use the facilities to give you that holiday feel first. Either way, it’s best to leave a tanning treatment until last on your spa day so that you can let it dry properly and leave products on for as long as necessary before needing to shower.
What is a tanning treatment?
Tanning treatments are used to colour the skin and provide a healthy glow reminiscent of summer holidays and wellness, but without risking the harmful effects of extended sun exposure. Professionally applied tans typically allow for more even coverage and help to achieve the depth of tan that you want.
What types of tanning treatments are there?
There are a number of different types of tanning treatment, including creams, oils, sprays and lotions, but when you have a professionally applied tan at a spa, it typically involves a spray tan. These will vary according to the brand that’s used, but most commonly the brands that are used are:
- Sienna X
- Fake Bake
- Kissed by Mii
- St Tropez
What are the benefits of tanning treatments?
There are two sides to answering this question - the health benefits and the aesthetic benefits. From a health point of view, a fake tan allows you to achieve a healthy glow without excessive sun exposure, which can cause damage to the skin. Aesthetically, a fake tan allows for:
- More even colour
- Some products are moisturising and nourishing for the skin
- You can control the depth of colour
- It gives you a healthy glow even in winter
- It’s great before an event so you can look your best
What happens during a tanning treatment?
The tanning process will depend a little on the products used, but before you head in, it’s a good idea to shower off any moisturisers or deodorants as they can act as a barrier to the tanning agent. Hair removal and waxing should be done a couple of weeks before tanning as well, and you may also choose to exfoliate beforehand. If you want to be a little more luxurious with your preparation you could always book yourself in for an exfoliating scrub before! It’s a good idea to have a professional tan at the end of a spa day as you can’t use the pool and facilities for a period of time afterwards without washing it off.
Typically, the process will be as follows: 1. You will usually begin by discussing the colour that you want to achieve with your therapist. 2. You will be supplied with paper underwear so you don’t get colour on your clothing. 3. You will then be invited to stand in a spray booth before being gently sprayed with the tanning agent on all sides of the body. 4. You will be given a few moments to let the tan dry. 5. You will then be advised how long to leave the tanning agent on before showering. 6. Leave the tan to develop overnight and shower as usual in the morning.
Choose this if you want to...
There are lots of reasons why people choose to have a fake tan - mostly it’s to feel a little healthier in their appearance, especially at the start of the summer or in the winter. However, you might choose it to: - Prepare for an event like a wedding or special occasion - Before going on holiday so you feel bronzed on the beach - To maintain a holiday tan - To help you feel healthy looking in the winter months
Tanning aftercare
Moisturise after a fake tan to maintain it, but be careful to avoid products that have a lot of perfume ingredients as they tend to contain alcohol which can dehydrate the skin and make the tan crack. It’s recommended that you re-apply it no more than every two weeks. It’s very dependent on the individual though as a lot of people prefer a deeper colour. It’s a good idea to have a professional tan at the end of a spa day as you can’t use the pool and facilities for a period of time afterwards without washing it off.
What should I wear for a tanning treatment?
Most spas will supply disposable knickers but a lot of people don’t like them, so you can also bring dark underwear and baggy clothing.
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