Once you arrive at our home-based studio, we'll ask you some questions about your skin so you get the best results. You will dress down to your comfort level and your artist will apply complimentary barrier cream. We'll work our magic, walking you through all the different standing poses, and you'll get complimentary finishing powder after application.

 A full body spray tan application takes about 20 minutes on average, but we block off 30 minutes for the full appointment to answer questions and give you the full attention you deserve!

On average, a spray tan last about 7-10 days, but it heavily depends on your unique skin and what steps you're taking to shorten/prolong the life of the tan. Make sure you're following the prep & care guidelines to make your tan last as long as possible! 

A general rule of thumb is, the less ingredients the safer it will be for your spray tan! Some things to avoid would be oils, alcohol-based, fragrances, Retin-A/Tretinoin products, and Dove brand soaps. Below are a list of some drugstore brands that I would recommend!

Lotion: CeraVe, Hempz, Cetaphil

Deodorant: Native, Salt & Stone, Crystal

Body wash: Native, Cetaphil, Raw Sugar

Sunblock: Sun Bum Mineral, CeraVe, Blue Lizard

We do not recommend getting a spray tan if you've had a sunburn within 2-4 weeks of your appointment. Even if you return to a normal color before then, your skin is still healing! Getting a spray tan on skin that has not fully healed from a sunburn will result in a patchy tan that WILL peel.

We suggest getting your spray tan 2-3 days before your big event. This allows time for your tan to fully develop and gives you time to have one rinse-off in between the tan application and the event.

If this is your first spray tan, we would recommend doing a trial run before your event!

DURING:

Whatever you feel most comfortable in! Options would include..

-birthday suit (women 18+)

-swimsuit (preferably dark colored) 

-Girls under 18 and all men must wear bottoms

AFTER:

Loose, dark clothing! Options would include....

-dark, long-sleeve top (avoid racerback tank tops) 

-dark, loose pants (avoid leggings or denim)

-open or loose shoes (slippers are great!)

-AVOID skin contact, jewelry, bras, and hats

-if there's a chance of rain, bring an umbrella!

See our prep & care guidelines to get more details about preparing for your visit.

The most common reasons a spray tan might turn "orange" would be a pH imbalance in your skin (avoid products with sulfates), the wrong color solution, or oversaturation of the solution. Don't worry though - we're experts! On top of giving you a flawless spray tan with a solution specially customized for your skin type, we provide you with all the information you will need to prepare and care for your gorgeous tan. Just make sure you're following the prep & care guidelines!

Airbrush spray tanning solutions contain an active ingredient called Dihydroxyacetone (DHA), a harmless natural compound that reacts with the outermost layer of your skin. DHA is actually colorless but interacts with the amino acids that occur naturally in skin cells. The skin cells become several shades darker when they react with the DHA. 

The ingredients in our spray tan solution are FDA-approved and do not have any known adverse side effects. When used appropriately, the DHA in spray tan solution is considered safe. While the FDA allows DHA to be externally applied for spray tans, they advise that you avoid inhaling DHA and cover areas around your eyes or lips when spray tanning since the risks of inhaling DHA are unknown. At Shades, we take all safety measures to make sure you have the safest experience possible.

Please note that your spray tan solution does not contain sunscreen and won’t protect you from exposure to UV rays when you go outdoors. Please make sure you are wearing spray tan safe sunscreen!

Yes - but like any moisture, you want to try and avoid applying any makeup for at least 6 to 8 hours after a spray tan. Applying makeup or any other types of moisturizer can alter the color of a fresh spray tan or cause blotches. After your spray tan has developed (after your first rinse) you are in the clear to wear makeup! We suggest removing your makeup with gentle foam or gel cleanser to prolong the life of your tan, or any oil-free product.

See our prep & care guidelines to get more details about products or activities you should avoid.

Because you will look and feel AMAZING! The most popular reasons for a spray tan: wedding, family photos, prom, vacation, summer, winter, confidence boost, or average Thursday night!

Aside from all of these reasons, there's an even bigger reason to get a spray tan... You'd be surprised at exactly how much damage the sun or artificial UV rays do to our bodies! Did you know that every time you tan or burn, you damage the DNA in your skin. Even if you don't burn, a "real" tan is actual evidence of DNA damage. When you expose yourself to UV rays, they penetrate the skin’s epidermis and dermis, causing damage to the cells in both layers. This can cause mutations to your DNA that lead to cancer.

PLEASE do your research on how to stay safe from the sun - there are a lot of myths: UVA is harmless, as long as you don't burn it's fine, sunscreen protects me 100%, tanning is necessary for vitamin D, you just need a base tan... the list goes on, and these are ALL MYTHS! 

If you want a sunkissed look - please do it the safe and healthy way! Get a spray tan to avoid wrinkles/early aging, lines, spots, burns, diseases/cancers, and more. Your skin will thank you!

Yes - after your spray tan has developed (after your first rinse) you are in the clear to wash your face like normal. Your face will fade faster as you wash it more frequently. We recommend using gentle, oil-free cleansers and avoid any exfoliants. Please note that face washes containing salicylic acid and/or benzoyl peroxide are NOT RECOMMENDED because they can eat away at your spray tan. Do not use Retin-A or Tretinoin products.

See our prep & care guidelines to get more details about products or activities you should avoid.

Airbrush Tans:

Airbrush tanning is a custom process with a tanning specialist who applies a fine mist of tanning solution over your entire body with a hand sprayer. Airbrush tanning is more accurate and results in more even coverage, resulting in a natural looking tan. One of the vital steps that your spray tan artist will take is eliminating excess solution from reaching the areas that you don’t want to be tanned too much (like underarms, knees, elbows). Every spray tan with Shades includes a complimentary application of drying powder for those tricky areas that are prone to streaking and tackiness. Another great thing about airbrush spray tanning is that your spray tan artist is able to correct mistakes (if there are any) by touching up, and evening out the tan on certain areas of your body.

Spray Tan Booth:

Getting a spray tan from a booth is an automated process where the spray solution is applied by a tanning machine. The machine directs you to turn and move your arms at specific times. It is more difficult to control the amount of tan applied from a booth, which can lead to blotchy or uneven results. Since there are no ways to finely tweak the whole process in terms of skin tone, evening out manually, and taking care of the tan lines, this method is not as accurate as the airbrush.

Verdict:

Both methods can give you beautiful results and both are UV-free, which means the risk of accelerated skin aging or skin disease is not present. That's a win! Booths cover more area in a shorter amount of time, but airbrush tans provide greater precision, allowing for a more even and natural-looking tan. While is may seem cheaper to use a spray tanning booth, do it the right way and book a custom airbrush tanning session, especially if you are new! Your spray tan artist will walk you through the entire process to ensure a natural result. Though tanning booths can do a nice job with your sunless tan, we at Shades are team airbrush! This method truly is a personalized experience, as your spray tan artist can devote time and effort to make sure you get a flawless tan. 

Yes! Gift cards are available here and make excellent gifts for friends and family (or yourself!) Perfect for the holidays, engagement parties, birthdays, or just for fun!