Spray tanning is a form of sunless tanning where a fine mist is sprayed onto your body to achieve a natural, healthy glow just like a sun tan. This mist contains an ingredient called Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) that interacts with your own skin’s chemistry to give a beautiful bronzed glow. This temporary effect generally lasts anywhere between 5-10 days and is a safe way for you to achieve a natural looking suntan without exposing yourself to the sun’s harmful UVA/UVB rays . Spray tans have come a long way over the years as has the quality of spray tanning solutions. Spray tans that leave you with an orange, streaky and uneven colour are a thing of the past with increasingly sophisticated solutions available; it has never been easier to achieve a beautiful airbrush finish and a natural glowing tan.

DHA otherwise known as Dihydroxyacetone, is the sunless tanning agent used in all self-tanning solutions. It is a simple carbohydrate which is often derived from plant sources such as sugar cane, also known as fructose and causes a non-toxic chemical reaction with the amino acid groups, which are part of the keratin protein present in the outermost layers of the skin. This process is similar to what occurs when you slice open an apple and the surface of the apple browns when it’s exposed to the oxygen in the air. The intensity of colour in your spray tan is dependent upon the DHA concentration (%) in the product as well as your individual skin characteristics such as your melanin content and thickness of the skins stratum corneum. Where the stratum corneum is thicker, in areas such as elbows and knees for example, the skin’s reaction and colour of the tan is sometimes more intense. Where the layer of stratum corneum is thin, in areas such as the face, the colour of the tan is usually less intense.

Generally we would suggest 24-48 hours prior to your event will allow optimum time for the tan to fully develop post wash off.

The spray tan process takes about 20 -30 minutes, including undressing, application and drying. We request you arrive 5 minutes prior to your appointment time.

It is generally recommended that you do not spray tan until after the first trimester of your pregnancy. Tanning whilst pregnant is a personal choice, and we encourage you to do your research or consult your GP if you have any questions.

Spray tanning provides a safe alternative to prolonged exposure to UVB/UVA rays and does not damage or age the skin.

While most people opt to remove all clothing for their full body spray tan, others prefer to wear a disposable g-string or their own underwear. It is a completely personal choice and the most important thing is that you feel comfortable. If this is your first time getting a spray tan and you are feeling a little anxious about taking all your clothes off you can always go for a half body spray tan to start with or you can wear a swimsuit, bikini or underwear.

We generally recommend applying a light-medium spray to the face to ensure you have a consistent, even and natural looking tan however it is completely up to you and comes down to personal preference.

A spray tan will last anywhere between 5-10 days and will fade naturally over time. There are things you can do to prolong the life of your spray tan such as moisturising each day. Not only will moisturising keep your skin hydrated, it will help your spray tan to fade evenly. For a full list of aftercare tips and recommendations please see our section on caring for your tan.

As spray tanning solutions do not contain any sun protection you will still need to wear sunscreen. We recommend wearing and SPF 50+ sunscreen on your face.