Common Myths About Spray Tans

In this article I want to summarize the most common misconceptions people have about spray tans. Most of these fake tan myths originated from the early days of tanning products when the technology was still new. Today we have sunless tanning products which not only work well and are relatively inexpensive, but they look so natural on your skin that people won’t be able to tell that you have a fake tan.




Spray Tan Myth 1:
Spray tan will make you turn orange

This will never happen if your spray tan technician has been properly trained to apply the correct spray tan solution for your skin type. Applying a solution that is too dark for somebody with very pale skin can increase the chances of an orange skin color. However today’s spray tan technicians are expertly trained to identify the correct solution darkness according to skin type.

Another possible cause for orange spray tan is if the spray tan was applied unevenly or incorrectly or the person getting the spray tan did not exfoliate properly or they used perfumes or moisturizers on their skin before the spray tan. All of these are preventable which minimizes the chance of the dreaded orange skin color.

Spray Tan Myth 2:
My skin is too pale for a spray tan

As explained in the myth above, there is a specific spray tan solution for all skin types – even the palest and freckliest skin type.  So if you are the type of person who always burnt in the sun and never could get a suntan because you are too pale, then a correctly applied spray tan can give you a realistic sun-kissed tone.

Spray Tan Myth 3:
My skin is too dark for a spray tan

Not true. As for the people with very pale skin, there are also spray tan solutions catering for people with naturally dark skin. In most cases people with dark skin get a spray tan when they wish to even out or conceal skin tone blemishes.

Spray Tan Myth 4:
The spray tan will wash off in the shower and my money will go down the drain

This is absolutely not true if you follow the recommended advice of your spray tan technician about how to care for your spray tan. Another major reason why this myth exists is that when people have a shower after waiting the recommended minimum 8 hours, they may see some dark fallout coming off their skin as they are showering. This is perfectly normal and is simply the bronzing solution coming off your skin as you are washing it. The spray tan ingredients which give you the gradual color do not wash off because they have combined with your topmost skin layer.

If looked after properly, your spray tan can last you for weeks!

Spray Tan Myth 5:
All spray tans smell bad

Certainly in the early days the pure DHA spray tan solutions and fake tan lotions had a hideous smell. This was caused by the DHA reacting with your skin’s amino acids which in turn produced an unpleasant odor as a by product. However, with the improved ingredients and technology of modern fake tans, the only smell you might notice is a pleasant perfumy or fruity aroma.

Spray Tan Myth 6:
The color of my skin immediately after my spray tan is what my tan will look like

The color of your skin immediately following your spray tan session will usually be quite different when you compare it a few days later if you follow the maintenance tips given by your spray tan technician. What you usually see immediately after your spray is the combination of the bronzer and DHA solution which has not yet combined with your dead skin layer. After you wait at least 8 hours and then have a shower, the bronzer will wash off leaving the DHA on your skin. At first you might look subtly lighter, but as each hour and day goes by your color will deepen progressively due to the effects of the DHA.