Tan lines
It may only be the very beginnings of Spring but is it ever too early to think about skin care and preparing yourself for summer? We don’t think so.
Here at Bride and the Party HQ we have been enjoying meeting the many young people shopping for prom dresses and all the chat that goes with it - what transport is everyone taking, the heels/trainers/crocs debate, have hairstylists been booked and the big question of whether to self tan or not.
So, when I was invited by Krys of Perfectly Sunkissed to try her new spray tan service, it seemed like the ideal time to try one for myself. As someone with a very pale complexion I have always had a love hate relationship with tans. I don’t tan naturally with a skin type that goes from red back to pale after exposure to sunlight. My natural colouring is strawberry blonde with freckles, the result being that a tan-in-a-bottle has always come out more orange than golden. Self tans have given me mixed results with the drying time, tan solution odour and the missed bits all being a challenge I’ve not quite managed to conquer.
Spray tans have worked well but the cost and, for me, the fact they faded relatively quickly and in patches has put me off over the years. Add to that having to get your kit off in front of a complete stranger and I easily talked myself out of it, preferring to cover up instead.
But the chat in the studio has been on tans and summer plans with bridal parties planning their looks and the aforementioned prom people talking tans and needed the occasional piece of advice.
Fast forward to a cold March day and I find myself preparing to get naked in front of Krys and completely out of my comfort zone - all in the name of research and doing the best by our customers!
The mobile spray tan service that is run by Krys also has a permanent home on a Wednesday at Lyles Farm Barn in Burgess Hill. It is here that I visited and where the pop up unit is set up.
Before the appointment
The mobile spray tan service that is run by Krys also has a permanent home on a Wednesday at Lyles Farm Barn in Burgess Hill. It is here that I visited and where the pop up unit is set up.
Ahead of my appointment I was sent a list of things to do and things not to do. Advice included things such as how long to leave between waxing and shaving before your tan and whether you should remove your jewellery. It all made sense and I arrived ready.
Krys is super chatty and instantly put me at ease. She welcomed me in and talked me through how the session runs. The sticky foot pads were pointed out, the hair net and disposable thong were ready and she had even supplied a hair band should I need one to tie up my hair. Enough chat, the time to spray had arrived.
The spray tan
Krys gave me some time to undress and arrange myself in the tanning booth. Lotion was applied to areas such as finger tips and toes and I was helped to step onto the foot pads. Of course, I’d forgotten to put the hair net on so I was helped with that too.
During the tan I was asked to stand in certain ways so that the spray gun could get into all the parts that the tan needed to be applied to. What I had forgotten from my previous experience of spray tans is just how cold it is!
Being a perfectionist, Krys paid close attention to the type of look and finish you are going for. I am a fan of wearing a loafer which meant that she took time over my ankles and made the extra effort to blend and buff with a soft brush.
For the luxury finishing touch, a shimmer finishing powder was gently applied. I was sent home with instructions to shower lightly in two hours and again in the morning to stop the tan from processing too much.
As I arrived home Krys had followed up with the guidelines on how to care for my newly tanned skin. Perfect.
Three days later…
Back in the studio with the team and I am very happy with the results. You can tell that I’ve got a tan but it isn’t so noticeable that anyone would think I’d been on holiday. The blending and brushing seemed to give a finish that I’ve not achieved with self tan and that no one else has managed at other spray tan salons. The areas I have found this most noticeable in the past are the edges of hands, along the palms but this time it is very natural looking. I am really impressed.
It may only be March but Spring is here and the sun is showing up for us. A tan has given me that extra boost of serotonin and happy-feels that has got me thinking towards the warmer months. I can’t wait to share with my customers the experience I’ve just had and to put their minds at rest.
Here are my personal tips for tanning success:
Test your spray tan a few months ahead of your event. It is well worth the cost and peace of mind - not all skin types are the same so my result could vary vastly to you.
Be honest about the results that you want to achieve and talk these through before your appointment.
Follow the guidance on preparing for the tan. For example, forgetting that you shouldn’t wear deodorant on tan day gives you extra faff on the day and may give a less than perfect result.
Don’t be too self conscious, which is easier said than done! Like those of us in the bridal industry, your tanning expert will have seen literally every body type, with and without hair, real tummies, breasts and all the bits we find funny or odd. I promise we will not remember if your pants matched your bra or if you had a waxed bikini line!
You can find out more about Perfectly Sunkissed and the services Krys provides on her website perfectlysunkissed.co.uk