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Having the ability to walk into a building and walk out with a nice, new tan is a pretty cool concept, eh? Spray tanning is a whole different level of cool because you get misted to the color you want to be!
Can you get a spray tan while pregnant? How safe is spray tanning altogether? How long do they last? Find the answer to all of these questions and more below!
10 Spray Tanning Questions
- Can you spray tan while pregnant?
- Is spray tanning safe?
- How does spray tanning work?
- How long does a spray tan last?
- Is spray tanning expensive?
- Should I exfoliate before a spray tan?
- Will spray tanning give me cancer?
- Is spray tanning worth it?
- Will a spray tan make me look like a carrot or Doritos?
- Will a spray tan look blotchy?
Can you spray tan while pregnant?
- There are a couple of ways to answer this. Firstly, the overly precautious: No. It’s advisable not to get a spray tan while pregnant due to the tanning agent, dihydroxyacetone (DHA). DHA is considered safe when applied by rubbing it onto your skin directly, such as with a self-tanner, but using sprays or getting a spray tan may be a no-no. It is not yet known if inhaling DHA is safe, let alone the mist from a spray tan. When you are pregnant, it’s always best to err on the side of caution!Now, most doctors will probably tell you that it is OK, but that is based on the fact that the jury is still out on how safe DHA is when it is inhaled or absorbed through the eyes, nostrils, etc.Finally, the vain answer: You’re pregnant, and that means you’re probably going to get a bigger baby bump. That means stretching, which means cracking tan. If you want more information about this, we have a whole article dedicated to spray tanning while pregnant.
[Back to Top] Is spray tanning safe?
- Spray tanning is generally considered safe when done properly. Since we do not know yet how inhaling DHA and the tan mist can affect your body and lungs, there are a few precautions that you should take: Use nose clips, hold your breath, keep your mouth sealed, and use tanning goggles. These four precautions alone should help to keep the mist out!You are not exposed to harmful UV rays, so that’s a big plus!
[Back to Top] How does spray tanning work?
- The manner in which you get a spray tan is you step into a booth or tanning room, and you get a gentle mist of your desired color by way of either a machine that circles around you, or by hand from a spray tanning technician.In the mist is a tanning agent called DHA, which is what interacts with the dead skin cells, turning them darker to give you a tan. Sometimes the DHA can take a while to do it’s job, so it’s not uncommon for the spray to have dye; people like instant results.
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How long does a spray tan last?
- Spray tans generally last a week but can last up to two weeks depending on how you treat the spray tan, if you exfoliated and shaved before the tan, how moisturized your skin is, and your skin type altogether. Also, you can use a tan-extending lotion if you want your tan to last longer, which is a very moisturizing lotion containing DHA.
[Back to Top] Is spray tanning expensive?
- No, not really. It can get expensive and add up if you get a new one each time the last one wears off. A spray tan generally costs from $15-30, depending on what booth or salon you go to. So, if you need a one-time tan, it won’t break the bank, but if you become a spray tanning junkie, it’s like another monthly bill. You choose how expensive it becomes.
[Back to Top] Should I exfoliate before a spray tan?
- Yes, yes, yes! It is a must to remove your dead skin by way of a good exfoliation so that the spray tan can adhere easier. If you don’t exfoliate, you run the risk of some of the tan flaking off with your dead skin and appearing very blotchy (and it will be obvious)! Exfoliating is one of the best things you can do before you get a spray tan, and ill definitely help it to last longer than if you didn’t exfoliate.
[Back to Top] Will spray tanning give me cancer?
- Likely not. With spray tanning, you are not exposed to the harmful UV rays that you would be exposed to in the sun or a tanning bed; rather, you are in an indoor environment getting a color blasted onto your skin. Although the coloring agent, DHA, was approved sometime back in the 70s to be used in sunless tanning creams, but the mist was non-existent at that point.We really have no idea if inhaling DHA is harmful to our health, so as long as you take measures to properly protect yourself, you should be just fine! It is worth noting that the Skin Cancer Foundation’s official stance on DHA is that it is safe when applied properly.
[Back to Top] Is spray tanning worth it?
- This is a subjective question. It all depends. I’d say, if you want one bad enough and can take good care of it, then it’s worth it. If it makes you feel better, it’s worth it. If you have funky tan lines and a nice, strapless dress to wear in a wedding coming up in a few days, it’s worth it.
[Back to Top] Will a spray tan make me look like a carrot or Doritos?
- No, if it’s done right and taken care of properly, you shouldn’t look like anything orange! If you look like Doritos, then you certainly got a botched spray tan! It is not always an inexperienced technician’s fault, you have to make sure that you properly prepared yourself for the spray tanning application.
[Back to Top] Will a spray tan look blotchy?
- A spray tan should not look blotchy when proper protocol is followed on your end to prepare your skin and the technician did everything correctly on their end as well. If you end up blotchy, you should return to the salon and see if they can fix it with touch-ups, or just remove the spray tan and start over.
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Although there is a lot to learn about getting a spray tan, I hope I was able to provide you with some clarity on any questions you had lingering in your mind. Go get your bronze on!
