Differences between Spray Tan and Airbrush Tan

It might be a surprise to many that airbrush tan and spray tan are not the same. I have seen a lot of amateur tanners thinking the other way.

Although both the techniques are more or less the same, there are certain aspects that separate the two. I know you are ready to shoot those questions regarding the ease of use, the final outcome etc.

Well, this is a detailed article where I have discussed the difference between spray tan and airbrush tan. I’m sure that you’ll get to know which one amongst the two will give you the best results.

Sunless Tanning

With the fast-paced advancement of our fashion industry, tanning is no longer a luxury but an obligation for many. Although sun tanning using some of the best outdoor tanning lotions is a good idea, it has its own problems.

This is why there is a rise in alternative techniques for tanning. Around every corner you turn, tanning salons are offering quick and reliable tanning methods. While going to the beach and sunbathing is popular among people with flexible routines, an increasing number of people are starting to prefer these alternate methods. Some of the favorite techniques involve tanning beds, spray tanning, airbrush tanning, etc.

Sunless tanning is the process of spraying a solution on the skin using an airbrush or automated sprayer booths (which we will talk about later). The solution mostly contains bronzers that give an immediate chocolaty glow to the skin. Apart from that, these solutions contain DHA (dihydroxyacetone). The DHA reacts with dead skin cells’ amino acids to trigger a color change which goes to shades of brown quick and easy.

For all its usefulness, this process does not require any sun exposure at all. You could be living at the North Pole and have a fabulous tan. We will look into two of the most popular and swift tanning techniques: airbrush tanning and spray tanning.

What is Airbrush Tanning?

What if I told getting tanned was as easy as spraying paint over a wall? Yes, this is what’s happening in every tanning salons.

Airbrush tanning is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to get a tan. This is the process of using an airbrush (apparently) to spray the solution over your body. It is a very delicate process and is performed by tanning experts.

We have been seeing Hollywood celebrities getting tan in no time. Yeah, you guessed it correct. They are doing airbrush tanning. The tanning technicians know the chemical combinations that could give you an even awesome tan in no time.

Pros of Airbrush Tanning

• The process is administered by a technician. This means it could be altered to suit your tanning needs just by communication and coordination. You can choose to decide how much tanning your specific parts of your body require.
• Any kind of reaction or allergies can quickly be noticed and rectified. It is actually possible and practiced to apply the solution to a small portion of your skin to observe any reactions beforehand.
• The airbrush can be made to reach into areas which will usually be concealed, e.g. under the breasts, inner thighs, etc. The ease-of-access is possible because of hand administration and controlled application.
• Because of frequent use, these airbrushes are regularly cleaned and maintained by beauticians. This means that hygiene is uncompromised for everyone.

Cons of Airbrush Tanning

• Having to fix an appointment is a big drawback. Considering the number of clients any good tanning salons would have, it can be a real ordeal getting an appointment that goes with your routine.
• The process involves undressing for the beautician (to effectively tan your body). This might be a little uncomfortable for many people regardless of the genders.
• The charges typically depend on how famous the beautician is. Since everyone requires quality, the costs will hike depending on the class a beautician offers.
• Qualified beauticians with good service quality have to be searched for. You will find many salons offering the service, but not all of them may make it to the benchmark.

What is Spray Tanning

Well, since robots are taking over humans, something had to take over the airbrush too.

Spray tanning is the process of applying the tanning solution by with the use of a ‘booth’ and some nozzles. The booth is a closed enclosure fitted with spray nozzles around strategic corners. The client will be allowed into the booth (naked) and instructed to stand at certain angles. These instructions are pre-programmed and delivered via speakers inside the booth. With fast and calculated spray bursts from the nozzles, the solution will be sprayed all over their body. The quantity of the spray to be administered will be determined by the client’s requirement of how strong they want the tan to be.

Pros of Spray Tanning

• The process is fast and more natural than having to lie at the beach and precisely calculate between your requirements and risks.
• The amount of spray and timing is pre-calculated. This means that you don’t have to experiment it on yourself first to get a clear picture. You can choose from a catalog of photographs to decide what kind of tan you want.
• The instructions are comfortable, and all you have to do is place yourself at different angles to get the tan successfully.
• The spray nozzles are at suitable angles to evenly spray the solution all over your body. The chances of getting an uneven tan are meager (unless you haven’t been following the instructions correctly).

Cons of Spray Tanning

• The spray doesn’t reach concealed areas, e.g. under the breasts, inner thighs, etc. You have to expose the areas to the spray explicitly.
• The process can have dire results especially when the instructions are not followed correctly. Spraying is done by the machine and can lead to uneven and horrible looking tans if you lose track of procedure.
• If you leave your eyes open (even if accidentally) while the spray is being administered, you know what’s going to happen next!
• The hygiene of these spray booths is seriously questionable (unless it is maintained nicely by the salon).

Difference between Airbrush Tanning & Spray Tanning

Airbrush tanning	Spray  tanning
Involves the application of tanning solution delicately with an airbrush.	Involves stepping into a booth fitted with spray nozzles at certain angles.
Requires human administration	Machine administered
The process can be calculated to give the desired results.	Pre-calculated.
Charges vary depending on the popularity of the beautician.	Almost the same costs at all service providers.
Hygienic process (usually)	The hygiene of tanning booths can be questioned.
One time application to last for 4-10 days.	Will typically require 3 spray tan sessions to get the perfect tan.

So, Did You Make a Choice?

So, we have seen it all. I’m sure that you might have found your favorite one amongst the two. In my personal opinion, airbrush tanning is the most preferred one by celebrities. It is one of the safest ways to get a tan.

However, there are many people who love to use spray tanning technique. It is automated and human error is very minimal in this case.

If you love to use a tanning gun your own, you can find some of the best spray tan guns here.

I leave the decision on you. After all, it’s your skin and who else can take the best decision than you?