Spray tanning is one of the most celebrated tanning methods. It’s safe and easy.
But I’m damn sure that you already know by now that spray tanning is not that simple.
It is available in different types and methods. It’s very natural to get confused about the right type of spray tanning for our need. This article will be an eye-opener in this regards.
Before we dig deep, here are the most prominent of them are:
- Airbrush spray tanning
- Booth spray tanning
- HVLP spray tanning
- LVLP spray tanning
All of these spray tanning methods make us of spraying DHA (dihydroxyacetone) over the skin.
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What is DHA?
Dihydroxyacetone, known as DHA is an active substance inside spray tanning solutions that coats your skin with a glowing layer of the tan color.
The tan color does not get induced on active skin but over the dead skin layer of your skin. DHA reacts with the dead skin cells to produce a color matching to the composition of those dead cells.
Unlike any other colors, the resulting color change after the DHA reaction is not so easy to take off. It takes almost 7-14 days for the color to vanish before that particular layer of dead skin depletes too.
Let’s talk about all types of spray tans that use this ingredient.
1. Airbrush spray tanning
It’s not been long since tanning became as easy as brushing it on to one’s skin. With the arrival of airbrushes, they started getting used to spray DHA over the skin.
The airbrush tanning method makes use of the ordinary airbrushes to spread the tanning solution over one’s skin.
The results of airbrush tanning will be visible around roughly 12 hours. This is because the DHA in the solution takes time to settle and react with the dead cells. So, if you find your skin to be unevenly tanned before 12 hours, wait for it till you get the final results.
Airbrush spray tans last roughly around 4-10 days. In these days, you should avoid shaving and rubbing your skin to the maximum, as this will only peel off the upper tanned layer.
2. Booth Spray Tanning
Most other spray tanning methods involve using precise calculation by the skilled hands of a tanner to lay down the solution on you.
However, spray tan booths are widely available to facilitate the consumer and allow even application of the same tanning solutions by machines.
Tanning spray booths are booths set up with privacy where you can be completely naked (if needed) and allow the nozzles fitted inside the booth to shower the spray tanning solution.
The tan acquired from a tanning booth lasts roughly around 28-30 days. The variation in these numbers is mainly because of the deep-rooted reaction from the tanning solution. Being showered with the same solution from nozzles giving it off at high pressures lets it get absorbed deeper than any other methods.
Tanning booths, however, are costly to maintain and set up. You need a place, persistence and a great deal of maintenance to keep them up and running.
3. Tanning machines
Spray tanning is normally done and administered with the use of designated tanning machines and guns. You can find some of the best spray tan guns here. These tanning guns are available in two kinds, namely:
- HVLP (High volume/Low pressure) tanning guns
- LVLP (Low volume/Low pressure) tanning guns
Depending on your usage and requirements, you can choose from either of them. Let’s look at the difference between them.
HVLP spray tanning machines
The HVLP is the most commonly used tanning gun among professional and commercial tanners. It is because of their functionalities and usage that makes them so fit for the job.
HVLP guns operate 400W to 700W of wattage. This makes them a little heave on the consumption but you’ll know why.
The spray layer from HVLP guns is even and moderate. You can apply it to one’s skin without having a lot of wastage. It normally requires around 30-40mis of spray tanning solution in one go.
The machines do not overheat during usage. The little bit of heat accumulated within usage then can be used to blow directly over the applied skin to dry the tanning solution.
LVLP spray tanning machines
LVLP guns are less commonly used than HVLP. This is not because they’re not preferred based on their performance but because they are costly and difficult to maintain.
On the side note, LVLP spray guns are a great help when you need to cut the costs of your spray tanning solutions. These guns require a lesser volume of spray tanning solution as compared to any other method.
These guns also tend to be noisier than the other guns based on their performance and functioning. Due to heavy rotors and sprayers, these are extremely good Phentermine price uncomfortable to the ears when used on a regular basis. That is the reason why you won’t see a lot of them at commercial salons.
On the other hand, these guns also require a great deal of patience, skill, and experience to use and apply the tanning solution. I would never recommend a beginner to try these as a venture.
It takes around 20-30 minutes for one application from these LVLP guns.
That’s it.
These are the different types of spray tanning techniques available in the market. But do you really have a choice of choosing the technique?
I don’t know.
It depends a lot on your tanning salon.