How to avoid the dreaded Orange Spray Tan
There's nothing quite like the confidence boost of a golden, glowing tan. But when that beautiful bronzed look veers too far into brassy, orange territory, it can leave you feeling more self-conscious than sun-kissed. If you've ever walked out of a spray tan appointment looking more problematic than you walked in, you know the struggle is all too real.
The culprit behind those overly orange results is usually an ill-suited tanning solution and an untrained professional using said solutions. Many mass-market spray tan solutions rely on copious amounts of DHA (the active ingredient that reacts with your skin's amino acids to create the tanning effect) to produce a dramatic bronzed look. But this heavy-handed approach often backfires, leaving skin with an unnatural, artificial orange tone.
Luckily, there are a few simple steps you can take to avoid that dreaded orange tan and walk away with a natural, healthy-looking glow instead:
Do your research. Not all spray tan salons and products are created equal. Look for establishments that use premium, salon-quality solutions formulated with nourishing ingredients and precise color-matching technology. Avoid any services that offer a one-size-fits-all bronzing approach like the versa and booth tans.
Exfoliate beforehand. Sloughing off dead skin cells before your spray tan will help create a smooth, even canvas for the solution to develop on. This minimizes the risk of patchiness or splotchiness. Just be gentle - you don't want to irritate your skin.
Go for a gradual build. If it's your first time getting a spray tan, request a lighter, more natural shade. You can always build up the color at your next appointment once you know how your skin reacts to that technicians solutions.
Time it right. The perfect spray tan requires you to follow proper rinse time recommendations given to you by your spray tan artist. Letting your tan develop longer then this time can result in your solution over processing and possibly turning orange.
With a little know-how, you can sidestep the dreaded orange look and achieve a radiant, natural-looking glow that will have you feeling like a bronzed goddess all season long. Just remember: when it comes to spray tans, less is often more.
