Frequently Asked Questions
General
Can I swim, shower and workout with my sunless tan?
Of course! But be sure to wait at least 4 hours to allow the formula to react with your skin’s amino acids and proteins. In fact, the longer you allow the solution to remain on your skin, the longer lasting your tan will be. Finally, swimming in highly chlorinated water will significantly reduce your results.
Will the bronzing formula stain my hair or clothing?
The VersaSpa Sunless Bronzing formula is completely water soluble. Users may notice some initial cosmetic colour on the inside of their clothing, but this colour will wash out in cold water.
What’s in the sunless bronzing formula that makes me tan?
DHA, dihydroxyacentone, combined with anti-aging, skin firming ingredients is the main compound that produces a customized bronze glow. DHA has been an approved cosmetic additive by the FDA for over 30 years. VersaSpa chemists have refined the technology to produce the most outstanding formulation that results in silky smooth, glowing skin with a refreshing after scent.
And is it safe?
The FDA has approved DHA as a topical application and recommends that users should avoid inhaling or ingesting DHA. As a result, VersaSpa emits the least amount of solution necessary to achieve a full body tan, thus decreasing the amount of inhalable mist for a more pleasant experience.
What is tanning?
UVB rays stimulate melanocytes in the skin, which produce melanin. The melanin is then oxidized by the UVA rays, turning the skin brown. A fading tan is simply the outer layer of the skin being shed. Thus, to maintain a tan, regular exposure to ultraviolet light is necessary.
What are some tanning benefits?
Aside from making you look great, some of them being that tanning can duplicate beneficial properties of sunlight. There is strong evidence that sunlight aids the strengthening of the immune system, helps produce Vitamin D, increases the body’s ability to absorb calcium, builds skin’s resistance to overexposure, helps combat depression and seasonal affective disorder, induces a feeling of well-being, increases the supply of oxygen in the blood, helps in the treatment of acne, psoriasis and eczema and stimulates the thyroid gland which boosts the metabolism.
Indoor and outdoor tanning, are they similar?
Yes. Although indoor and outdoor tanning expose you to similar UVA and UVB rays, there is one difference: when you tan indoors, you are doing so in a controlled environment. This means by tanning indoors you are not subject to external factors such as time of day, cloud cover, reflective surfaces and pollution that could negatively affect your tan. It is difficult to compare outdoor tanning time to indoor tanning time as outdoor tanning is done in an uncontrolled environment.
Why lotion?
Do not use outdoor tanning products when you are tanning indoors. We have lotions available that are specifically designed for indoor tanning. These lotions won’t damage the acrylic on our beds and have ingredients, which speed up the tanning process. They also contain moisturizers that replace the moisture you lose when you tan. Moist skin tans better. Only gels and lotions are allowed in our salon. After-tan moisturizers are recommended to replenish moisture the skin has lost. PLEASE DO NOT USE OIL IN OUR BEDS BECAUSE THEY DAMAGE THE ACRYLIC
Should I get a base tan before my vacation?
Yes! Your best natural defence against overexposure to the sun is a tan. Pre-conditioning your skin indoors gradually enables you to spend more time outdoors. Six to eight sessions should give you a base tan.
How can I tan safely?
To avoid overexposure, discuss your tanning strategy with our staff. Although it is tempting to wish for results after just one session, a burn will damage your skin therefore making the tanning process even longer. We will be with you every step of the way to ensure that doesn’t happen. It’s important not to use tanning facilities more than once within a 24-hour period as your true tan will not show its colour for a 12 to 24-hour period. Use the eyewear provided or purchase your own, as your eyelids do not protect your eyes. There are many different skin types. Most people will see a change in colour after the second or third session and will achieve a glowing tan after eight to ten full sessions. One or two sessions per week should maintain that tan.
Sunless Tanning
How should I prepare for a sunless spray tan?
Preparation and maintenance of your sunless tan is the KEY to sunless success. Follow these important steps to ensure maximum sunless results:
- GENTLY exfoliate your skin prior to your sunless spray session. A gentle, sulfate-free skin polish can be used prior to your sunless session. Be sure to pay particular attention to dry areas such as elbows, knees, and ankles.
- Wax 24 hours / Shave 8 hours at least before your spray tan to allow pores time to close; otherwise a dotting effect may occur.
- Remove any ‘barriers’ that may prevent the sunless product from absorbing into the skin evenly. These include: make-up, deodorant, perfume, oils, and moisturizers. Also stay away from bars of soap, they act as a barrier prior to tans and it tears down the achieved tan faster.
- Make sure your hair is up and out of your face. We advise you to purchase Wink Ease or remove contact lenses before the tan as they may become contaminated. Also you may wear lip balm to keep your lips from becoming dry.
What do I do after my airbrush spray tan?
Wear dark, loose clothing after your treatment, any tight clothing or underwear may cause marks. Wear flip-flops or loose fitting shoes. Do not shower or bathe for at least 8 hours for the Norvell Professional Premium and either 1-3 hours for the Venetian One (depending on how dark you want to be. Do not go more than 3 hours). The wait time allows the colour to develop within your skin. In this waiting period you are going to look extremely dark. As for the Venetian One you may even look a tad grey, but rest assured after you shower you will have a beautiful sun kissed glow.
After showering / bathing, pat dry only. Then moisturize! This will help maintain your tan for longer. Long exposure to water and sweating from exercise will fade your spray tan sooner. Please remember that your tan does not have any SPF factor and you should wear sun protection as usual if you go outside. After 5 days, start to lightly exfoliate to ensure an even fade.
Will I turn ‘orange’?
When used as recommended, Norvell’s professional and retail sunless tanning products are formulated to give a natural sun kissed glow, the team at Norvell perfectly blend instant cosmetic bronzers that allow you to gently transition into your DHA tan over 24 hours after application.
High pH levels in the skin can sometimes give individuals an undesirable, ‘fake’ non-natural looking sunless colour. Sunless application on skin that is out of balance due to high pH levels sometimes results in what many people refer to as an ‘orange’ colouring.
To prevent this from happening, there are a few things you can do:
Do not use bar soaps before your sunless session. A properly pH balanced skin cleanser will not elevate pH levels on the skin, and result in more ‘golden brown’ sunless tanning results.
Do not over-apply sunless products. In general, the darker your natural skin tone, the higher concentration of DHA (sunless product) you can apply to the skin and still maintain ‘natural’ colour. Generally, those will fair/light skin tones should apply less DHA (sunless product) to the skin to ensure natural looking results. Be sure to not only evaluate how much product you apply to the skin, but what the concentration level of DHA in each product is. Sunless products that are designed to give a darker colour may not be desirable for fair skin.
What is DHA (Dihydroxyacetone)?
DHA is an acronym for Dihydroxyacetone. DHA is the active ingredient found in all sunless tanning products. It is a simple carbohydrate that is primarily used as an ingredient in sunless tanning products. It is often derived from plant sources such as sugar beets and sugar cane, and by the fermentation of glycerin. DHA does not make your skin cells darker in pigmentation, but rather reacts with the proteins and amino acids found in the top layer of your skin to create a darkening effect or ‘sunless tan’.
Is there an odour associated with spray tanning?
Norvell professional sunless solutions use advanced DHA odour encapsulation, the newest technology in odour inhibitors, to ‘trap’ odour causing molecules commonly associated with DHA products and virtually eliminate sunless odour.
How dark will my tan appear after one application?
Results will vary based on the individual’s skin type and pH balance. The Norvell solutions that we carry have been formulated to provide a colour that will be appealing to the majority of sunless tanners, and a variety of shades will allow you to find the perfect solution for your individual needs. Your sunless technician should have all the tools needed to achieve the custom colour you so desire.
Will sunless solution stain my hair?
Most people will not see any affect to the colour of their hair; however, those with light blonde, gray or platinum hair may see some temporary discolouration from the cosmetic bronzers. This discolouration will easily wash out during the first after session shower.
I have very sensitive skin, should I be concerned with a possible reaction?
If you are concerned with a possible allergic or skin reaction to the solution we recommend you first patch test a small area of the skin prior to a full body session. Please read next heading to see what this product is free of.
How long after spray tanning should I wait to enjoy a pool/spa/ocean?
We recommend avoiding these situations for the first 48 hours following your spray tan. Chlorinated pools & spas can increase the rate in which the skin exfoliates causing the tan to wear and fade rapidly.
What brand of sunless tanning solution do you use?
We carry Award Winning Norvell Solution Products not only do they give tanners an amazing colour, they also strive to keep their products as ‘clean’ making them natural and as healthy as possible. All Products Are: Paraben Free, Gluten Free, 100% Vegan, Nut Allergen Free, Propylene Free, Phthalates Free, Synthetic Fragrance Free, and Sulfate free.
