Misting

Misting is a form of spray tan that is not applied by a person but rather a “misting booth.” The booth uses nozzles and a tube of liquid solution to spray the person’s entire body at one time. Booths are extremely quick for application… and compared to airbrush tanning, are usually cheaper. Some tanning salons will even offer a monthly “unlimited” membership.

Problems

The main problems with misting have to do with lack of ability to customize the tan, and lack of precision. Each person who enters the booth with get the exact same formula as everyone else—without regard to skin tones, existing tans, etc. Misting booth operators will try to control the darkness level of the tan by controlling the amount of solution applied—more solution for a darker tan, less for a lighter tan. This is a poor way to proceed: the amount of DHA in the solution SHOULD be the major factor, not the thickness of the solution applied. By way of example, if you are frosting a cake, adding additional layers of frosting will not make the cake shade darker; changing the amount of coloring in the frosting would. In addition, because of the nature of misting, it is impossible to get a precise tan in hard-to-tan areas (around eyes, fingernails, hairlines, etc.). The results may not yield the tan you were hoping for.

Preparations & Precautions

Like airbrush tanning, the skin should be fully exfoliated in advance and no lotion should be applied prior to the spray tan. It’s recommended that tanners shower and exfoliate and then proceed to the booth. Since the solution is applied by a nozzle in a booth rather than another person, following the instructions is critical. In order to protect areas of dry skin and reduce the likelihood of errors on hands and feet, most spray tan booths will advocate adding a cream that reduces the effectiveness of the solution on these areas. All makeup should be removed prior to the spray tan application.

The spray tan booths will generally have a video that you can view prior to trying it for the first time so that you feel more comfortable with the process. Most booths also have audio prompts to tell you where and how to stand. It’s very important to follow the directions because the tan will not appear for up to 8 hours after application. If you maintain the spray tan with proper moisturizing, the tan can last for up to 7 days. Prior to getting another spray tan, exfoliate the remains of the old tan away.

The spray tan may need reapplication every 5-7 days, but the process is very easy and doesn’t usually require an appointment. Like an airbrush tan, the easiest way to apply the solution is to tan in the evening and wear loose fitting clothes to go to bed. In the morning, the spray tan should be evenly applied.

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