Please advise me about spray tanning!

[NigellasGuest]

I've bought a dress for a party that's very low cut at the back and is quite short too, and feel it would look loads better if I was a bit tanned.

I've never spray tanned before and feel a bit nervous about just booking in for one because I know there are different types etc. Can anyone recommend what to do or where to go for a very light and natural looking one? I am blonde (highligts) with blue eyes and coolish skin tone(I'm a Winter if anyone knows about HOC) and in the sun I do tan naturally - I'm not so light that I just go red and burn etc- but I never tan really dark, so a deep spray tan would look really unnatural.

Anyone got advice as to what I should do?

Be pale.
Even the fancy nodernnspray tans smell like wet dog and digestive biscuits and look obvious.

(Cue millions howling they Don’t. But they do.. :) )

Well that would certainly be cheaper and less bother! And of course the party is at night anyway! Perhaps just a good exdoliate and some body shimmer stuff?

Haha the good ones don’t though. I have spray tans all the time for events and they don’t smell biscuity anymore. They definitely used to though!

Best thing to do is find a good Sali in your area, and check their reviews first so you don’t come out 4 shades darker than you planned. Get it done 2 days before he event, and exfoliate really really well before you go in. They will apply moisturiser to dry areas when you’re there and body brush if necessary. Wear loose clothes! And shower when they tell you too so it doesn’t over-develop. I always feel lovely after a tan

Salon*

They do smell biscuity. I’ve had countless colleagues tell me their spray tan doesn’t smell. They all smell. They don’t smell as much as they used to but they still smell.
The compound that creates the colour change smells, it’s inevitable.

Just be pale and lovely - spray tan rarely looks nice.

I must admit it was my 19 year old dd who suggested spray tan. I'm erring towards not bothering now. She lives in a different universe!

Any suggestions for something nice and glowy to apply to my exposed skin though?

St Tropez is the worst for biscuit smells, la tan & vaniti tan is the best.

Suntana smells amazing, you could literally drink it but it contains alcohol. No like.

Find someone who does sienna x spray tans and ask for a light (think it's level 4). It's the most natural looking spray tan and doesn't smell as bad as others, although there is a biscuit smell until you shower it off. It looks best on day 2 so if it's for a Saturday have it done the Thursday night, sleep then wash off Friday morning.

If it really a one off event, rather than say going on holiday, I would suggest you have a trial run yourself with an instant tan. Especially if you have a daughter who can do your back. Instant tan works more like makeup and washes off Sally Hansen Airbrush legs is brilliant and washes off with soap and water.

They do smell until they're showered off, so I usually have mine 2 days before the event I'm going to. Exfoliation is the key, then pick the lightest colour available. If it's a low back dress, don't put your bra on afterwards until it's quite dry. The brand my salon uses is Mii, but the crucial element is the experience of the applier and the exfoliation.

They only smell while they're developing. When you have your shower the next morning, the smell will go. They'll usually ask you in the salon how dark you want to go. The initial colour WILL look a lot darker that how it's going to be after you've showered, so don't panic. You'll definitely be a lighter shade after your shower.

Don't even attempt to do it yourself. trying to do your own back is impossible even for a contortionist.

I'd usually suggest just a wash-off bronzer if you're a bit wary, but for your back, you'd def need a proper spray tan. The pps are right, they do smell while developing and for the day afterward but then there is minimal smell. If the event is Saturday, get it done thursday night. Definitely have a trial before. I have similar colouring and the tan they use is green-based so doesn't look at all orange and I go for light/medium (the spray tanner mixes it for me). Moisturise hands, elbows, knees, ankles half an hr before. Spray tans have come a long way in the last five years and if you get a good beautician, will look really natural.

Thanks for advice! Can anyone recommend a good beautiful for this? I'm 30 mins from London.

I mean a good beautician!