What happens at a spray tan?

[GillyGumbo]

I'm having one for a wedding, I'm fat (size 18/20), middle aged (50), a bit self conscious and have no idea what to expect.

I know I need to be deodorant, make up and moisturiser free on the day, but when is the last time I should exfoliate and moisturise - 24 hrs before?

I'm menopausal and I sweat on my face when I'm anxious, is that going to mess it up?

When I've had them (about 6 times). You exfoliate day before.

You choose whether you want lighter or darker shade.

You're given little paper pants, though I suppose you can wear your own if you don't mind them getting destroyed.

You stand full frontal at them and they spray you with a cold gun thing then you turn round. They do it again. They blast cold air at you. The whole experience is very chilly to be honest.

You wait a few mins and dry off. Then get dressed. Then you shower about 6 hours later.

Cold, OK noted. Tempted to find some way of keeping the boobs covered, I don't need those tanned and from a distant memory of one I had 15 years ago, your bra underwires wear it off prematurely anyway.

Doubt their paper pants will cover me very well, do you suppose the technician will be fazed by seeing big old bertha in the starks, do only slim young people get tanned these days?

I honestly don't think they care at all. They must do tons of people. I'm always super embarrassed but I think it's hard not to be!

You could just wear really old black underwear and wash it when you get home? I do suppose it matters to them? Though I like having bronzed boobs 😆

Bronzed boobs, yeah actually I like the sound of that! 🤣🤣

I hate showing anything really, it takes a lot of courage to get this lot out.

Thanks for your help.

Beauty therapist here. Just wear any old comfy underwear. Pull straps under your arms and just make sure you’re not covering anywhere that needs to be tanned once you have your wedding outfit on. But honestly it’s nothing to be worried about, we have seen it all.

Brilliant, thanks @Ineedmorestones 😊

Just check whether you're saying '1 mississippi, 2 mississippi' or '1, 2,' before you turn 😁

🤣🤣

be prepared to be asked to lift your tits and arse up. that happened to me a few years ago. but they've literally seen it all... won't bat an eye

I don't like stripping off in front of people, even if they have seen it all, it doesn't make it any less uncomfortable for me. I wore a strapless bra and knickers that I didn't mind getting damaged. It's a good result though and much quicker and easier than doing it at home.

Jesus if I lift up me tits and arse they'll do more than bat an eyelid, I'll knock em out into the High Street. 🤣

I was thinking of digging out an old pointless strapless bra to spare myself the embarrassment.

good idea @GillyGumbo hope you leave feeling great and have a fab night

I'm 50 and a 16/18 and I get one every ten days or so in the summer.

I keep my own ( black ) apple catchers on and have to lift up my spaniels ears for her to spray underneath 🤣

Don't worry she really will have seen it all, brown fat looks so much nicer than aspirin white fat for some reason.

I go to the tanning booths for this reason! All done by a machine 😄 Although did cock it up one time turning in the wrong direction!

Is your name Ross Geller by any chance? 🤔

OP keep your eye on the prize! It will be worth it to be all glowy for the wedding.

aspirin white fat

this really made me lol. It describes my shade exactly!

sorry for the diversion, but I am intrigued as never had one.
Do spray tans look orangey? I would prefer a spot test first, do they do that?
I like the idea to be honest and might want to try it out. I already use the Dove self tan but it is faffy.

Also how long does it stay on? Does it fade naturally or in patchiness?

Hi @Beatrixpotterspencil in my experience the spray tan has not been orangey, but is definitely ‘deeper’ than say Dove gradual tan or other home tan creams etc.

No idea about a spot test, probably best to ask the salon but they may not want to set
up the machine and booth to do that. I’d suggest going for the full thing as a test before the one you want for a special occasion etc.

I’ve found they wear off patchier than gradual or other home tans, especially on the chest. But, whenever I’ve had them it’s just for a wedding or night out and I didn’t care too much how it wore off over the next week or so.

Hope this is helpful. Others may have other experiences or advice.

Orange is when you use a higher % DHA than your skin can take. Very pale skins might only need a 6% but if you used 14% it’ll go orange.

Well, it was fine. I left my bra and knickers on but took the straps down, and the therapist was very sweet (and very humorous).

It was indeed rather cold, and in the enclosed booth I couldn't hear her instructions over the sound of the compressor, so I kept pulling random incorrect poses as she tried to repeat herself behind her mask. When she offered me a towel to wrap around me I eyed it suspiciously (based on bitter experiences of being a size 18 at spas and such like) and said "Is that big enough to go around me?"

For some reason she found this hilarious and collapsed against the wall with mirth, which I found oddly reassuring. She was ever so nice and although it was quite a busy and posh city centre salon, the staff were young, friendly and earnest and it seemed very important to them that their clients were happy and comfortable.

Anyway I am an interesting shade of ronseal and smelling biscuity, hopefully all will look well with my dress!

I’m glad it went well. If you have the rapidtans you can rinse off before bed with plain water, no soap or it takes your tan off. It’s less biscuit smelling then.

So glad it went well for you! That's such a relief when you're feeling a bit anxious about something. Bet you will look fab 🙌

🤣🤣🤣

I ended up like an umpa lumpa and scrubbing away with bleach that night.
They really don’t care like they say they have seen it all.