Spa Simple: Spray Tanning 101

Admit it. When you have a tan, you look healthier and you feel better about yourself.  And we all know that “tan” fat looks better than “pale” fat.

But tanning the old fashioned way (outside lathered in baby oil) is awful. The sun’s UV rays can damage your skin and cause premature aging, not to mention increase your risk of skin cancer. And then there are the self-tanners which can give you an orange, streaky look.

The better alternative is spray tanning. The key ingredient is DHA, a fancy name for bronzer. Many spas offer different types of mists which allow you to choose how dark you want to go. If you are fair-skinned, you won’t want to go too dark and look fake.

The application is done in a booth and takes about 15-20 minutes followed by 10 minutes of drying time. And you’ll need to wait about 6-8 hours before showering. Your results will last about 7-10 days.

If you have a big event or are just tired of the pasty look, get yourself to The Body Bar in Westchase, which offers airbrush spray tanning. The Body Bar is located at 11013 Countryway Blvd. in Tampa, Fl.

Kelly Seeley and Tylene Headley are founders of spa50.com, the authority of spas in Tampa an online resource for spa owners and spa-going consumers.