The Glow Up

AT LEAST 24 HOURS BEFORE YOUR SUNLESS TAN:

(Please fill out consent form before your appointment)

Exfoliate. Exfoliate. Exfoliate.

We cannot overstress the importance of pre-session exfoliation. 24 hours prior to your session, clear away any dry, dead skin cells with a ph balancing scrub. This is important to ensure even color and long-lasting results.

Protect your skin’s PH levels

Avoid using bar soaps, high ph shower products, or in shower moisturizers. These products can interfere with the DHA bronzing reaction in the skin.

Hair removal

Avoid shaving, waxing, or use of depilatory creams for at least 24 hours prior to your session. 

THE DAY OF YOUR SUNLESS TAN:

Avoid using any product on your skin

Skip the lotion and makeup. While moisturizing your skin in the days following your tanning session can make it last longer, applying moisturizers and lotions can interfere with the bronzing spray absorbing into your skin. If you do wear makeup the day of your tan, remove it before spray tanning to get the most even tan on your face. Also, use deodorant sparingly. Believe it or not, it could interact with the spray and turn your armpits a not-so-fab shade of green.

Remove any make up prior to the sunless treatment

Arrive prepared

Wear lose-fitting, dark clothing to your session (preferably cotton). Also, be sure to remove all jewelry and leave it off until your tan is set. This will prevent your clothes and jewelry from rubbing against your skin and smudging your tan or your clothing being stained by the tanning spray.

Rinse Instructions

• If you have chosen the Regular developing solution, it is recommended that you wait 12-24 hours to rinse off depending on desired result. This will allow your tan to fully develop. It is fine to leave the Airbrush Spray Tanning solution on overnight and rinse in the morning. 
• If you have chosen the Rapid Developing (Rapid Rinse) solution, it is extremely important that you rinse at the time your spray tech has recommended for you (typically 2-4 hours after solution is applied).
• Your first rinse should be brief making sure you gently but thoroughly "wipe" the cosmetic bronzer off of your skin using your hands only. You will see color coming off during your first rinse...this is normal, you want all of the cosmetic bronzer to come off in that first rinse.
• Please do not pee in the shower when you have an Airbrush Spray Tan, the ammonia in the urine will cause your tan to streak.
• Do not use any soap during your first rinse. For best results wait 12-24 hours from your initial rinse to use any soaps or lotions. Deodorant is fine. If you are being sprayed in the rapid solution it is best to moisturize as soon as you get out of the shower. 
• Once out of the shower pat your skin dry, do not rub. You will want to continue to pat your skin dry for the duration of your Airbrush Spray Tan.

• Please do not schedule your manicure, pedicure, or waxing appointments after your tan, as these treatments will remove any color from your skin.
• If possible, do not wear a bra for at least 4 hours after you have been sprayed to prevent “tan lines” or streaks.
• Please know that if you exercise and sweat heavily your tan can fade faster, especially if your clothing is tight. The same applies to sweating feet inside shoes.
• Shaving exfoliates skin, which can fade your tan. Be sure to use a new razor and a lubricating product such as our Ph Balancing Cleanser or Lotion when shaving. A dull razor will remove your tan.
• Be aware that spending any time in a hot tub, swimming pool, or the ocean—or even taking a long hot bath—can cause your Airbrush Tan to prematurely fade.
• Do not use aerosol or oil-based sunscreen! The chemicals in them will ruin your Airbrush Spray Tan. We recommend that you use a waterproof lotion sunscreen.

The following is a list of commonly used body care products that can have a detrimental effect on an Airbrush Spray Tan. This is not all-inclusive, but simply a guide for products to avoid, as they can lighten or make a sunless tan blotchy or change color:

• Products containing mineral oil, petroleum or parabens
• Aerosol sunscreens
• AHA products (Alpha Hydroxy Acids: Glycolic, Lactic, Malic, Citric, and Tartaric acids)
• Anti-acne products that exfoliate or dry the skin, such as Accutane and Salicylic acid
• Anti-aging products that "renew," "refresh," or otherwise exfoliate skin
• Band-Aid or adhesive tape applied to skin will pull the tan off
• Bar soaps and body wash, especially deodorant or antibacterial varieties
• BHA Products (Beta Hydroxy Acids: salicylic acid)
• Body hair bleach products will bleach the tan. Non-bleach skin lighteners are fine
• Biore-type adhesive facial strips or “peel-off” masks
• Bug spray, perfumes, or body sprays that are sprayed directly onto skin can remove or fade the tan. Instead, spray clothing, or spray a "cloud" of spray that you can walk through, instead of spraying directly onto skin.
• You must avoid the following ingredients when using a moisturizer: Mineral Oil, Petroleum, Paraffins, Paraffinum Liquidum, Ceresine.
• Curel lotions will fade a tan faster, on some people
• Avoid lotions with a high alcohol content such as CeraVe
• Facial masks
• Exfoliating scrubs
• Hair Inhibiting Lotions (Jergens, etc.) tend to make a sunless tan yellow
• Makeup remover cleaning products, or oils used to clean away eye makeup
• Retin-A type products (Retin-A, Renova, Tazorac, Tretinoin) all will cause faster fading
• Shaving cream or over the counter body wash
• Toners containing alcohols or witch hazel in the top three ingredients listed can lighten a tan
• Wax or Depilatory hair removal products such as Nair, Veet, Neet, etc

The solution used in spray tanning is called Dihydroxyacetone or DHA. DHA is a colorless sugar that interacts with the skin cells located in the stratum corneum of the epidermis (the upper and outermost layer of your skin). As the sugar interacts with the dead skin cells, a color change occurs. This change usually lasts about five to seven days from the initial application. DHA has been in use since the 60s when it was first approved for cosmetic application by the Food and Drug Administration.

Absolutely! The DHA solution used at Glow Up Beauty Bar is 100% oil-free, alcohol-free, fragrance-free, vegan, and approved by PETA. 

Every day, millions of dead skin cells are sloughed off or worn away from the surface of your skin. This is the same area where the solution interacts with your skin to create the tanning effect. Every 35 to 45 days, you have an entirely new epidermis. This is why tans from sunless or self-tanning lotions will gradually fade – as the dead cells are worn away, so is your tan. The more you moisturize the longer your tan will last.

You can extend the life of your tan by up to a few days by using a tan extender product. These are moisturizers that help reduce the sloughing of dry and/or dead skin cells. If you have dry skin these products are especially recommended.

If you have skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, or dermatitis is is best to perform a patch test before deciding to be spray tanned. We can perform a patch test for you and will do so if you have specific skin conditions. If we find that you can be spray tanned, it is important to apply a lot of moisturizer as part of your aftercare regime as the solution can have a drying effect on your skin.

Yes. The solutions we use have a bronzing color agent in the blend so that we can see where we are spraying. This will insure even color all over your body. The agent will wash off with your first shower however the DHA will be developing underneath the bronzer over the next 8 to10 hours. The longer you can go without showering (up to 10 hours) the more time your tan will have to fully develop.

We use a High Volume Low Pressure (HVLP) turbine unit to do your spray tan. Think of a vaccum cleaner in reverse. We can do a tan in about 15 minutes however we usually take 15 to 20 minutes to be sure that your tan is completed thoroughly. The time it takes for you enter our location, disrobe, have a consultation, spray tan, dry, and re-dress is about 30 minutes.

You will be aware that you have just been spray tanned, but you will not feel sticky. Within an hour or two your skin should feel quite normal. If you have been sprayed with a moisturizer or anti-aging additive your skin will feel better than before you came in!

If you opt for our Rapid Tan formula you will be able to shower in 3-5 hours. 

With our regular formula, you will want to rinse 12-24 hours  after application. You will want to refrain from working out for 24 hours after your appointment. The longer the time before you shower or work out the longer you will hold the tan.

The more the better. A good moisturizer will deliver water to the skin very effectively and keep it in the skin for as long as possible. If you don’t moisturize your skin after being spray tanned, your skin will dry out and exfoliate quickly removing your tan. Your tan will also come to appear more patchy.

ABSOLUTELY! There is no SPF protection in any of the solutions on the market today. Just because your skin looks tanned does not mean that your skin is protected from harmful UV rays. You can still get sun-burned if you do not apply any protection.

It is advisable to shave or wax at least 12 hours BEFORE being spray tanned. Both remove the top layer of the skin and opens your pores. Spray tanning right afterwards can clog your pores and give the appearance of freckle spots where you have shaved or waxed.

If you shave or wax after your spray tan you will accelerate the exfoliating process and reduce the life of your tan. You can also exfoliate the tan unevenly giving a patchy or streaky look. If you must shave use a very sharp razor applied lightly so you remove only the hairs – not the tan.

During the spray tan you can wear as little as you are comfortable with. Our staff is very professional and discrete. If you wear a bathing suit it should be dark and form fitting.

After your spray tan you should wear loose, dark cotton clothing with slip on shoes so as not to leave any marks or rub the spray tan off your skin. You should also not reapply jewelry as it can scratch the tan.

You can apply a light coverage of makeup after being spray tanned but if you wash and rinse it at all before waiting the 10 to 12 hours you will stop the tan from developing anymore. Spray tanning the face is a choice. If you choose to do your face we recommend getting only a light spray applied. It’s easier to blend makeup on a lighter face than to lighten up a tanned face and still look natural.

It really depends on your skin type, the solution used, and the length of time between the application and the first shower. Most will last 5 to 7 days but can be extended up to 10 days if using and extender and following the proper aftercare instructions.

If you want to keep your tanned look it is recommended to get a spray once a week and apply a moisturizer daily to maintain the tan.

No. Only moisturizers and tan extenders can extend the life of your tan.

There are two main factors that can cause the orange undertones that you see with spray tanning. First is too much DHA applied to your skin. Either there were too many applications or too high a concentration of DHA in a single application. The other factor is the balance of your skin’s PH level.

A true professional knows how to identify and prevent these combinations from occuring with your tan. We offer a No Orange hue guarantee with each of our services. A spray tan should not go orange if applied correctly. We also custom blend our solution to match the right skin tones. A fair person would receive a solution that is completely different from someone with olive skin.

No! The spray tan solution mist can penetrate past the hair to achieve the same result as spraying someone without hair.

Most spray tan solutions have a minimal percentage of pure alcohol or drying perservative in th blend. As long as you regularly apply moisturizer while maintaining your spray tan it will not dry out your skin.

Yes! You will have to do a few extra steps but you can still achieve and maintain your spray tanned look. You should exfoliate your skin for three successive days before getting spray tanned. After being spray tanned you should moisturize twice daily to slow down your skins exfoliation process.

If you are attending a wedding, party, or other special event you should be spray tanned one or two evenings before the actual event. You should wait at least 36 hours before the event – this allows time for the tan to fully activate and settle. You also have at least two showers to remove bronzers that may be left on the skin so as not to stain your garment for the event.

Sweat and water (including rain) will immediately hault the tanning development process. To diminish excessive sweating you need to exfoliate your skin before getting your spray tan. Try to avoid spray tanning on a hot day. We also have “Wet One” wipes to use over your body before the spray tan application.

You can also use talcum powder where you are likely to sweat once your spray tan application is dry. It is also recommended to wear dark, loose cotton clothing.