9 things to know before getting your first spray tan

By now, we should all be aware of the dangers and risks of tanning beds. As nice as it is to feel glowy and tan, especially when it's not the summertime, it's not worth the horrors of skin cancer.Spray tans are a great alternative for people who want to get some color but don't want to hit the tanning bed or lay in the sun and risk their health. The risks of a spray tan are exponentially less serious. Usually, the worst thing that can come from a spray tan is turning orange. Here's what you should know before your appointment in order for you to get the perfect tan, with no streaks or neon orange skin in sight. Check out the salon or technician's reviews.No matter what you're doing, whether it's making a dinner reservation or heading to a manicure, it's always a good idea to check out an establishment's reviews. Homework required. When it comes to a spray tan, it's essential to look into the salon or technician, particularly for matters of color, ingredients of the tanning solution, and the level of hygiene in the salon. If not, you risk leaving your appointment looking orange or having an allergic reaction.According to dermatologist Dr. Jennifer Y. Lin, tanning solutions are often made with DHA, which is a "colorless sugar which cross-links with the top layer of your skin (the stratum corneum) to create a darkening of the skin. The top layer of the skin consists primarily of dead cells, and the pigment is retained until the top layer of the skin is shed, which is typically in 14 days, although pigment will lighten in five to seven days."Even if a salon mentions that its ingredients are natural or organic, Lin says that their solution likely contains DHA, so make sure to inspect the company's reviews and photos of its past clients. For the perfect tan, exfoliate beforehand.It's best to head to your spray tan with exfoliated, clean skin, otherwise, the color may turn out patchy and streaky and last for less time.According to SUGARED + BRONZED, a chain of salons located in California and New York, it's a good idea to shower and shave the day before an appointment using a glycerin soap. "Exfoliating is very important because it will help your tan last longer," the website says. "The best way to do this is to use a sugar scrub in combination with exfoliating gloves."Be generous with the lotion, but make sure it's the right kind.The time to moisturize is in the weeks before a spray tan as opposed to the hours or moments before. Using the wrong kind of lotion or too much lotion can actually result in a splotchy disaster. St. Tropez tan expert Sophie Evans told Elle that oil-based lotions are problematic for a tan. Instead, the professionals at SUGARED + BRONZED recommend glycerin-based products, which leave less residue. See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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