frequently asked questions

Will I turn orange?

No. We pride ourselves in a product that won’t turn you orange. Spray tans have come a long way in the past few years and our solution in particular is designed to give you a natural looking tan. Having said that, it is important to know WHY some people experience the dreaded “Orange Tan”. DHA (dihydroxyacetone) is the active ingredient in all sunless tanning products. It’s the stuff that’s responsible for the colour development of your spray tan. DHA, which is derived from cane sugar or sugar beets, synthesizes with the top layer of your skin, and produces a beautiful tan, much like the way an apple turns brown when cut in half and exposed to oxygen. Pretty cool, huh? Now, the thing to know about DHA is that just like anything else, there is such thing as “too much of a good thing”. When we try to increase the level of DHA too much in an attempt to achieve a darker tan, it can start to go from brown….to orange. This is why we take so much pride in providing our clients with a natural looking tan. If this is your first appointment with us, we will establish your realistic tan goals, pick a colour that we know will look natural yet still give you a great tan, and we will record that shade in your client file. That way, when you return for another tan, we can always try something slightly darker. Bumping up colour in small increments allows us to know what your skin likes, and to ensure you never end up looking orange. 

 

Will the color rub off or stain my clothes or sheets?

During the first 12 hours after your spray tan, the bronzer may slightly rub off onto lighter coloured clothing and sheets. Because our solution is made of a natural sugar base, it usually washes right out. All fabrics are different however, so if you are concerned about your sheets/clothing, please make sure to prepare in advance of your tan.

 

I am pregnant and/or breastfeeding. Can I get a tan?

Our solution is made of organic ingredients that are not harmful to you or your child. However, we recommend that you take the ingredient list to your doctor and make an informed decision together, this way you are completely comfortable with your decision. The first point on our consent form asks you to consult a physician if pregnant prior to being sprayed. We have lots of clients who spray tan while pregnant. 

 

How long does the tan last?

Your tan can last between 5-10 days, depending on your skincare regime. Ask us about our face and body lotion extenders available for purchase at your appointment. These extenders will help you extend your tan past 10 days. Our SunnaTan product line ranges in price from $22-$35 depending on the product. 

 

Does it fade evenly? How do I remove a fading spray tan and prep for another?

The tan settles into the top layer of your skin; therefore, as your skin sloughs off – your tan goes with it. Most of the time, this process will happen evenly; however, sometimes it doesn’t. If you have fair skin and are dead set on having a dark spray tan, the chances of you having a more noticeable fade would be higher. A word of advice for anyone looking to maintain a sunless tan every two weeks, exfoliation is absolutely IMPERATIVE. We highly suggest picking up our SunnaTan Exfoliating Mitt ($18) as it will make your job so much easier, and ensure that your tans continue to look beautiful. Tanning overtop of a fading spray tan will result in a patchy, uneven looking tan. Not good! If there are places that haven’t faded as quickly as others, you can just scrub off the remaining parts to even it out. The easiest way to do this is to soak for 20 minutes in a hot bath with Epsom salts and baking soda, this will help loosen the dead skin cells containing the pigment. Once you’ve soaked, take your SunnaTan exfoliating mitt and get to work scrubbing in circular motions. You’ll be shocked at how easy the tan is to remove after soaking, and you’ll love how silky your skin is afterward. Don’t forget to lotion up or apply coconut oil after you’re finished!

 

Can I still get a suntan when I have a spray tan?

Absolutely! We strongly recommend that you continue to use sunscreen while you have an OrganicTan as spray tans offer no UV protection. Please use sunscreens without alcohol & harsh chemicals.

Can I go swimming? Hot tub?

Hot tubs are one of the quickest ways to completely fade your tan. When a client asks us how to remove a spray tan, we advise them to soak in a hot bath. This loosens up dead skin and allows for much easier removal of a spray tan. When you add chlorine to the hot water, you can count on your tan disappearing, and quick! Swimming for prolonged periods in chlorinated pools can cause the tan to fade quicker, simply because chlorine dries the skin out so badly. If you’re headed on vacation and plan to be hitting the pool, or a sandy beach, we always recommend bringing along 4 things; SUNSCREEN because a spray tan doesn’t offer any SPF, an exfoliating mitt for dry skin, our Colour Me Dark self tanner for touch ups, and a hydrating moisturizer to keep you skin (and your tan) happy.

When can I shower?

Do not shower for at least 12 hours after your spray tan! We also find that the tan may last longer, the longer you wait to shower (24 hours). Final results won’t be seen until after you have your first shower. Everyone is different, some people love the look of their tan without showering and prefer to wait as long as possible and others prefer the look of their tan after showering. If you have a special event that you want to be tanned for, we suggest a trial tan to find out which day & routine you prefer best. Brides should come approximately 1-2 days prior to their wedding, giving them ample shower time & to avoid the bronzer transferring onto the dress. Once you have showered the bronzer off, there should be no colour transfer onto your dress. 

 

When can I wash my face?

Just like the body, the face should also avoid being washed for a minimum of 12 hours. However, we know the face is an area that people cleanse more often. Please ask your airbrush artist about our face extender. If you are someone that needs to wash your face more than your body, needs to put lotion on your face before coming for a tan, wear makeup to your tanning appointment, or need to wash your face before the 12 hours, we highly suggest using our face extender. 

What products should I AVOID to make my tan last longer?

Bar soaps, products with Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) (body wash is a big culprit here), mineral oil as well as petroleum based products will all contribute to your tan fading more rapidly. Products with alcohol, synthetic fragrance and any skin care products with Alpha Hydroxy, Glycolic or Salicylic Acid, Retin-A & Retinol will fade your tan more quickly as well. Remember to ask your airbrush artist about Organic Tan’s SunnaTan body washes, lotions & extenders to help extend the tan and leave you with even, glowing & hydrated skin. 

What is the active ingredient?

DHA is approved by the food and drug administration for use in sunless tanning products. DHA (dihydroxy acetone) is derived from sugar; synthesizes with the skins proteins, including amino acids in the outermost layer of the skin. The organic spray tan works with your natural pigments; in the epidermis (top layer) of the skin to produce a safe, natural tan. 

Why didn’t I get as dark this treatment as I did with my last session?

Due to the ever-changing chemistry of the body, there are times of the month that the body may be less receptive to DHA. Some people can even be DHA resistant. If a client perspires excessively during development time, this may dilute the solution and thus will not allow the DHA to absorb into the skin properly. Lastly, if the skin has residual oil or moisturizer on it, this will block the DHA and prevent the skin from reacting and changing colour. Ask us about the pH balancing option. It will go to work to get rid of the skins daily body oils perfumes and hidden dry skin, resulting in a perfect tan. 

I have some sunless tanner in my cupboard that I can use on my vacation if I need to touch up. Is this ok?

NO. This is not ok. The 2 different formulas potentially could react to each other, turning you a different colour (green/orange). Please ask your airbrush artist about our Organic Tan specific tanning extenders. It is also important to remember that other solutions (spray/lotions) can react negatively with the Organic Tan solution, which means that if you are wanting to get an Organic Tan and you recently had another sunless tanning product on your skin, you will want to wait until it is completely off. 

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