The above picture was taken after a fresh, "Ocean" tan. I love the natural coloring of the solution!
Today I wanted to share with you my secret to keeping a golden tan all year long! I always feel like I look healthier when I have a little color, as opposed to my natural, fair skin. I used to tan the unhealthy way by laying out or using a tanning bed, but I really wanted to start taking better care of my skin and quickly became aware of the dangers of tanning that way. Something that has became very popular is spray tanning. Many people are leaving their tanning bed habits and are starting to get spray tans instead (yay)! Going to a salon to get a spray tan every week (they normally only last a week) can be pretty pricey, but you can save so much money by making a one time purchase of the machine and spray tanning tent. The only thing you have to buy again is the solution. I buy the solution by the quart and each bottle lasts a long time!
There are so many YouTube videos on how to spray tan the correct way and with a little practice it really is easy! It's easiest if you have someone spray you. My husband normally sprays me, but there are many times when he's not available and I just spray myself. Although, I normally always have to have him come in later to touch up my back because that's almost impossible to reach and get even by doing it myself.
Compressor: iwata Smart Jet Pro (with iwata airbrush bottle) *This compressor used to be my parents' and they gave it to me when I started wanting to spray tan at home. I looked it up and it's a little pricey, but I'm sure there are much cheaper compressors out there.
Popup tanning tent: From Salon Supply Store on Amazon (Before I got the tent I used to spray in the shower and the solution coated EVERYTHING in the bathroom. It gets in the air while you're spraying and it settles on anything and everything in sight. I definitely recommend getting a tent!
Solution: Ocean Tanning Solution (I get it in the dark tint with 12.5% DHA *the higher the DHA, the darker the solution. That's the darkest shade it comes in and is the best coverage! If you don't want to be very dark, but just want a healthy glow, I definitely recommend a lighter shade. I've searched the web for the best deal on tanning solutions and found this to be the best price. I really love the way it goes on and it lasts at least a week if properly cared for.)
How to care for your tan: Before spraying it's so important that you exfoliate. This will help the solution to go on evenly and stay on longer. Wait at least 6 hours before showering and moisturize immediately after your shower. The secret to keeping your tan as long as possible is to keep your skin moisturized! I put lotion on twice a day, morning and night. Also, the more you shave your legs the quicker the tan will start to fade on them. So be sure to shave your legs when you're exfoliating before you spray instead of when you're washing the solution off after the six hours.
I know this was a lot of information and there's more stuff I could go into, but I didn't want this to be a massive post full of text (boooorrriiiing)! But if you have any questions I would love to answer! And if you spray tan at home as well and have a solution you really like, I'd love to try it out since I've only ever tried the Ocean Tanning Solution.
Hope everyone is having a great start to their week!
xo, Ash
