It’s a good thing that so many people are aware of the dangers of tanning under the Sun nowadays – the way you’re compromising your health under these circumstances is in no way worth the cosmetic benefits. Sunless tanning provides a nice, simple alternative to regular sun-based tanning, It still holds its dangers to your health though, so you should by no means take it lightly.
If you’re going to tan yourself at home, there are a few important things to keep in mind. First, moisture – dry yourself well before tanning, but keep your skin at least mildly moisturized so it’s not not completely dry – this will lead to tanning in patches.
The second point of your attention when it comes to self-tanning, should be proper coverage for some sensitive body parts. Those include the eyes, lips, ears, as well as the nose and mouth to prevent inhalation. The inhalation protection applies only if you’re using a spray tanner. Otherwise, if you’re using a lotion you wouldn’t need to protect your breathing organs.
Beginners in self-tanning often tend to put on too much tanning agent, leading to an unpleasant increase in the orange hues. A good piece of advice is to actually start off with small quantities and take it easy, going layer by layer until you’ve reached a pleasing color. This way you’ll ensure a good distribution of the material and you’ll avoid the oversaturation with orange which we mentioned earlier.
If you’re using an airbrush, the above rules for safety should be covered at all cost – additionally, you shouldn’t use the airbrush yourself if you’re not confident in your skills. Airbrushing is a fine art, despite what you might think, and it takes a bit of precision and a steady hand to get it right. If you think you may botch it, get a friend who’s good with drawing.
After tanning yourself, there’s a period during which you should avoid all contact with water. This period depends on the type of tanning agent you’re using, but generally, waiting for about 24 hours is the safest best. Water can very easily wash down the chemicals which cause the tanning, and lead to smears and spots.
Clothing should be planned beforehand as well. Avoid light-colored clothes, especially white – most tanners leave marks on fabric when it’s rubbed against them. Dark clothes are usually preferred for when you’re artificially tanned, and this goes especially for “bronzers”, or temporary bronzing sprays, which leave pretty noticeable marks.
Remember that an artificial tan does not protect you against sunburns too – this is a very common misconception, which leads to people getting sunburnt. The processes which protect us from UV rays are only present in natural tans, and you can never attain them with a tanning spray. Always wear adequate Sun protection – sunscreen, lotions, etc – to ensure that you’re safe under its rays. Failing to do so may lead to even greater complications than normal sunburns pose, as the artificial tan will affect it badly.
