For some people, especially those who come from a hot climate, the thought of laying in the sun is rather ludicrous. Yet for others, it is a must do thing, applying the oil, turning every now and then to get even exposure to the sun. Many of us do not have the time, or the money to holiday in tropical climbs, yet we still we crave that tanned, healthy look.
An about change in fashion
Up until the 19th century, the western world saw pale skin as a sign of wealth and affluence. The Greek, Roman and Elizabethan eras, all saw a pale complexion as a desirable thing to have. Dark skinned people toiled in the fields, while the middle class stayed indoors. The industrial revolution saw the trend for paleness fade away, to be replaced by a healthy, tanned appearance. Then in the 1920’s, Coco Chanel was seen disembarking from a yacht in Cannes, and pictures of her tanned curves caused a sensation in all the hi society magazines, catapulting tanning into the limelight. The 1960’s saw the arrival of commercial jet travel, which opened up the warmer climates to the Northern Europeans. The use of colour film did more to encourage the tanned look, with most of the A-list celebrities sporting deep Mediterranean tans.
Self-tanning
Tanning without using UV rays is called self-tanning, and involves the use of creams, gels or lotions. These can be applied in a variety of ways, and the chemical dihydroxyacetone (DHA) reacts with the skin, turning the pigment a shade of brown. This is a much safer alternative than the sunbeds that rose in popularity in the mid-eighties.
Spray tan solutions
The need for a safe solution to tanning, saw the arrival of spray tan machines a few years ago. This really changed the industry, and now people can achieve that all round healthy glow, with the minimum of fuss.
The benefits of spray tan technology are many,
- Tan safely
- You can choose the precise shade of tan
- Spray tanning is quick and convenient to apply
Innovation brings excellence
Spray tan equipment has come a long way in a short time. The tools are called airbrushes or airguns, and they are both light and very easy to use, enabling an even flow to be applied to the body. The spray tan machines affect the top 25% of the skin, and only the solution only reacts with dead skin cells. The life of your tan very much depends on how you treat your skin.
- You should moisturise every two days, as DHA can dry out the skin, causing the tan to fade.
- When shaving, do not use shaving gel or soap, as this can have a reaction with the DHA, again causing the tan to fade somewhat.
- Swimming in chlorine treated pools can also promote new skin growth, which shortens the tan length
Spray tan salons are popular in Europe, as they offer a quick and easy way to receive that golden, year round glow that is so fashionable today.
