Instant tanning is a way to highlight your body and face with a chocolate/bronze tone all year round. It is called cane (because the products are made from cane sugar extract), Caribbean or Hollywood. This tan is applied in beauty salons or at home, but with special equipment. The result lasts for 10 days, but if you follow the recommendations of the experts, this period can be extended to 14-20 days.
Instant tanning is available at any age (from 18 years old), for any skin type and has a minimum of contraindications. The price of the procedure is on average 1800 rubles.
What is a quick tan? Its pros and cons
Instant tanning technology involves tanning without ultraviolet exposure. Using a special sprayer, apply an instant tanning lotion made from cane sugar to your skin in a thin, even layer. The whole procedure takes no more than twenty minutes, and the result will please you for up to two weeks.
The main benefits of reed tanning:
- speed of the procedure. Applying an instant tan will not take you much time;
- safety. The composition of the lotion is absolutely natural and is suitable even for sensitive skin;
- the entire procedure for applying the lotion is completely painless;
- A wide selection of lotion shades will allow you to choose the color that best suits your type of appearance;
- durability. On average, a quick tan will last from seven to ten days;
- Another obvious advantage of reed tanning is that it does not cause burns on the skin and does not provoke the appearance of tumors.
Despite the obvious advantages, quick tanning has its disadvantages:
- the lotion may stain your clothes immediately after the procedure, so it is better to dress in loose clothing;
- There are restrictions on water procedures. If you often visit the sauna or swimming pool, then a quick tan is not for you, as there is a possibility of uneven color removal from the skin;
- Careful skin care is required before and after a quick tanning procedure.
Answers to popular questions
How long does an instant (reed) tan last on the skin?
As cosmetologists themselves note, the result on the body “lasts” from 10 to 14 days , although in this matter everything is individual.
How long an instant tan is enough depends on the individual characteristics of a person’s skin, on the body’s ability to quickly regenerate and renew itself.
With the right actions and proper care after the procedure, the effect will last longer.
Taking baths also plays a role in how long an instant tan lasts. The lifespan of your artificial bronzer depends on how often you take a bath.
Is it possible to sunbathe with an instant tan?
You can visit a solarium, sunbathe on the beach and absolutely not worry about the fact that the tan will be uneven and light or dark spots will appear on your body. It is not forbidden to visit the beach and apply self-tanning - it all depends on your desires and habits.
Instant tanning before a trip to the sea – is it worth doing?
The answer is definitely possible! And against the general background of tanned vacationers, you don’t want to look like a white northerner whose body saw the sun for the first time.
Don't be afraid to combine an instant tan with a subsequent trip to the sea.
Everyone knows very well this peculiarity of being under the sun - the skin first turns red and only then becomes covered with a golden hue. An instant tan applied to the body before the sea will hide such an annoying feature.
Don't forget to use sunscreen on the beach!
Where to get an instant tan?
An instant tan can be done in a beauty salon. But unfortunately, not every such institution practices this procedure. Therefore, you can call the salons closest to your home and ask if they offer instant tanning. Or look on the Internet for a list of salons in your city that provide this service. Reviews will help you choose the best salon.
To choose which salon to do the procedure in, you can read reviews about instant tanning in a specific salon in the city.
Photos before and after instant tanning:
You may be interested in reading this article: Tanning through glass in the kitchen or in the car - is it possible?
Many women around the world are wondering which tan is better - in a solarium, natural in the sun, instant or self-tanning. Of course, each person will have their own preferences. But we must not forget that instant tanning is an excellent and safe alternative to solariums and self-tanning, during which you can get perfectly beautiful skin in a short period of time.
Of course, the result is short-term, but due to its safety for the skin, cosmetologists and doctors allow it to be practiced without restrictions on the number of sessions.
The procedure for carrying out the procedure in the salon
- The day before the instant tanning procedure, do epilation and peeling. Cleanse your skin well using a scrub and a stiff washcloth. This is necessary so that the tan goes on more evenly.
- At the salon, the first thing you will be asked to do is take a shower and wash off all your makeup.
- Next, you put on a cap and swimsuit.
- Then, using a special sprayer, the master applies the bronzer and lets it absorb for several minutes. A good master will take into account all your wishes and skin type, so that you are satisfied with the result and the shade of your skin.
The application procedure itself does not last long, so after 15-20 minutes you can safely return to your business. But do not forget that after the procedure it is better not to visit the pool, sauna, bathhouse. For the first ten hours, it is generally advisable to minimize contact with water. Also, do not apply any cosmetics to your body.
Application methods
Manual method
This method of application is more accessible and cheaper, and if performed by an experienced person, the procedure gives excellent results and even optically reduces the figure.
You don't have to go to a salon to get a good self-tan. This procedure can be done at home. A salon specialist can come to your home with all the necessary equipment.
The manual tanning procedure takes a lot of time and causes psychological discomfort associated with the need for close contact with a stranger.
Automatic tanning booths
More and more beauty salons are offering automatic tanning booths, which take 30-45 seconds to apply a self-tanning spray.
For some types of cabins the process is complicated - you need to stand up correctly, turn around, wait until the fog covers individual parts of the body.
Other booths have multiple spray nozzles and the base they sit on rotates on its own.
After applying the self-tanning solution, the body must be dried. Next comes the moisturizing stage.
Instant tan during pregnancy
Agree, even during pregnancy, every woman wants to look attractive, be well-groomed and have a beautiful golden skin color. The reed tanning procedure is very suitable during this period, since bronzing does not use ultraviolet light and there is no irradiation. The reed lotion that the master sprays comes into contact only with the top layer of skin. In addition, the composition of the product is not capable of causing harm during pregnancy - a quick tan on the skin is formed due to the action of natural substances.
Solarium: a classic of the genre or a danger?
The first tanning beds were simply ultraviolet lamps, but now they are complex devices. The principle of operation is the same as that of the sun: the sun's rays “fry” the upper layers of the skin, causing it to darken. Only radiation in a solarium is 10–15 times stronger than from the sun. Therefore, it is better to start going to the solarium for two minutes, gradually increasing the duration to 10–15.
The most effective are vertical tanning beds, in which you need to stand, because the skin does not touch the equipment and tans evenly. Tanning in a solarium turns out to be as natural as in the sun, provided that the lamps are of high quality and you do not overdo it with the duration.
The benefits and harms of solarium
The key difference between this method and cosmetics is the direct effect of ultraviolet radiation on the skin. This has its advantages (production of vitamin D, drying out inflammation, uniform tanning), but there are also disadvantages.
You can go to a solarium, but there are a few important points you should know.
- Determine your phototype
The more often you get sunburned, the higher your risk of skin cancer. For people with the first phototype (blond or red hair, light eyes, freckles), solariums and tanning are contraindicated because they often get burned. It is better to choose self-tanning or cosmetics, and in the summer use sunscreen with a high degree of protection.
The second phototype with light brown hair, green or blue eyes can sunbathe in a solarium for no more than five minutes. The third and fourth phototypes (moderately dark skin, dark eyes and hair) can safely sunbathe for up to 20 minutes twice a week. But it’s also better to start with three to four minutes.
“If a person travels to a hot country with active sun and has the first phototype of skin that quickly burns in the sun, then you can prepare the skin in a solarium. Two or three minutes is enough,” says Ilgiza Romanova.
- Before visiting a solarium, consult your doctor
It is better to remove suspicious moles in advance, because under the influence of UV rays they can develop into neoplasms. In addition, many antidepressants, antibiotics, painkillers and retinoids prohibit tanning.
- Prepare for a visit to the solarium
On the eve of the session, do not go to the bathhouse or spa, or swim in the pool, so as not to deprive the skin of its natural protection. Buy a special moisturizer for tanning beds and apply it all over your skin. Sun tanning products are not suitable. Remove jewelry and wash off makeup.
- Find out more about how tanning is harmful to your skin.
The risk of developing melanoma increases by 75% after just one year of regular use of a tanning bed. Tanning changes the skin, dries it out, accelerates the aging process, and provokes pigmentation.
Pros and cons of solariums
The main advantage of a solarium is its efficiency. The tan will appear in 3-4 sessions. The uniform golden hue hides skin imperfections.
If you overdo it with a solarium, then its disadvantages immediately become obvious: hyperpigmentation, the risk of developing skin cancer, rapid aging. Weigh all the pros and cons and make the right decision.
Are there any contraindications
Although quick tanning is suitable even for sensitive skin, in rare cases it can cause an allergic reaction. It is best to do a simple allergy test first. To do this, it will be enough to apply a bronzing agent to a small area of skin and wait for the reaction. If no rashes appear on the skin within half an hour, you can safely begin the procedure itself. If a reaction occurs, the specialist will need to select a bronzing agent with a different composition for you.
Also, the instant tanning procedure is not recommended for people suffering from skin diseases (for example, psoriasis). If you have any inflammation on your skin, it is also not advisable to do the procedure unless you want to get harmed from an instant tan.
What do real reviews say?
Unfortunately, practice shows that this miracle remedy is not without its drawbacks. Not very enthusiastic reviews indicate that reed tanning is significantly inferior to natural:
- the product is washed off quickly and unevenly;
- there may be unpainted stripes where the underwear touches the skin;
- instant tan leaves noticeable marks on clothes;
- skin pores become clogged, giving the body an unkempt appearance;
- The skin retains an unpleasant odor for a long time after using the product.
The extent to which negative reviews are believable can only be judged by personal experience. Small flaws are more than compensated by the opportunity to look fresh and young at important moments in life. It’s not for nothing that tanning without the sun came to us from Hollywood, because there youth and sexuality have always been a priority. And, perhaps, in the near future, the procedure will supplant solariums, where beauty requires too much sacrifice.
How long does instant tan last?
It is impossible to give a definite answer, since everything here is quite individual. On average, the effect of a reed tan lasts up to ten days . The reason is that the bronzing composition that the master applies does not penetrate deeply. Therefore, the reed tan washes off quickly enough.
Of course, you can prolong the effect of reed tanning if you follow all the recommendations, but even under these conditions it is difficult to say that the effect will last longer. The thing is that each skin type has its own characteristics. For example, if you are the happy owner of smooth and even skin, any tan, including reed tan, will last much longer. If you have dry, problematic skin, the tan will go away in just a few days. This is why it is so important to exfoliate and exfoliate your skin well shortly before visiting the salon.
Your hormonal background also affects the duration of a quick tan, because, as you know, the condition of your skin largely depends on this factor. So if you want to see the effect of visiting a quick tanning procedure for as long as possible, try to monitor your health.
Health effects
Spray tanning is safer than sunbathing, which due to ultraviolet radiation increases the likelihood of developing skin cancer, as well as burns or stroke.
The action of self-tanning products is based on reactions caused in the skin by the active substance - DHA, dihydroxyacetone (not to be confused with omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid). This is the simplest ketone compound, which is a normal product of metabolism in cells.
DHA (dihydroacetone), used in cosmetics and popular for artificial tanning, is made from vegetable glycerin, which is subjected to acetic fermentation using the bacteria Gluconobacter oxydans. The preparations contain from 1 to 15 percent of this ratio.
The skin darkening process of DHA reacts with keratin proteins on the surface of the skin to produce pigments called melanoidins, similar to those produced by ultraviolet rays. The reaction that occurs, called the Maillard reaction, is the same as when grilling meat or baking bread.
Although the European Scientific Committee for Consumer Safety (SCCS) issued a statement in 2010 that DHA is used in concentrations not exceeding 10 percent and that DHA is safe for health, unfortunately, newer research does not support this.
The Food and Drug Administration has approved DHA to be applied only to the skin, not to areas such as the eyes, mouth, nose, and mucous membranes. Meanwhile, the use of this compound in spray form causes it to come into contact with these parts of the body because they do not have proper protection. It is not enough to close your eyes - in addition to protective glasses, you should wear a mask to protect your respiratory tract or nose plugs during the procedure. Since the face is also tanned, such protection is not used; it is only recommended to hold your breath and apply a rich balm to your lips.
Why self-tanning is bad for your health
Contrary to previous assumptions, it penetrates living cells deep into the epidermis and dermis, which is about 10 percent.
How to prepare for the procedure
In order for the skin to acquire an even shade and the tan to remain on the skin for as long as possible, you should properly prepare for the glamping procedure.
- It is recommended to carry out depilation 1-2 days in advance.
- Perform laser or regular peeling to remove the top layer of dead cells. If it is a scrub, then it should not contain oils. In this case, the lotion will spread evenly and for a longer period of time onto the skin.
- It is not recommended to use creams and lotions the day before, so as not to clog the skin pores. This can reduce the penetration of the spray into the epidermis.
- Do not use alcohol lotions or other products containing chemical components.
- Moisturizers should not be used before the procedure.
- If you plan glamping in the morning, you need to shower in the evening. If you are painting in the evening, it is recommended to take a shower in the morning. In this case, you cannot use gels and soaps.
- The skin should be clean and free of cosmetics. On the face you can apply eyelashes and lips.
If menstruation has begun, it is better to reschedule the session until it ends. Coloring may be uneven due to the characteristics of the body during menstrual periods.
Auto-bronzants in the form of creams and lotions for the skin
Good for home use. And also cases if you urgently need to “tan” one part of your body - say, bluish-white legs after a long winter, when spring comes and girls put on light summer dresses, but there is still too little sun outside for their legs to tan naturally way. Or before a vacation , if it is planned to go to the sea - so as not to go out in a swimsuit with very milky skin.
The most natural way, if we talk about products for home use, is to apply sprays . Distributing lotions, creams, mousses and gels evenly and deftly will require repeated practice. And for hard-to-reach places (back) - also the hands of an assistant.
Skin care after the procedure
Immediately after applying the product, you do not need to wear tight clothes or engage in strong physical activity.
You can shower 8 hours after applying tan. The first time it is better not to use gels and soaps. The use of a washcloth is strictly prohibited.
After showering, you can apply moisturizer.
The tan color will appear 8-10 hours after the procedure.
In the future, it is recommended to use moisturizers 2 times a day.
In order for an eco-tan to last for a longer period of time, you should not use scrubs, hard washcloths, swim in a pool or salt water, or visit a sauna or bathhouse.
Autobronzant - painting the skin a tan color
The meaning of bronzers (or auto-bronzants , self-tanning , since a person most often applies them himself, in relation to his own body) or tannings (from the English “tan” - “tan”), to put it simply, is to color the skin quite persistently , simulating a natural tan . Which, unlike the natural one:
- will stay on the skin from 1 week to 3 (usually 7-14 days),
- eliminates the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays on the skin,
- additionally cares for the skin, since most often auto-bronzant is a cream or lotion,
- does not increase the risk of developing hyperpigmentation (freckles, age spots), skin cancer,
- will allow you to achieve the intensity of tanning that you need.
Everything new, as they say, is “well forgotten old.” Gone are the auto-bronzants of the first generations, which made the skin instead of golden brown a cheerful carrot color, and in inept hands even spotted, “leopard-like.” Progress does not stand still. The formulas are being improved . Application methods are being improved . What seemed unattainable just yesterday is today a fait accompli.
How to maintain shade
When you know what an instant tan is, how long it lasts and why it is needed, you can figure out how to maintain it for a long time. First of all, it is worth saying that in the cold season you do not need to wear too warm items of clothing, because excess sweating contributes to the disappearance of the dark color from the skin.
In addition, a tan made in this way does not tolerate saunas, peelings and other similar procedures. Those with an instant tan will have to postpone such procedures for a while, otherwise the beautiful dark shade will not last more than two weeks.
During the cold season, the tan lasts better because sweating is reduced. Therefore, most masters and already experienced clients recommend doing this procedure in winter.
What to do before visiting the salon
The day before visiting the salon or performing the procedure yourself at home, you must carefully prepare for an instant tan. For 24 hours, it is prohibited to use body creams, perfumes and all kinds of moisturizers.
To ensure that the dye is absorbed as much as possible, experts recommend doing laser peeling right before the main procedure. Thanks to this, the tan will lie more evenly, and there will be less product left unabsorbed.
Fake tan. Which way is better?
| Instant tan | Self tanning | Solarium |
| Advantages | ||
| — achieving results in the shortest possible time; — safety for physical health; - no pain when applied; — the shade lasts up to fourteen days; — for people who have contraindications for sun exposure, the only way to give a beautiful shade to their body; — the substance for applying an instant tan contains an extract from sugar cane, which helps the interaction of the coloring substance with the outer layer of the skin | — Several convenient packages (spray, cream, lotion and wipes); — Evens out skin tone; — The effect lasts up to 7 days. | — Activates the production of vitamin D and serotonin; — Using this method is useful for people with skin diseases. |
| Flaws | ||
| — restriction of visits to baths, saunas, swimming pools, etc.; - during the first few hours after applying the lotion, clothes become dirty; - lotions used to give an attractive shade to a woman’s body can emit an unpleasant odor. | - dries the skin due to dihydroxyacetone and alcohols included in the product; - may cause an allergic reaction - aging of the skin (clogs the pores and they do not breathe); - spots and stains from uneven distribution. | - reduces skin firmness and elasticity; — possible burns, pigmentation; - has many contraindications. Contraindications for visiting a solarium : 1. Presence of moles, age spots; 2. Diseases of the thyroid gland, nervous system, diabetes mellitus, gynecological diseases, as well as operations; 3. Neoplasms and heredity; 4. Allergy to ultraviolet radiation; 5. Carrying out procedures that damage or polish the skin; 6. When taking antibiotics, hormonal medications and contraceptives; 7. Breastfeeding babies; 8. Critical days. |
