Frequently Asked Questions - Custom Airbrush Tanning

---

A: We offer mobile and in salon services. Our salon is located at 207 East Main Street, Middleville Michigan 49333. Mobile appointments can be booked wherever you'd like, such as your home, apartment, hotel, etc. 

A: For mobile tans, we bring everything we need to you! There is no mess and no stress involved, meaning the only way you know The Sandbar was there is by your beautifully tanned skin! The prices on our website reflect our base mobile prices, mileage may apply as well. Every mobile tan includes a complimentary 10 mile radius (20 miles round trip), and then miles outside of that radius is 50 cents/ mile each way. For example, a tan that is 50 miles from the salon would be charged $40 for that additional travel. This mileage charge can be split among parties if a group is tanning in one location. 

Please refer to our 'Tan Tips' tab! This includes all the details and will walk you through step by step on how to get the best results!

A: We will typically recommend that you shouldn't receive a spray tan if you have been burnt within the last 4 weeks. Sunburnt skin has been damaged by harmful UV rays, and when you spray the affected area, you will likely peel (even if you already have peeled from the burn) and this will make your tan uneven and look worse than even the peeling and sunburn does on it's own.

A: Every tanning solution on the market which requires you to wait to shower and see your final results is made with an ingredient called Dihydroxyacetone (DHA). DHA is a colorless sugar, synthesized from sugar beet and sugar cane, which reacts with amino acids in the skin cells of the upper and outermost layers of your skin. This reaction results in a color change, which is where the tan on your skin occurs. 

Most solutions have a cosmetic bronzer which shower what the tan will look like once it's finally developed, but in some cases, your tanning artist may choose to use a solution with no cosmetic bronzer. When a clear tanning solution is used, you still follow the same instructions for aftercare, you will just gradually get darker, rather than being tan immediately.   

There are some solutions that do not have DHA in them, but these will all be washable tans, where the tan is just a cosmetic bronzer, and will wash off with your first shower post-application. 

A: The short answer? No. The long answer? It is our job as a tanning professional to ensure we do our best to ensure your tan is ALWAYS flawless and perfect. We will give you all the information that you could ever need to be prepared to take care of your tan, which includes how to prep, when to shower, what products to use, etc. When we give you very specific instructions, you are to 100000% follow them. For instance, if you are told to shower in 8-12 hours with a regular tan, and you decide to leave it on for 24 hours, we cannot guarantee and over-processed and unfavorable color won't develop on your skins' surface. Just listen to your professional and you'll be a glowing goddess minus the orange! 

A: Yes. We just require men to wear a covering of some sort during the tanning process, such as boxer briefs or swim trunks. 

A: Yes. We do require a parent or guardian be present at the time of your appointment, and they will be required to sign the client consent form. 

A: Pregnant or nursing women should consult their physician prior to making an appointment. Women that are in their first trimester are not recommended to be sprayed. Airbrush tanning is not normally contraindicated when a mask or nose filters are used, but each pregnancy is different. Your medical care provider prefer a more cautious approach based on your specific needs and health concerns. 

A: At this time, appointments are required. Walk in appointments cannot be accommodated. 

A: Typically 7-10 days. Millions of dead skin cells are sloughed off and worn away from the surface of our skin on a daily basis. These dead skin cells are the cells that are turning tan in the reaction when DHA is applied to your skin. Every 35-45 days, we have an entirely new epidermis. This is why our tans-whether from the sun or from a sunless tanning spray or product application will fade over time. Exfoliating prior to your tan and hydrating and moisturizing after your tan will help your bronzed skin stay longer. 

A: During the spray tanning process, women are allowed to wear whatever they'd like. Meaning you can completely nude, wear some sort of bottom covers, bikini, bra/panty set, etc. Please just keep in mind that whatever you decide to wear will create tan lines. The solution that will get on the attire you wear during the spray tan should wash right out, but in some cases some staining may occur. We recommend wear more cotton based, black fabrics. 

Men are required to wear a cover of some sort on the areas below the waist. Services will be refused if this requirement is not followed. 

A: We recommend clients wear loose fitting, dark clothing. The more skin coverage, the better such as a loose sweatshirt and sweatpants. We also recommend loose and open toed shoes. You want to stay comfortable and cool as you are developing and waiting to complete your rinse at the designated time. 

PLEASE: no leggings, jeans, sports bras, tank tops, etc. 

Dress weather appropriate, and keep in mind that you will want to cover your skin and protect it if it is raining. 

A: You can have transfer of the bronzing solution while you're developing which is why we recommend wearing loose fitting, cark clothing while your develop. 

After you have done your initial rinse and your first full shower, you should not have any of the cosmetic bronzer left on your skin, which is the only part of the tan that should be coming off onto your clothes. Because the bronzer can transfer, we recommend getting a tan 1-2 days before you actually need it so you have the appropriate time to shower. 

A: The actual tanning process only takes about 20 minutes. You'll expect to be in and out of the salon in 30 minutes total. If you have booked a mobile appointment, expect the service to be done within 30-45 minutes with set up and break down of equipment. 

A: Your spray tan technician will give you a specific time frame of when they would like you to shower to receive ideal results. The initial rinse time for a rapid tan is typically 1-4 hours, whereas a regular tan is 8-12 hours. Your first full shower will be in 24 hours from the time of your appointment regardless of regular or rapid times.

During this initial development time, are to remain as dry as possible. No sweating, swimming, showering, working out, lotions, or liquid foundations on the skin until after you've taken the initial rinse. If you have pets, please try to make sure they do not lick you (yes this is a thing). 

A: Hydrating and moisturizing before and after you get your tan is critical for a long lasting tan. Without a quality moisturizer and drinking enough water, your tan will fade quicker, and will likely fade unevenly. We recommend picking up out Sandbar Sunless Hydrating Body Wash and Sandbar Sunless Moisturizing Body Butter at your tanning appointment to ensure you're not using bath and body products that may strip your tan. 

You can also use our Sandbar Sunless 3-in-1 Gradual Tanning Lotion after day 3 to extend your tan up to 2-3 weeks longer when applied regularly. For faces, we recommend using our Sandbar Sunless Face Tanning Water, especially if you wash your face 1-2 times daily!

A: NO! Please always use an SPF at all times when getting any from of sun exposure. Spray tans cannot prevent a sunburn, which is important to also keep in mind when you are trying to regularly tan. We cannot tan over a burn that is still healing, up to 4 weeks post-burn.