Sunday, July 13, 2008

Spray tanning (long post)

I decided to try out spray (airbrush) tanning yesterday. I have my first shower today (Sunday) and thought I might as well try it out for that. I went to a place in St. Charles recommended by a few ladies on the boards. A couple owns the tanning salon, and the wife does the spray tanning.

I was SUPER dark when I left. It was pretty funny, actually. My teeth looked insanely white! They told me not to be alarmed at the color, because the top layer will wash off. It just helps them see where they've sprayed. It was funny to look at my pale skin that wasn't sprayed right next to the super dark tan.

Some of it did come off on my clothes. I was warned, though, and brought some old clothes I didn't care about with me. Make sure if you go, wear loose fitting clothing after. It will help the tan not to come off.

This morning I took a shower, approximately 16 hours after I was sprayed. A lot of color did come off, as they told me it would. I'm definitely tanner (which isn't hard, since I'm pretty fair skinned). It looks a little dark to me, but I think that's because I'm so used to being so fair. I haven't been even slightly tan in a LONG time! (My aunt and cousin who haven't seen me in several months - so they aren't as used to my super pale skin - liked the color and said it looked natural.)

My favorite part is my legs. I've been wearing some dresses and skirts lately, because they fit my body better than pants right now (due to my hips being significantly larger than my waist). Well, my legs pretty much never see sun, so they were even paler than the rest of me. I LOVE that they're tan now!

They even sprayed my face. My dad (and 2 aunts, nana, and cousin) stopped by this morning so my cousin could see my house. He commented that it looked liked I had a lot of make-up on. I don't have any more than usual. I think it just looks that way to him since my face is tanner than normal. (Plus, my mom doesn't wear make-up, so he's used to that.)

I'm curious to see how it fades in the next few days. I'm thinking maybe if I go on the Wednesday before, it will be a little faded by Saturday, but I'll still have some color. I'm going to try to remember to take photos so that I can see how it fades. I wouldn't go any later in the week than Thursday before the wedding, but that could leave me a little too dark.

Overall, I think it was a success. I'm pretty sure I'm going to do the spray tan either at this place in St. Charles or a place near West County Mall a few days before the wedding. I just don't want to look like a ghost in pictures with my pale skin and white dress!

Here are some pictures of before (super pale), right after (super tan!), and one day after (still pretty tan).



A few weeks ago after I lightened my hair.


Random before shot - I think I was looking at how my bangs looked on different sides...

Right after I got home. (Pardon the awful hair. I wasn't really doing anything important, so I just let it air dry and had it up in a ponytail. I wanted to see how it looked with my lighter hair color, so I let it down. Also, no make-up since I had just gotten back from being sprayed.)



Don't you love the blue painter's tape in the background? :-) We only got half the hallway painted. The tape is still up for the other half. Hopefully that will get done next weekend, along with the staining of the deck.


Two close ups right after I got home.


These are from Saturday, after I had taken a shower and the top layer of color washed off. I know I still look quite tan. I think the photos from Friday (right after) don't show quite how dark I was.

15 comments:

Jamie said...

You look good (sprayed) tan!!! Also, I know you posted it before but I love the new highlighted hair...where did you go for the spray? And was it weird having an actual person do it?

Anonymous said...

It looks good!

Tan looks great on you!

Anonymous said...

Oh my gosh Aimee, you look like a completely different person. Between the tan and the light hair, you look like a California girl. ;) Love the tan - it looks really good on you.

Julia Goolia said...

I really like it, Aimee! I think it looks very natural even though it seems like a big adjustment for you. Just be careful that it doesn't rub off on your dress! :)

Jennelle said...

I think it looks great--not unnatural at all. I agree with going maybe the Wednesday before the wedding. I never like how I look right after a fake tan, either.

seberu said...

Thank you so much for the review! I think the color looks really good. I'm going to have to give this a try. What did you wear when they sprayed you? I'm trying to decide whether to go nakers or not.

Aimee said...

Glad you found the review helpful, Maggie! I wore underwear and a bra. The place I went requires you to wear something on the bottom - no going completely nude. I wore an old bra that really need to be thrown out anyway. :-) I folded the straps in so that I wouldn't have lines on my shoulders. It worked well! Just make sure if you wear anything, that's it's something you don't care about. It will be ruined.

Aimee said...

The only problem I had with the tan rubbing off on my clothes was right after. I brought old clothes with me to change into, though. I didn't care if they were ruined. The tan didn't rub off on my pillowcase or sheets or come off on my clothes on Saturday or Sunday. Yeah! :-)

Aimee said...

Thanks Kristal! :-) I think I look good with a bit of color, too. My mom and I both have the same color hair (well, mine's a little lighter now) and brown eyes, but she has olive skin and tans really easily. I just got my dad's pale skin. I think my sister looks good with pale skin, but I look better a little tanner.

It's going to be really tempting to keep going throughout the summer, rather than just for the wedding!!

Aimee said...

Jamie - I went to a place called Sun Rays in St. Charles. It was a little odd having someone spray me. That's why I wore a bra this time. It seemed so odd to be topless right in front of a total stranger! I know she's seen it before, but still! I'm still SUPER self conscious about my thighs/hips because I'm having a hard time losing there. It made me feel less self-conscious after, though, when I was leaving and saw a lady at least in her 50s and heavier waiting to be sprayed. :-)

Teresa said...

Aimee, the tan looks good, but you look great! You are definately still losing a lot of weight!!! You should be so proud of yourself, I can really tell a difference!

Aimee said...

Thanks, Teresa! Sometimes it gets hard to see the changes in yourself, so it helps to know that others see them! :-)

Maria said...

Aimee, the tan looks fantastic on you! I'm glad it worked out so well.

andrea said...

Aimee-
You look amazing!

Sarah Ring said...

Like the tan! Love your blog!

I found you via the Weddings By Socialites blog. We share the same wedding date!

Just thought I would say hello!

Sincerely,
Sarah
http://jeunemarie.blogspot.com/