Nothing quite beats that sun-kissed, tanned, summer skin. We would all love to achieve that perfect summer glow (preferably year-round!), however these days we know a lot more about the potential damage prolonged exposure to sunlight can cause.
With all that we now know about skin cancer, melanomas and not to mention the uncomfortable risk of sunburn, we tend to look to other, much safer ways of tanning.
Once upon a time, solariums were thought to be the key. However research soon proved that the UV light from solariums were also a skin cancer risk. In fact the UV light emitted from solariums could be up to six times greater than natural sunlight, and were linked to many cases of skin cancer. So on the 1 January 2015, the use of solariums were banned in Australia.
But don’t despair! Whilst tanning in the sun is just not worth the risk, there are many other different ways of achieving that sun drenched summer skin that we all tend to desire. Sunless tanning is the answer!
So how do you get a tan without the sun? Professional spray tans or airbrush tans are usually your best bet to achieving the perfect tan for you.
Many salons offer automatic spray tan booths, where you simply undress, stand in a box or booth, and an automatic spray of colour is discharged all over you. These sessions are the perfect option for those of us wanting a quick, simple, fuss free, full body tan.
An air brush tan generally involves standing in a spray booth, whilst an experienced tanning specialist manually sprays a tanning solution all over you. This often achieves great results, as the tanning operator can customise the spray tan to your individual body and needs. It can however take slightly longer and be slightly more expensive – but the results are often well worth it!
There are a wide variety of professional sunless tanning products, in a wide range of different shades, to help you achieve your perfect summer tan.
Different salons will offer different options. These include rapid tan applications – where tanning spray is applied, and washed off within 1 – 2 hours for quick results. Other tanning solutions take a bit longer to develop, commonly 4 – 12 hours before being washed off.
Skin sensitivities are generally well catered for these days, with a range of gentle, organic and natural ingredients which are less likely to cause irritation. Always talk to your salon professional about which products are best for you.
A wide range of different shades or colours can also be applied, ranging from the slightest, lightest sun-kissed glow, to darker, heavier shades for an unmistakeable rich dark tan. Which you choose will depend on your natural skin tones and your preferences. If in doubt – lighter is always a good starting point. You can always go darker next time!
There are a wide variety of do-it-yourself at home tanning products. These come in the form of sprays, lotions, gels or mousse. Care must be taken however, as they can very easily go wrong. Streaking or unevenness can occur, and no one likes the dreaded fake tan orange tinge that quite often results.
Take care to seek out the most appropriate products for you, follow the instructions to a tee, and proceed with caution. If you have an important event coming up – it might be best to leave tanning to the pros!
So if you are after the perfect summer tan, no matter what time of year, without risk to your health, BookWell can help you find the perfect tanning salon in your local area. Stay healthy and look fantastic with sunless tanning!
