The art of the wedding day spray tan
WRITTEN BY: Tara MacKay
Spray tans have now become a major essential in achieving the perfect bridal look right alongside makeup and hair.
Airbrush Tanning is definitely having its moment. Thanks to modern trends and amazing advancements in the “Sunless” industry airbrush tanning keeps getting better and better. Thankfully people are far more skin conscious so gone are the days of baking in the damaging rays or tanning in a bed. No one wants to ruin their skin and accelerate the aging process, so why take the risk.
For years, and even still to this day, the stigma around fake tans was that they’d turn you orange - which sucked! While that might have been the case once upon a time, thanks to many options on the market now (many of which can be customized to every skin tone imaginable) the odds of turning the dreaded orange are very slim (well, as long as you're seeing a professional who knows how to color match you correctly).
While good spray tans are thankfully pretty easy to come by, wedding spray tans are a totally different ballgame. They’re special, they’re timeless, and they have to be absolutely perfect.
Think about it, your wedding pictures will be looked back at for years to come and the last thing you want to see in those photos is a bride who's clashing with her groom or worse, a bride who stands out as a totally other shade to her entire wedding party. That’s why it’s so important to find a spray tan specialist who specializes in weddings and can get you that perfect natural looking glow that will leave you looking believably flawless and jar-droopingly healthy.
While it’s great to have the tan covered for yourself, it’s also not uncommon these days to have an entire bridal party, along with the groom, all get a glow-on together. Imagine, one big gang of radiant humans - it’d be epic!
In my experience with tanning brides and wedding parties, the biggest request is "I just want to look glowy in my pictures". That in “Spray Tan Tech” terms generally equates to using a light solution formulated with a low DHA percentage (the ingredient that tans you).
Whenever a bride reaches out to me I always suggest a trial a month or two before the wedding and to gauge how they feel about their tan each day following. I like to know what their dress looks like in respect to color (whether it be stark white, off white, ivory etc.), the style and how much skin will be showing. If their hair will be worn up or down... all those things are taken into consideration when I'm applying a bridal tan. I then tell them to take plenty of pictures in natural lighting wearing white to test and see how their tan will look in photos.
Photographer: Erwin Loewen | Model: Stephanie | Dress: Dando London
It's a great idea to sync up your tan trial with your makeup and hair trial.
A good rule of thumb is to schedule your spray tan trial a couple days ahead of your makeup trial. That way you can see how your tan will play with your makeup application. I tend to spray the face a little lighter than the body because makeup application usually includes the use of bronzer and I don't like the face to look too harshly tanned. We don't want your tan to take away from makeup application, we want it to enhance it. Most clients seem to like the look of their tan best on day 2. That is when the cosmetic bronzer component of the spray tan has been washed off and the tan has had time to fully settle/develop and the client has been able to soap shower and moisturize.
Tara’s Top Tanning Tips:
Proper prep is the MOST important part of achieving a flawless application. Your result is only as good as your prep.
Do pedicures and manicures before your Spray Tan.
Waxing or shaving and exfoliation MUST be done a minimum of 24 hours prior to your tanning appointment. You need to allow enough time in between your prep and spray session for your skin to return to its natural pH level. Ideally you want to be regularly exfoliating starting a month or two before your wedding.
It's also imperative that the skin be clear of any old tanner or products that can leave an oily residue behind which could block your spray tan from developing evenly.
You may water shower on the day of your spray session (preferably at least 4 hours prior to your appointment) but I always suggest to finish that shower with a cold water rinse to close the pores.
If you have excessively dry skin you can apply a very light amount of oil free lotion at this time to areas such as elbows, knees, hands and feet/heels. Giving the lotion adequate time to absorb before being sprayed. I love the St. Tropez prep and maintain lotion and Vita Liberata post tan moisture boost for this purpose.
Hydration plays a very important role as well. In the days leading up to your session drink plenty of water to keep your skin plump and hydrated from within.
Moisturize your skin religiously with an oil free lotion up to the point of your exfoliation and shaving/waxing prep.
In the days after your tan you want to be doing the same. Using an oil free lotion will not only extend the life of your tan but also make your skin appear more smooth and glowing and healthy.
Now that you've achieved your perfect wedding day glow and your big day has arrived, a little tip I like to give is to use a talc free powder under any snug areas of your dress that may rub against your skin. For example under your bra strap if you're wearing one. Under the armpit area, under your breasts, lower back. Generally any area that you may have perspiration. This ensures that you stay nice and dry and don't run the risk of tan rubbing off on your dress.
When all is said and done my end goal is to make you feel the most beautiful in your skin. If a tan can help you feel a little more confident on one of the biggest days of your life, why not go for it! When done professionally and correctly, it will definitely help put that little extra pep in your step when you're sashaying down the aisle!
Cover Photo by: Erwin Loewen | www.erwinloewen.com | @ErwinLoewen
Model: Stephanie | @Monacoad
Dress: Dando London | www.dandolondon.com | @DandoLondon
Tan Provided by: Tara MacKay | Sunless Touch Tan | @SunlessTouchTan
