What Is Contouring on Spray Tans?
Spray-on tans and contouring make-up used to be the sole province of Hollywood, but that is no longer true. Safer ingredients and smaller, more mobile equipment have not only made this luxury more widely available, refinements in technique have made it even more attractive. With the right technician, you can now have your body contoured to highlight those hard-won muscles and disguise a few places that still need a little work. Does this Spark an idea?
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Spray Tans in General
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Most spray tans contain a chemical called dihydroxyacetone (DHA), which has been approved by the FDA for cosmetic use. It's not a stain or a dye. DHA reacts chemically with the dead skin cells on the surface of your body, turning them dark.
Body Contouring
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Body contouring a spray tan involves a technician using several different pigments to highlight areas that you want to stand out and "shadow" the ones that you want to recede.
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Pros of Body Contouring Spray Tans
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Glowing golden skin looks healthier, and while more studies are needed, so far no adverse effects have been found from the use of spray-on tans. Spray tans have none of the aging or potentially cancerous side effects of old-fashioned, bake-in-the-sun tans.
Cons of Body Contouring Spray Tans
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Some people do react adversely to the DHA in sunless tanners, causing itchy an itchy rash. If you have never had a spray tan, have a small area of your skin tanned and wait 24 hours for a reaction before having your whole body done.
Custom tans are very expensive. As of September 2009, they cost between $50 and $150 per session. They don't last any longer than an at-home do-it-yourself sunless tan. They can only do so much, however. A contoured spray tan can enhance an athletic body, but no amount of contouring is going to hide more than a few extra pounds, and you can't airbrush cellulite away.
Contoured spray tans (and regular spray tans) are not for the overly modest, because you must be unclothed in front of a stranger who will be spraying your entire body.
Where to Get a Contoured Spray Tan
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Spray-on tans are available at many salons, and even in mobile booths at parks, public pools and beaches. Not all of them offer contoured spray tans, though, so call your local tanning salon to be sure they have an experienced technician before you book your appointment.
Maintaining Your Contoured Spray Tan
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To make your contoured spray on tan last longer, exfoliate before you go to the salon, and do not exfoliate again until you are ready to have your tan refreshed. Do not shower or go in salt water or chlorine for at least 12 hours after the contoured tan is applied.
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- Photo Credit Image courtesy of Charliep80 on Photobucket.
