Spray tans are all the rage nowadays. With so much negativity surrounding the repercussions of UV tanning, people are looking for other ways to get that silky smooth skin glow.
Spray tans are the answer for many people.
As a spray paint artist myself, I wondered how a tan can be achieved by the method of “spraying” rather than long sessions out in the sun. Here’s what I’ve found out from my research:
Spray tans color your skin using a chemical called DHA (Dihydroxyacetone). A solution containing DHA is sprayed evenly onto the skin and left for several hours. The DHA reacts with the proteins in the outer layer of your skin. This reaction creates melanoidin which creates a natural darkening of the skin.
This article is about how a spray tan colors your skin, the chemical reaction that spray tans produce, how spray tans are applied, and some information on the long-term effects of spray tanning.
What Makes a Spray Tan Color your Skin
A spray tan is not a real tan. In real tanning, the UV rays from the sun stimulate your skin cells which produce melanin as protection.
The melanin is what colors your skin in actual tanning.
Spray tans use DHA to color the skin, Therefore, it is actually an “artificial” tan. DHA is a 3-carbon sugar which makes it react well with the amino acids (protein) in human skin and produces melanoidin.
Melanoidin is what colors your skin in spray tanning.
People figured out decades ago that if you apply DHA to the skin in an even layer, the resulting melanoidin reaction can produce a coloration that mimics the effects of actual tanning.
How Long it Takes for DHA to Work
DHA doesn’t actually have any coloring properties. The skin coloration from DHA comes from the reaction it produces with the skin.
Therefore, you have to leave the spray tan on your skin and wait for a while after application for the DHA to produce color.
DHA will start to color your skin 1 hour after application. However full coloration will happen after 5 – 24 hours of spray tan application. The length of time that it takes for full spray tan coloration depends on the spray tan solution, and the person’s skin type.
Once the spray tan solution is applied, it is common practice to leave it on and get dressed.
You can then go about your day while the DHA does its thing.
After about 24 hours of wearing the spray tan solution on your skin, you can wash it off in the shower and a nice bronzed look will remain.
How Spray Tans are Applied
Spray tans are applied using a spray tan machine. The purpose of the machine is to produce a fine mist that can evenly coat the skin with DHA-containing solution.
Spray tan machines are made up of:
- HVLP Compressor
- Hose
- Spray Nozzle
The HVLP (high volume, low pressure) compressor uses an electric-powered turbine to atomize the spray tan solution. This kind of fluid atomization results in less overspray and a finer mist than other types of atomization.
Atomization is the process of breaking down fluids into tiny airbourne droplets using pressure, air, electrostaic charge, or centrifugal force.
ARTICLE: How an Airbrush Works
The hose connects the compressor with the spray nozzle.
The spray nozzle delivers the atomized spray solution onto the skin. The user then maneuvers the nozzle by hand to make sure that every surface of the skin is covered with the spray tan mist.
This video gives a great tutorial on how a spray tan is applied using a handheld spray tan nozzle.
Spray tan Booths and Automatic Spray Tan Applications
Spray tans are usually applied using a spray tanning booth. Spray tanning booths protect from getting tanning solution overspray on the surrounding area.
ARTICLE: How Spray Tan Booths Work
Some spray tan booths have automatic spray nozzles built-in. This allows the user to simply step inside the booth, and position their body while the nozzles cover them with spray tan solution.
This video gives an excellent look at how an automatic spray tan booth works.
What are the Long Term Effects of Spray Tanning
Spray tans using DHA last for about 7 – 10 days. However, they can have some long-term side effects.
Some studies suggest that DHA releases free radicals in its melanoidin-producing reaction.
Free radicals can damage your skin cells and result in premature skin aging – showing up as sagging skin and pronounced lines.
Therefore, DHA solutions used for spray tanning are probably better than sun tanning but still not risk-free.
You can use antioxidants to combat the aging effects of free radicals on the skin
In closing, spray tans work pretty much how it sounds – you spray on a solution that gives you a tan.
The less known fact is that it’s actually a chemical reaction that gives your skin color. The key to using DHA as a skin pigmenting agent is even application – if the DHA doesn’t apply to the skin evenly, you risk getting a streaky tan.
This is where a spray tan shines. The HVLP compressor and spray nozzle make it possible to get the even glow that you want.
Keeping the possible long-term side effects in mind, spray tanning is a great way to avoid the much worse effects of actual tanning and still get the look you want.
