Spray tanning: A safer substitute to sun tanning

Searching for a safe way to achieve that radiant glow this summer? Instead of hitting the tanning bed or roasting in the sun’s harmful rays, try a sunless spray tan at your local spa. It’s quick, painless, and most of all, a healthy alternative when it comes to achieving that sun-kissed look.

A recent visit to Brazil Bronze Glow Bar had me doing just that. Set in Manhattan’s trendy Soho neighborhood, the spa specializes in custom spray tanning and counts celebs among its clientele, airbrushing certain stars before major award shows.

Photo Courtesy of Yves Rocher

Behind a heavy, Moroccan-type curtain, my treatment began with a brief consultation with Joy, my airbrush tanning specialist and spa owner/manager, to decide which shade would best suit my skin tone. Joy was professional, laidback, and her sunny demeanor put me instantly at ease (a plus, seeing as how I was going to be standing in the buff in front of her within five minutes of our introduction!) Under her recommendation, I opted for a light to medium tan, which would create a natural look.

After handing me disposable spa underwear, a set of stick-on adhesive pads for my feet, and a shower cap (advised for clients with light hair), Joy coated my fingernails with Vaseline and expertly began to mist me from head to toe. She was extremely thorough in explaining the process of the spray tan service, talking me through step-by-step—how to stand, when to turn, what way to position my face and chin so she could contour my cheekbones and jawline, etc. Within minutes, I was fanning myself in a private adjoining room to dry before departing with a glow like I had just returned from an island getaway.

Can’t get to the spa? Try another quick (and also harmless!) method of sunless tanning.