Monday, June 25, 2012

How To Avoid Your Tan From Fading Blotchy

“Why is my sunless tan fading Blotchy?” It’s a question we have all heard more than once in our careers as sunless technicians. Before answering this question it is important to understand how the browning affect with solution takes place. The active ingredient in sunless solutions (DHA also known as Dihydroxyacetone) works with the amino acids on the skin and air to create the brown appearance.

Example: If you take a bite out of an apple and leave it for a while the acids in the apple combine with air to create a natural reaction resulting in a browning affect. This reaction is similar to what takes place with the DHA, air and the amino acids on your client’s skin. The solution absorbs into the skin cells and the air activates the solution creating the appearance of a tan.

Proper skin preparation is very important. Removing loose, dead, dry skin cells will prevent an un-even application of sunless solution and will improve and extend your tanning results.

Skin preparation and application technique will determine the end result. There are a few scenarios a technician can explore if their client has a sunless tan fading:

1.)  The client did not properly prepare for their airbrush tan. The purpose of exfoliating prior to a sunless session is to remove the loose dead skin cells that naturally shed from the body every four weeks. That means twenty-five percent of our skin is exfoliated away every seven days. Once these skin cells slough away, your sunless tan gradually fades. Remove as many dead skin cells as you can prior to receiving your airbrush tan treatment. If solution is applied over any loose cells, the sunless tan will shed off pre-maturely in those areas leaving a patchy result.

How to properly exfoliate: Keep it simple. We recommend using a regular washcloth, loofa, or exfoliating mitt and body wash to exfoliate the skin. The fibers found in most washcloths are perfect to loosen and gently remove tired, dry skin. We recommend our natural exfoliating sugar scrub. Make sure to rinse off thoroughly be any residue may prevent the tanning solution from penetrating. Scrubbing hard can damage healthy skin.

2.)  The client did not properly hydrate their sunless tan. A lack of moisture in the skin due to skin conditions or dry air (generally found in the winter months) can cause uneven shedding of the skin. To minimize this natural occurrence, moisturize the skin with a non-mineral oil and petroleum oil based lotion.

3.)  The technician applied too much solution. The over application of a sunless solution is often the culprit for uneven fading or blotchiness. The solution needs air to react with the skin. By over spraying the client, the air cannot penetrate through the solution to react with the skin. The solution must be applied in light, even strokes.

4.)  The technician applied solution over an existing sunless tan. Other than piggyback applications to add depth to your color, you should never apply sunless solution over an existing sunless tan. The skin must be clean and free from previous sunless residue. Leftover airbrush tans from previous sessions will have noticeably darker patches, resulting in uneven fading.

5.)  The technician used too deep a color. Skin cells shed at different times. If the color is too dark for the clients natural skin tone the fading will be more prominent. The fading will appear patchy/blotchy. Always assess your clients skin tone and use the proper color. If a client insists on the darkest possible color, you should set realistic expectations on how their tan will fade.

Some other notable reasons for patchy/blotchy fading can be; the use of deodorant, makeup, perfume, lotions and powders prior to or a sunless application will prevent the solution from absorbing evenly. Exfoliating, sweating, rubbing or excessive exposure to liquids (i.e. swimming, sweat from exercising, etc.) may also result in patchy/blotchy fading.

Like everything else, moderation is the key. Often our desire for perfection leads us down a path of excess. In this instance, excessive sunless application will create the opposite of perfection. Skin is always shedding. This process is random. If the skin is over treated with solution or has been reapplied too frequently, the shedding becomes more obvious. After your sunless tan has faded completely, let your skin breathe for at least a week before tanning again.