A redheaded woman in a cobalt one-piece and sheer white sarong walks the waterline at Seabright Beach, the lighthouse behind her

The Bronze Protocol

The Bronze Protocol: how to make your tan last.

Your tan is only as good as the days around it, and you are the one who looks after them. This is the guidance every client takes home, written out in full, with the science behind it and a rinse time for every formula.

Reserve your appointment Your appointment checklist

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Jana was so warm and welcoming, and she took the time to explain the Bronze Protocol so my tan would last the whole week. I came home with a glow that lasted well into the next week!

Stephanie B.

Your tan, in three acts.

You are the star of this story, and the days around your appointment are the plot. Here is the shape of it before we get to the detail.

A blonde woman in a black bandeau works exfoliating gloves along her arm in a bright bathroom

Act oneThe weeks before

Before: the skin you bring

Your outer skin renews itself every few weeks, which is why the smoothest tans belong to clients who start a little early. DHA reacts with that outermost layer of dead cells, so exfoliating gently with exfoliating gloves every day in the week or two before, and again on the day itself, clears away loose, dull cells and leaves the cleanest, most even surface. Moisturize daily, finish shaving or waxing at least a day ahead, and arrive clean and completely dry, since damp skin weakens the reaction. Jana's own skin is the proof: when she opened the studio in 2007 she didn't exfoliate and her skin was dry; she has exfoliated constantly ever since, and the dryness is gone unless she forgets to drink enough water.

Water matters as much as the gloves. The tan lives in those outer layers, and when they dry out they lift and flake away early, taking the tan with them in the crackly patches nobody wants. Skin hydrated from the inside and the outside fades slowly and evenly. Your skin's surface is also naturally a little acidic, around pH 5, which is where DHA works best; harsh, alkaline soaps tip that balance, which is why a gentle wash matters and why Normalize exists.

On the day of her tan, a redheaded woman in loose black clothes laughs at her phone on a dark armchair, a rinse timer on the counter

Act twoDay one

The first 24 hours

Rinse at the time you're given, with lukewarm water and no soap, then pat dry. What washes away is the guide color; the tan keeps developing underneath for the rest of the day. Until the next day, skip saunas, steam rooms, hot yoga and hard workouts, because heat speeds the reaction along and sweat and friction are what cause streaks. Stay out of pools and the ocean for the first 24 hours, while your tan develops. After that, swim as much as you like, then rinse and moisturize within ten minutes of every swim.

Midweek, two women in cropped tops and leggings walk side by side along a sandy beach, hair blowing, their tans still even

Act threeAll week

All week

Picture a morning swim at Seacliff a few days after your tan. A rinse and a moisturizer within ten minutes of leaving the water, short lukewarm showers with a gentle, non-alkaline wash, and moisturizer smoothed onto slightly damp skin morning and night are what keep the tan even into the second week. Leave anything that's 100% oil, from pure coconut oil to a body oil, and petroleum products on the shelf for the life of the tan; a lotion or wash with some oil in it is fine. In the sun, wear sunscreen as you always would; it looks after your skin and your tan.

The full guide, chapter by chapter.

Read it start to finish, or jump straight to the question on your mind.

How a tan works

Two colors, one tan.

The color you leave the studio with is not the tan you wake up to. One is a cosmetic guide bronzer that rinses away; the other is the DHA tan developing in your skin. Scroll slowly through the first day and watch them trade places.

The next morning, a brunette woman in an ivory tank smiles at her developed tan in the bathroom mirror, coffee in hand

Leaving the studio

Mostly bronzer, a tan just beginning

You leave with the guide bronzer: the deep, instant color that shows Jana where every pass has landed. The DHA tan has only just started working.

Guide bronzer

Your tan

A redheaded woman in a sage dress laughs as she pulls a golden loaf from the oven

Part One

The science of your tan.

DHA, the Maillard reaction, and why your tan is your own

You have eaten this chemistry. It is the browning of bread crust, the deep color of roasted coffee and the sear on a steak, a family of reactions between sugars and amino acids known as the Maillard reaction. That the same category of chemistry produces a sunless tan is not a coincidence, and once you understand it, almost every piece of spray tan advice starts to make sense.

A spray tan involves no UV at all. It forms in the very top layer of skin, the layer that is naturally on its way to being shed, which is why it fades so gently as your skin renews.

DHAA small, simple sugar with three carbon atoms

Amino acidsIn the proteins of your outer skin cells

MelanoidinsBrown pigments, bound to the cells

The Maillard reaction: DHA and amino acids form melanoidins

Chemistry · The Maillard reaction explained

How DHA creates a tan in the outer skin

Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) is a small, simple sugar with three carbon atoms. The DHA used in tanning formulas is made by fermenting glycerin, which is typically plant-derived. In solution it is clear and unremarkable, and its transformation happens only when it meets skin.

DHA reacts with amino acids in the proteins of the stratum corneum, such as lysine and histidine, producing brown compounds called melanoidins. The first steps of that reaction are well understood; the later ones produce a complex mixture of compounds that chemists still have not fully mapped. These pigments become attached to the proteins of the outer skin cells rather than sitting on top of them, which is why a well-developed tan survives showers, swims and an ordinary day of wear.

The fade

Why it fades, and when

The tan fades as those cells are naturally shed, which is why gentle cleansing, moisturizing and avoiding friction help it last its full 7 to 14 days.

3Carbon atoms in DHA

About 1 hrTan begins to show

24 hrDevelopment, every formula

7 to 14 daysTypical tan life

0UV exposure involved

A close portrait of a dark-haired woman in a cream camisole, her face, neck and shoulders softly glowing

Chemistry · pH

Skin and pH

Healthy skin keeps its surface slightly acidic, on average a little below pH 5, and DHA is most stable in a mildly acidic environment. Alkaline products such as traditional bar soap and baking-soda scrubs can raise the surface pH for a time and are worth avoiding before a sunless tan. Keep skin comfortable and balanced. The Normalize Treatment, a pH-balancing pre-treatment with aloe and humectants, is an optional add-on built around this idea.

Chemistry · Erythrulose

A second, slower sugar

Many professional formulas pair DHA with erythrulose, a related sugar that occurs naturally in red raspberries and is produced commercially by fermentation. It reacts in the same way as DHA but more slowly, and the combination is generally used to soften the initial color and support a more gradual, even fade.

A blonde woman in a white tank and coral skirt rinses her legs at an outdoor beach shower, smiling up at the sun

Part Two

How your skin renews.

The living surface every tan is built on

Before the formula and before the technique, there is your skin. It is not a passive surface. It is an organ, alive and constantly changing, and the condition of your skin on the day of your appointment reflects how it has been treated over the preceding weeks.

Stratum corneumAbout fifteen to twenty cells deep. Your tan forms here.

Living epidermisNew cells are made here and travel upward

DermisBeneath the surface

HypodermisThe deepest layer

Skin architecture: your tan forms in the outermost layer

Biology · The epidermis

The stratum corneum: where a tan does its work

The epidermis is built from the bottom up. At its base, new cells are made continuously, and over the following weeks they travel upward, flattening and hardening as they go. By the time they reach the surface they are flat, protein-rich scales called corneocytes, overlapping like roof tiles. Together they form the stratum corneum, which on most of the body is only about fifteen to twenty cells deep and thinner than a sheet of paper.

The full passage from the base of the epidermis to the surface is estimated at roughly forty to fifty-six days, and the outermost layer alone turns over in about three weeks in younger adults, more slowly with age. A tan fades because the colored cells are shed and replaced.

Biology · Thickness

Why some areas tan deeper

Skin is thickest on the palms and soles, and thicker on elbows, knees and ankles than on the inner arm or the chest. Thicker skin presents more surface for the tanning reaction, which is why those areas get particular attention at every appointment.

Elbows · Knees · Ankles

Thicker skin

More surface for the reaction, so these areas tend to tan more intensely. Give them extra attention with your exfoliating gloves in the days before.

Face · Inner arms · Chest

Thinner skin

Tans more delicately. The face is also cleansed more often and meets more active skincare, which is why it often fades before the body.

Hands & feet

Constant use

Where the skin changes texture, the transition needs to be invisible, so these areas get precise application.

Good to know · Your skincare and your tan

You do not need to stop anything on your own

Mention what you use and Jana plans around it. For any prescription product, your doctor has the final word. What follows comes from nearly two decades of watching skincare and tans work together at deSoleil.

Goes easy on these

Speeds fading

Retinoids (retinol, tretinoin), exfoliating acids such as glycolic, lactic and salicylic acid, scrubs and chemical peels.

Watch for

Can lighten a tan

Benzoyl peroxide is an oxidizing agent and can lighten a tan where it is applied.

Carry on

Generally compatible

Simple moisturizers, niacinamide and hyaluronic acid.

Good to know

Also worth mentioning

Clients often notice that hormonal changes affect how evenly a tan takes, and that chlorine shortens a tan.

Waxing belongs before a tan rather than during one. Microneedling, laser procedures and dermaplaning should be fully healed before you are tanned; your provider can tell you when.

A woman in a gray tank works exfoliating gloves along her arm in a bright bathroom beside the shower

Part Three

Preparation, without the pressure.

Ideal habits, never conditions for booking

What helps most is not a dramatic regimen but a steady habit: gentle exfoliation, regular moisturizing, plenty of water and daily sunscreen. Everything below is the ideal. Nobody is turned away for how they prepared. Skipping preparation can affect the look, life and quality of the tan, and Jana will tell you so at your appointment, kindly.

Retail · Infinity Sun

Skin Renewal Exfoliating Masque

A nonabrasive masque made with pineapple enzyme. It is not a scrub. Apply to dry skin for 10 to 30 minutes, rinse, and wait at least 2 hours before tanning. Available in-studio and at desoleiltan.com/shop, alongside the full product range.

The Infinity Sun Exfoliating Mitt, a black textured glove

Habits

The weeks before

Exfoliate gently at every shower. Textured exfoliating gloves and light pressure are all you need. Daily is ideal, including the morning of your appointment. Please skip body scrubs; many leave an oily residue. Give extra attention to elbows, knees, ankles and the backs of the heels.
Moisturize regularly. A simple, fragrance-light body lotion used consistently keeps the surface smooth and even.
Drink water and wear sunscreen. Sunscreen prevents both sunburn and new tan lines. If you burn and begin to peel, reschedule until the skin has settled. Tanning over a sunburn is a no.
Remove any old self-tanner. Residue from a previous self-tanner makes a new tan uneven, so exfoliate it away in the days before.

Refinement

Hair removal and beauty appointments

Shave or wax at least a day before. In Jana's experience, freshly removed hair can leave follicles that show as tiny dark dots, and waxed skin can be tender for a day or so.
Schedule manicures, pedicures and facials before your tan. Soaking, exfoliating tools and heat all lift a fresh tan.

Clean and dry

The day of

Shower, exfoliate gently with your exfoliating gloves, and dry thoroughly. Then leave your skin alone.
No moisturizer on appointment day. No lotion, oil, deodorant, perfume or makeup on any area being tanned. Moisturize as usual up to the day before.
No deodorant or antiperspirant. Deodorant residue causes an uneven or oddly toned tan under the arms, so arrive without it and apply it after your appointment.

A common slip

What if I forgot and already applied deodorant?

Wipe the underarm thoroughly with a damp cloth and let it dry completely before your appointment, and mention it to Jana.

Your face

What about oil-based makeup or serums on my face?

Keep the face clean and product-free on the day. Facial tanning needs the cleanest possible surface for even color.

Folded black pants, a tee and a hoodie, slides and a hair claw laid out on cream linen

Part Three · Continued

What to wear, and what to save.

To your appointment, and for the rest of the day

Choose dark, loose clothing that fully covers your skin for the trip home. The cosmetic bronzer can transfer onto light or tight fabric, and snug waistbands, bra straps and elastic can leave pale lines while the tan develops.

Yes, please

Wear to your appointment

A zip-up hoodie
An oversized T-shirt
Loose pants or a maxi skirt
Soft dark underwear, no elastic waistbands
Flip-flops or loose shoes

Another day

Save for after rinse

Tight jeans or leggings
Underwire or padded bras
Tight socks or compression wear
Structured waistbands or belts
Pale and fitted pieces

Small things

Accessories

Hair off the neck and ears before application
Jewelry removed before you arrive
A dark towel for your first rinse

Night one

For sleeping

Dark, loose sleepwear
Dark sheets for the first night
No tight socks or waistbands on the first night
Let the formula dry fully before lying down

Jana and a client talk before the appointment in the charcoal-walled studio by its big window

Part Three · Continued

The appointment, about you.

About twenty minutes, and it starts with a conversation

Most appointments take about twenty minutes, sometimes a little longer. Before anything is sprayed, Jana talks with you about your skin and undertone, your week, any event on the calendar and how deep you would like to go, and the formula is chosen from that conversation. If the one you booked online turns out not to suit the day, you can switch at the appointment.

Your positions

Every contour, covered

Jana guides you through a few simple positions so each one, including the backs of the arms and the sides, is covered evenly.

Your face

For the face, close your eyes and lips and hold your breath for a moment

It keeps the formula away from the eyes, lips and nose.

Your rinse time

You leave with a personal rinse time

The numbers on this page are planning guidance; the time Jana gives you is the one to follow.

Your appointment

Booking

Online booking closes 12 hours before an appointment.

Ready in the room

What the studio provides

You bring clean, dry skin. The studio brings the rest, laid out and ready, so the only thing on your mind is how good you are about to look.

Towels

Soft towels, folded and waiting in the room.

Hair clips and ties

To lift your hair off your neck and shoulders so every curve gets even color.

Plastic hair caps

To cover your hair and keep the formula where it belongs: on your skin.

Disposable G-strings

Yours if you want one. Tan lines are optional, so wear one or go without.

Sticky foot pads

Or foot covers, to protect the bottoms of your feet during the appointment.

At her rinse time, a redheaded woman in a black swimsuit smiles under the shower in a bright white-tiled bathroom

Part Four

Rinse & development.

Two different things, and why the difference matters

The studio uses Infinity Sun solutions. The rinse removes the cosmetic guide color, while development continues quietly in the skin for about 24 hours with every formula. Rapid Development and Unity NR rinse sooner, and the rinse time sets the depth, but they develop over the same 24 hours as the others. This is why clients who rinse early and feel underwhelmed are so often delighted the next morning.

2 hrLightRapid Development, Unity NR

4 hrMediumRapid Development, Unity NR

6 hrDeepRapid Development, Unity NR

8 to 12 hrLonger rinseBronze Organics, Classic Bronze, Ultra Dark

Jana gives every client a personal rinse time at the end of the appointment. The times above are general planning guidance.

Rinse times

When to rinse, formula by formula.

Choose your formula to see your first rinse, with the rest of the day laid out after it.

Choose your formula and your instructions appear here.

The first rinse · step by step

Four small things that make a clean first rinse

Step one

Lukewarm water only

Hot water is harder on a fresh tan. Keep the first shower brief.

Step two

No soap on the first rinse

Many traditional soaps are alkaline, and the reaction is still under way.

Step three

Pat dry with a soft, dark towel

Rubbing is a form of exfoliation, and on freshly tanned skin it can remove color unevenly.

Step four

The water runs brown, and that is exactly right

That is the cosmetic guide color leaving. By the next morning you will see what the tan is actually going to be.

A woman in a cream henley smooths moisturizer along her leg on a sunny window seat

Part Four · Continued

Making it last.

The first 24 hours, and the days after

The day after your appointment is the most important period in the life of your tan, and because so little seems to be happening, it is also the easiest to mismanage. The tan is still deepening, and what you do during those hours shows for the rest of the week. If you have a morning surf at Pleasure Point or a long swim at Seacliff planned, give it until the second day.

The first 24 hours

Heat speeds development

Keep saunas, steam rooms and hot yoga out of the development window. If you have a regular class, book your tan around it.

Sweat and friction are the real risks

Heavy sweating can carry formula across the skin and leave streaks or patches. Save intense workouts for after the first 24 hours.

Water

Beyond your rinse, keep long baths, hot tubs and swimming out of the first 24 hours.

Stay loose

Tight waistbands, leggings and bra straps can leave pale lines. Keep to dark, loose clothing until your first shower.

Go easy in the sun

Wear sunscreen and avoid long stretches outdoors on the day of your tan.

After the first day

Keep doing

What extends a tan

Regular moisturizing with a hydrating lotion, without exfoliating acids, gentle cleansing, shorter, cooler showers, and patting dry rather than rubbing.

Go gently with

What shortens a tan

Friction from loofahs, rough towels and vigorous scrubbing; long hot showers and baths; chlorine and hot tubs; exfoliating acids and retinoids; dry, dehydrated skin.

Swimming

Pools and the ocean

After the first 24 hours, swim as much as you like. Lots of time in the water can fade a tan a little sooner, since sand and salt are abrasive, salt pools are drying and chlorine lightens it, so rinse promptly after swimming and moisturize.

The last days

The fade

A well-cared-for tan fades gradually and evenly. As it reaches its final days, returning to gentle glove exfoliation evens the fade and prepares your skin for the next appointment.

Two friends laugh under a cafe awning during a sudden rain shower on Pacific Avenue, one in a mustard wrap dress

Part Five

Water, weather & surprises.

When life does not pause for your tan

Salt water and chlorine both speed fading, but neither has to ruin a well-kept tan. Once the first 24 hours have passed, swim as you like with a little care before and after.

Salt water, beach days & pools

Before

Before ocean or pool

Moisturize bronzed areas, then apply a waterproof sunscreen over the top.

After

After ocean or pool

Rinse with fresh, cool water promptly, pat dry, and moisturize afterward.

Pools

Chlorine pools

Clients often notice that chlorine and long soaks shorten a tan's life. Keep sessions reasonable and rinse off as soon as you are out.

The sea

Ocean & salt water

Salt water is gentler than chlorine, but long exposure still speeds fading, and sand is abrasive on the skin.

Rain before your rinse

If the forecast looks wet

First

Check the forecast

Check the forecast before your appointment and plan a covered trip home if rain is likely.

Then

Cover up, fully

Full-coverage loose clothing shields developing formula better than an umbrella.

Finally

Caught out?

If you are caught out, do not wipe or dab. Get indoors and let the skin air-dry. Rubbing streaks; air-drying does not.

Common surprises

Small things, easily avoided

Creases

At the back of the knee and inside of the elbow. Let the skin dry fully before bending your knees and elbows.

Pale lines

From elastic and bra straps. Loose, elastic-free clothing until your first shower prevents them.

Sheet and pillow marks

Dark sheets, loose clothing, and let the formula dry fully before lying down.

A faint, biscuity scent

As the tan develops. It comes from the tanning reaction itself and disappears with your first shower.

A redheaded woman in an ivory tank circles a date on her kitchen wall calendar, an emerald dress hanging by the window

Part Five · Continued

Timing your appointment, to the occasion.

Booked to the occasion that matters

Every formula develops over about 24 hours, so for most events one to two days before gives the tan time to develop fully while it is still at its freshest. Jana has been timing tans to weddings, trips and performances since deSoleil opened. To plan the whole year, the Santa Cruz glow calendar follows the local seasons month by month.

1 to 2 daysEveryday events

Weekend plans, a dinner, a casual shoot. Full development, and the first rinse well behind you.

1 to 2 daysEngagement photos, showers, parties

Book one to two days before each event, since every formula develops over 24 hours.

2 weeks or moreBridal trial

Any time at least two weeks before the wedding, so the trial tan fades fully before the final tan. It shows you the color in your own mirror, at your dress fitting and in the light where you will be photographed.

2 to 3 daysWedding · final tan

Two to three days before the ceremony, never the night before, so the tan has fully developed and the first rinse is long behind you.

Two friends in sage and rose slip dresses toast with champagne at a garden party above the sea

Part Six

The formulas, chosen with you.

What lives inside the bottle, and how the choice is made

A professional spray tan solution is a balanced system in which each group of ingredients has a job. The choice between formulas is made together in conversation, based on your skin tone, undertone, schedule, event and how deep you would like to go.

Inside the bottle

Five overlapping systems

Tanning system

DHA sits at the center, and some formulas add erythrulose for gentler, more gradual development.

Bronzing system

The cosmetic bronzer gives immediate color and a visual map of coverage. Bronzer tones vary deliberately: a violet-based bronzer offsets excess yellow as cosmetic color correction, while golden or natural brown bronzers add warmth. Whatever the bronzer, it rinses away with your first shower.

Hydration system

Humectants such as glycerin, aloe and hyaluronic acid help the formula spread evenly and keep skin comfortable as it dries.

Skin-support system

Antioxidants alongside the bronzer, and soothing botanicals such as aloe.

Stability system

DHA is most stable in a mildly acidic solution, so good formulas are buffered, packaged to limit light and air, and stored properly.

Your formulas

Each one develops over the same 24 hours. What differs is the rinse and the feel.

Rapid Development

A violet-based bronzer for a cool, even brown. Rinse at about 2 hours for light, 4 for medium, 6 for deep. A shorter rinse, not faster development: it develops over 24 hours like every formula.

Book Rapid Development →

New

Unity NR

Niacinamide, hyaluronic acid and a peptide complex alongside a neutral-toned bronzer that sits well on almost any undertone. Made with EcoCert-certified DHA; labeled vegan, gluten free and nut free. The manufacturer describes it as sweat-resistant. Rinse at 2, 4 or 6 hours.

Book Unity NR →

Certified organic

Bronze Organics

Certified organic, with organic plant extracts, hyaluronic acid and vitamins A, C and E, and a warm golden-brown bronzer for a soft, natural color. Rinse in 8 to 12 hours.

Book Bronze Organics →

Traditional

Classic Bronze

An Infinity Sun traditional formula. A walnut-based bronzer shows your color from the first pass and develops into a natural-looking brown with a soft pinkish undertone, with vitamins A, C and E, aloe, ginseng, ginkgo and green tea in the base. Rinse in 8 to 12 hours.

Book Classic Bronze →

Deepest

Ultra Dark

Two coats in one appointment. For competitors, ballroom dancers, performers under stage lighting and experienced clients who know they want to go dark. Rinse in 8 to 12 hours.

Book Ultra Dark →

By request

Perfectly Clear

No bronzer and no guide color, so nothing shows until the tan develops over the next day, and no one can see where it landed until then. Not for everyone and never for a first tan: it suits clients who already know how their skin takes a tan, and many who ask for it end up happier with Rapid Development or Unity NR. Arranged by call or text, not online. Rinse in 8 to 12 hours.

Call Jana to ask →

Four friends with different skin tones laugh together on a seawall above the beach

Part Six · Continued

Skin tone & undertone.

Every tone, every undertone, one conversation

Because the tan is formed from your own skin proteins, no two people develop exactly the same color from the same formula. The chemistry of DHA works on every skin tone, and deSoleil has tanned clients across the full range of complexions, ages and reasons for coming in.

Fair skin

A soft, believable glow

Fair skin shows every shift in undertone. A neutral formula such as Unity NR, or an earlier rinse with Rapid Development, often suits fair skin that tends toward pink or red.

Medium & olive skin

Depth without excess warmth

Tends to take color beautifully, and the cooler brown of Rapid Development adds depth without excess warmth.

Deep skin

Evenness and luminosity

Sunless tanning is used less to darken and more to even tone and add luminosity. The wrong undertone can leave deep skin looking dull or ashy, so a rich, warm or neutral brown keeps it luminous. On deeper skin the aim is usually evenness and luminosity rather than depth, and Jana's years of matching formulas across the full range of complexions guide the choice.

Undertone

The variable that picks the formula

Undertone is the underlying cast of the skin beneath its surface color. The pigments DHA produces sit in a warm brown range. On warm skin they read as a natural extension of what is already there; on cool or very fair skin, too much warmth can look unnatural, which is where formula choice comes in.

Cool undertone

Pink, red, bluish

Suits a violet-based or neutral bronzer, and the right rinse time, to keep the result believable.

Neutral undertone

Neither warm nor cool

The most versatile. Works across most formulas and can lean warmer or cooler by choice.

Warm undertone

Golden, peachy, olive

The warm brown of DHA reads as a natural extension. Golden or neutral bronzers deepen existing warmth.

You may have heard of the Fitzpatrick scale. It describes how skin burns and tans in the sun, not its color or undertone, so it is not how Jana chooses a formula, although your history with the sun is always part of the conversation.

Why a tan can look unnatural

The color DHA produces sits in a warm brown range, and on fair or cool skin too much of it shows. That is why depth has to suit the skin it sits on, and why bronzer tone matters. An unnatural result is a failure of matching or technique, and each cause can be prevented.

Cause

A formula too warm or too deep for the skin

The fix: a violet-based or neutral formula, or an earlier rinse.

Cause

Uneven preparation or product residue

The fix: gentle glove exfoliation and clean, product-free skin on the day.

Cause

Sweat and friction during development

The fix: a quiet first 24 hours, loose clothing, and no hard workouts.

An expecting woman in a black maxi dress laughs with her partner on a porch swing

Questions

Safety & FAQ.

Honest answers to the questions clients ask most

Ask anything. These are the questions that come up most, answered plainly.

How is the appointment kept comfortable?

There's no UV involved, and the formula stays on the surface of your skin. During the face and décolletage, Jana asks you to close your eyes and lips and hold your breath for a moment, and the studio has an excellent ventilation and air extraction system. For any question about your own health, your doctor is the right person to ask. If a doctor has asked you to stay out of the sun, When the sun is off limits was written for you.

Where does the tan actually form?

In the very top layer of skin. The formula works only on that surface layer, which renews itself every week or two, and that is why a tan fades evenly rather than wearing off in patches.

Can I have a spray tan while I'm expecting or nursing?

Yes, and you'll be in experienced hands. Jana has tanned expecting and nursing clients for nearly two decades and plans each appointment around you. Check in with your doctor first, as you would with anything while expecting or nursing. There is no UV involved, and the studio has excellent ventilation and air extraction.

What if something about my tan isn’t right?

Let Jana know and it will be taken care of. Most questions are about depth or an area that needs evening, and both are simple to address when caught early.

Does a spray tan protect me from the sun?

No. A spray tan is color, not sunscreen, so keep wearing sunscreen whenever you're outdoors. If you can, plan your tan for a day when you won't be in the sun for hours.

How long does a spray tan last?

Usually 7 to 14 days, depending on your preparation, aftercare and activities. The tan lives in the outermost skin cells and fades as they are shed.

Why no soap on the first rinse?

Many traditional soaps are alkaline, and the tanning reaction is still under way. Rinse with lukewarm water only, keep the first shower brief, and pat dry with a soft, dark towel.

Can I work out or swim after tanning?

Wait until the first 24 hours have passed. Heavy sweat can move the formula and leave patches, and heat speeds the reaction. After that, swim and train as you like, rinsing promptly after swimming and moisturizing afterward.

Followed to the letter, and it shows.

All day it was super dark so I was scared, then I showered in the morning and it was perfect!

Corey F.

It definitely lasts for 7 days, and for me because I followed the before and after-care to the "T" my tan lasted for about two weeks

Lyn K.

You can't have a great tan unless you have healthy and vibrant skin.

Veronique Munro · Founder, Infinity Sun

Free checklist · yours to keep

The Spray Tan Checklist

Every tan, prepared properly.

First tan or fiftieth, a good tan becomes a beautiful one in the shower a few days before. This checklist keeps every step on one printable page, so nothing is left to memory before a trip, an event or an ordinary Thursday.

Preparation, the appointment and aftercare in the order you need them
Boxes you can tick on screen or on paper
Printed with your name, for every tan after this one

A woman in a white bodysuit applies BB cream at a bright dressing table, her tan products beside her — A bright dressing table, a few trusted products and an unhurried morning.

Where to next

Protocol read; now the plan.

Your tan, ready when you are.

You know the plan now. Book your appointment, take your rinse time home, and the dress, the bikini and the big day are all yours.

Reserve your appointment Your appointment checklist