image © James Read
If you sigh at the thought of having to get greased up like a Christmas turkey in the scorching heat just to get a tan, then a painless and oil free alternative in the form of a spray tan, may be just the solution you’re looking for.
Spray tanning has become an essential part of many a celebrity’s beauty regime and with the process taking less than fifteen minutes and costing about £35, it isn’t going to burn a hole in the wallet.
St Tropez has been a world leader in fake tan application for twelve years and has recently rebranded their products.Spray tan types
Basically there are two ways to go in the spray department., Firstly, there’s the DIY approach, where the customer physically enters a big box and literally sprays themselves.
Alternatively you can opt for the personal touch, where a tan expert applies the tan in a salon. Rest assured that the St Tropez tanning applier isn’t there to mock your bingo wings, love handles or Sherpa tank-sized bums.
They are respectful and as discrete as your GP and only interested in one thing – giving you a flawless sun kissed tan that makes you feel a million dollars.
The sprayers
James Read is St Tropez’s only male expert fake tan applier in a business that usually employs women in the role. He has garnered a reputation for bronzing international celebrities from Billie Piper to Lady GaGa, among others.
“Yes I do a lot of A-listers such as Paris Hilton, who I was with for a month while she was filming her TV show, British Best Friend over here. I’ve done the Oscars and Brits, editors of beauty magazines such as Grazia and Harpers Bazaar and members of Take That. With celebs of that nature I’ll take a mobile machine to hotels, or, in the case of the Brits, I took one to the stars’ dressing rooms backstage”
Readers of a nervous disposition need not fear that they have to be completely starkers in front of any tanning expert, as paper thongs are offered! James recounts how unthreatening singer Lady Ga Ga found the experience:
“She actually said in the papers that she wanted to be James Read for the day – I guess because she liked the idea of seeing so many celebrities in their pants! She even said ‘yes folks, he’s seen my vagina’ which goes to show how relaxed she found the whole thing. Most of them feel very comfortable to do what they need to do and get completely naked” says James.
Customers are asked to exfoliate before arriving for an application in order to make for a better, smoother tan.
Tan solutions can leave finger and toenails looking like an old man’s nicotine stained extremities, so it’s essential to use moisturiser on the ends of fingers, toes, between the digits, palms and elbows.
Once at the salon (or if you’re a celebrity, having St Tropez come over for a house call) it’s up to you whether you require an all over tan, sans underwear - or whether you don a thong.
The spraying process takes around ten minutes, which usually involves drying time. Clothes can be put on immediately, although customers are advised not to shower until the next day. The tan will usually last between four and six days.
DIY box spray
MagicTan is one company that offers this service. The salons are often found at high street hairdressers. The customer gets a radiant tan by just entering a box and pressing a button;, though remember that there is no expert assistant to make sure you attain a flawless coat.
MagicTan offers three levels of toning: Light, Medium and Dark, as opposed to St Tropez, which is all one shade.
Once in the tan box the customer is given enough time to swivel round into four different positions – holding Egyptian dance style poses as a mist of MagicTan steam sprays the customer from foot to head.
But be warned, if you goof your Vogue moves, you may end up with a patchy or uneven tan. And always remember to take off your specs!
Health and social benefits
James believes that the spray tan and fake tan industry has taken off in recent years due to health scares over skin cancer and premature aging from excessive exposure to the sun.
“It also means that you arrive on holiday with a tan, looking good and ready for the beach and that you can stroll around in holiday clothes looking as if you’ve been there a week.
You can still tan naturally as the fake tan wears off but you must remember to use protection creams as usual.”
Contact information
St Tropez’s spray tan service costs around £35, but visit Debenhams for a £15 session (redeemable against a product) in 2009.
For more information visit www.st-tropez.com or email James at james.read@st-tropez.co.uk
The MagicTan DIY Service costs around £24 for a session and can be found at many high street hairdressers. Visit www.magictansystems.co.uk for more information.
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