228 . 832 . 2240

Airbrush Tanning FAQ and information.

DHA (dihydroxyacetone) solution is sprayed directly to the client's skin. Then DHA reacts with protein in the stratum corneum (the outtermost surface of the skin), when these two oxodize together they create a brown color. Varying percents of DHA levels are present in different airbrush solutions. This method of tanning does not last as long as truely tanned skin, because it only reaches the upper layer of the skin. This area sloughs off much more rapidly.

How long will my airbrush tan last?

Your airbrush tan will be at it's darkest the first day and fade away daily as the skin is sloughed during the normal process of skin replacement. It will remain visible for 5 days with care, and may last up to 14 days with extreme care. Of course, during the fading process, the rich, dark appreance will continually decrease, as your skin sloughs away. Everyone's skin relacement cycle is different, due to genetics, skin care and health. Keep in mind, some of our clients swear that their tan lasts up to 3-4 weeks. 

How can I get my airbrush tan to last longer and have a beautiful airbrush tan?

Clients, who take exceptional care of their skin, have longer lasting results.

Tips to aid in a longer lasting tan:

• TIP # 1- Prior to your airbrush tan. Completely and thoroughly exfoliate your entire body.
•  TIP #2-Prior to your airbrush tan. Do not wear make-up, deodorant, moisturizer or any other product that could hinder your skin's ability to absorb the airbrush tan.  
• TIP #3- Prior to your airbrush tan. Wear loose fitting, dark clothing when you come for your airbrush tanning session and continue to wear these clothes for up to 4-6 hours after your airbrush session (until your shower).  Avoid bras, tight under garments, socks and tight shoes. These will wear off the airbrush tan in those areas and leave a tan line. Wear flip flops if possible, if you forget, don't sweat it. We sell disposable flip flops in our salon.
• TIP #4-Airbrush solution stains garments and could stain the seats of your vehicle, your clothing or your funiture. Avoid rubbing.  Keep this in mind while determining what to wear. Use caution until you shower.
• TIP #5- Prior to your airbrush tan. Use an airbrush tanning skin primer. These products are made to help the skin absorb the airbrush tan. It is not necessary to use this product, in order to receive an airbrush tan, but it helps the longevity of your airbrush tan. Airbrush tan skin primers can be purchased in our salon.
• TIP #6- Prior to your airbrush tan. Bring moisturizer with you to the salon. Our staff will tell you what to do with it. If you forget to bring your moisturizer, it's o.k., we sell quality, and properly pH balanced moisturizers for at our salon.
• TIP #7- Prior to your airbrush tan. You should shave any areas of your body that you normally shave. Shaving is an exfoliating process by itself. Be careful not to use an oily shaving product. If you wait to shave after your airbrush tan, you will speed up the skin replacement process. You are encouraged to use moisturizing shaving products after an airbrush tan, but not prior to your airbrush tan.
• TIP #8-Listen to the advice of our highly trained staff. Our staff will choose an airbrush solution for your skin tone, that will leave you with a natural looking tan. We carry different variations of airbrush tanning solutions. This will prevent an un-natural appearance. 
• TIP #9-Do not shower for a minimum of 4 hours, but we suggest leaving on up to 6 hours, after your airbrush tanning session. During this "processing time" you can not do physical activities that may require your skin to become wet. This includes, swimming, bathing, showering, gardening, sauna sessions, massages and other activities that require the use of  liquids or cause your body to sweat. You are free to resume these activities after your tan has fully processed and your first shower.
• TIP #10-Your first shower should be a light, shower, you are simply rinsing the excess airbrush solution off of the surface of your skin. Do not exfoliate during this shower. You have previously exfoliated in your shower prior to your airbrush tanning session. Your first shower is a light rinse with warm water only.
• TIP#11-Avoid bar soaps, as these have higher pH levels. This will cause your skin to dry and cause your skin replacement cycle to speed up more rapidly. This could cause pre-mature fading of any tan including a natural tan.
• TIP #12-Moisturizing after showers. Lowering the pH of your skin after water exposure is very important to the health of your skin and assists in pro-longing the life of any tan, including a natural tan.
• TIP #13- Use tan extending moisturizers that have trace amounts of DHA. Careful not to use moisturizers with a high level pH or too much DHA. This could make your tan orange.
• TIP #14-Keep your body hydrated by drinking lots of fresh waterdaily. This will promote healthy skin. Healthy skin equals healthy tan.
• TIP #15-Avoid long hot baths. Shower instead.
• TIP #16-Avoid pro-longed periods in water and the pool. Believe it or not water dries out your skin, especially chlorinated water!
• TIP #17-WAIT!------- Make sure you have completely sloughed off all of your previous airbrush tan, prior to rushing into getting another. This could cause an airbrush "build up". An airbrush tan build up is unattractive and un-natural looking tan! If you choose to receive an airbrush tan more than once every 20 days without  DHA moisturizers, or 30 days while using DHA moisturizing tan extenders, we can not be responsible for the results. The previous airbrush tan must be removed entirely prior to getting another one. Even if you believe that it has all faded away, don't be fooled! An airbrush tan looks so real, that as it fades, you actually fool yourself into believing that it is your real skin color! Well guess what? Yes, it has faded alot, but it has still not completely faded. You have gotten spoiled with that dark tan and yes, you really were that white! If you choose to re-apply another airbrush tan, to an existing airbrush tan, to boost the darkness of your current airbrush tan, we can not be responsible for the un-natural appearnce and build-up (possible freckling & cracking) of your new airbrush tan.
• TIP # 18- Try to evenly exfoliate your body when you shower and don't over do the exfoliation. You want your tan to last. Common areas of airbrush tan build up usually occur around the feet, ankles, behind the knees, heels, neck, behind under arms etc.. there is a chance that you could form a build up of airbrush tanning solution in those areas. This could cause an un-natural appearance in future airbrush tanning sessions. These are common "build up" areas.
• TIP #19- If you would like another airbrush tan, and absolutely can wait before getting another, SCRUB! Exfoiliate, exfoliate,exfoliate. Remove as much of your old airbrush tan as possible, before receiving your next one.

Your skin's healthy pH balance is 5.5 and exposing your skin to agents, with too low of pH levels (acid) and agents with too high of pH levels (alkaline), can cause drying of the skin and accelerate your skin's replacement cycle, causing any type of tan to fade faster.

Did you know that water has a pH of 7.0? Wow! That means every time you shower you're drying out your skin! The secret to healthy skin is re-balancing your skin's pH level as quickly as possible. This can be accomplished by using a pH balanced moisturizer after every shower daily etc...

Exposure to chlorine, acidic agents, excessive U.V. exposure etc... that are not ph balanced (5.5), can cause the skin to dry out. This will cause your skin to slough at an accelerated rate. Avoiding or minimizing these types of interactions with your skin will assist in maximum longevity of your airbrush tan or natural tan.

What is DHA, is it new?

DHA(Dihydroxyacetone) is derived from plant sources such as sugar, beets and sugar cane, by the fermentation of glycerin.

No, it's not new on the market; DHA has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for over 30 years! However, the science behind this product has made leaps and bounds in the last 8 years! Boy has it come a long way. They have discovered, by adding a small amount of erythrulose (a natural based keto-sugar) and lowering the concentration of DHA, that it almost enirely eliminates the unwanted "Florida orange" appearance. With the proper choice of DHA concentration per skin type, you're sure to fool anyone into believing that you have a real tan these days. 

 Can an airbrush tan protect me from UVA and UVB rays?

NO! It does not. You should always wear sunscreen whenever you are exposed to sunlight.

Will I be "Florida orange" like a spray booth tan?

The solution used for an airbrush tan is chosen by our salon staff based upon your skin tone.  There are many different types of airbrush tanning solutions. There is not one specific solution that is right for every skin tone. As discussed above in this topic, varying levels of DHA can create varying colors. Our salon staff will choose the correct DHA formula that is right for you. The higher the concentration of DHA, the more you see "Florida orange" and red tones. The lower concentrations of DHA give more of an olive skin tone natural tan appearance.

Based upon what we are working with (your skin tone), we shall determine the correct airbrush solution for you.

What is the difference between a spray tan and an airbrush tan?

First off, an airbrush tan is NOT a spray tan or spray booth tan.

A spray tan also known as spray booth tan, is applied with an automated machine in a booth. The spray booth uses only one type of solution for every skin tone.

These machines do not use varying solutions. They fill the machine with about 10-20 gallons of a high concentrated DHA solution (lots of orange & red tones). You step into their booth and it mists out two ounces of this airbrush solution. You are supposed to wave your hands in the air, move around and catch the misting solution. Spray tanning booths lack the ability to provide adequate, equal coverage of your body. It requires three spray tans to achieve the same results as one airbrush tan!These sessions generally cost $25 each. A single airbrush session at our salon only cost $30.

Airbrush tanning however, is applied by highly trained individuals who carefully spray every area of your body. This is the same way that all of our famous Hollywood stars have their tans applied; with care and precision.

Will I turn out orange like I did in a spray booth before?

Unless you choose not to use our salon staff's recommendation of the correct solution, you should have a beautiful natural looking tan.

Common problems we experience are....

Client A- "I want to be as dark as possible. No, give me the darkest solution!" says the pasty white client. Hesitantly, we will give the client what they want, and guess what? She's definitely dark, but she has somewhat of an orange tint! EWE!

Client B- "I tried that color last time, it was very pretty, and I received lots of compliments, so, I want to go darker this time" says the client who has just has an airbrush tan only 10 days ago. The tan then fades unevenly, cracks and freckes, and her new tan has an orange appearance. EWE

If client "B" had tanned in the sun or tanning bed since her last airbrush tanning session, she would have been able to use a darker solution this time, because her skin tone would have a little more color to work with. We could then use a darker (higher concentration of DHA) on this client for this next session without any orange appearance.

Secondly- Client "B" should have waited 20 days before receiving her next airbrush tan.

Our advice for a beautiful, long lasting tan....

Follow the staff's advice, always!

That's about it guys.

Happy tanning!

Call our salon today for an appointment at

228 . 832 . 2240 or visit us at 17406 A Highway 49, Saucier, just one mile north of Gulfport, MS.

Take me to Perry's Hair & Tanning salon home page.

Airbrush tanning pricing information.

Our salon has been proudly serving Gulfport and Saucier since 2004.