STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Collette · Chanel

spray tanning

tara t · Marc Jacobs

i'm in love with mystic tan.

to answer your ?'s..

yes, it comes out even. you get this lotion that you put on your feet and in between your fingers and that helps with lines.

it lasts about 5-6 days

once to see color

i'd do it 2 days before.

if you are transparent, you should probably do level 1. if you have a few weeks before your big event, maybe try it a couple of times.

just some info: you can't shower for at least 4 hours. th longer the better without a shower. you can't have any lotion or anything on before. so i'd hop in the shower, run to the mystic tan place, tan and make sure it was a do nothing stay at home day. you can't get sweaty or you'll get streaks. you smell kind of funny. i smelled myself, but butthead said it wasn't THAT bad...

i only like mystic tan.

oh, if you have the Mystic tan, the place should show you a quick 2 minute or so video telling you how to stand while tanning, where to put the lotion, that kind of thing.

-- Edited by tara t at 20:20, 2006-12-05

BellinaJessica · Kenneth Cole

I'm ghostly pale and I had to do it twice before I actually looked like I had a tan. It lasted for a 3-4 days before it lightened to the point of me wanted to do it again. Had I gone 3 times, one day after another I could have gone longer between touch ups. I stopped doing it because chlorine streaks the tan, it was summer and I just moved in to a house with a pool.

member · Hermes

I did Mystic Tan this past summer before a wedding. I was sort of disappointed w/it. I went twice, a few days before the wedding, I all I ended up w/was a glow. I mean, I was definitely not as pale as I usually am (you've seen me), but I didn't get as tan as I would have liked. But, you're darker skinned than me, so you may have better results.

Be careful! It's hard to breathe in the Mystic Tan booth, because if you inhale at all, you get a mouthful of spray tanner - yuck! It's also really cold when it hits you.

Make sure you use the lotion they give you on rough spots (elbows, feet, in between fingers & toes). It does turn out fairly even, but obviously nothing is foolproof.

Mine lasted about 5-6 days.

jrhampt · Kenneth Cole

I had to go two or three times before I really saw results, too.

erin · Chanel

i've only gone once, but i liked the color it gave me. i am really pale (parts of me have no pigment because i have vitiligo) and it made my coloring look natural. it missed some spots i think because i didn't move around enough. plus, i think all spray/fake tans smell gross and even after showering i felt like the smell stayed with me.

blubirde · Chanel

I don't spray tan anymore but I used to do it all the time. I've succombed to being blindingly pale and that's okay with me.

To answer your questions:

1. Does it come out even? Yeah, pretty much. The first couple of times you do it, you might notice some trouble spots particular to you (somewhere where your skin is drier or where you wipe it off first, etc.) that you figure out after a couple of sessions.

2. How long does it last? Mine always lasted 4-5 days. Sometimes a little less, sometimes a little more.

3. How many times do I need to do it to see color? I always saw color right away (use the medium, not the light setting) but that's because Mystic Tanning also does a bronzer that you can see immediately.

4. How many days before an event should I do it? Depends on how good you are at it. If you're good and you've gone a few times, you can go the day before and get the most out of the color. If you're afraid of user errors, you could go 2 days before in case you need to fix anything.

other tips: definitely use the barrier lotion they provide - it's essential. When you get out of the booth, you use a towel to dry off with. Do it quickly and evenly. I've had some drip spots on my legs when I was too slow. It's up to you but I'd recommend not doing your face. I always used a shower cap to put over my face (ended right under my chin) because I HATE self-tanner on my face. A powder or liquid bronzer makes for a much better look, imo.

Teresa · Kate Spade

i agree w/ everything said...also, make sure you cover your ears with the cap they give you, and put some of the lotion in your belly button if oyu hae an "innie"