Manual Tanning
by Lily Haylett
The Sun-Kissed Secret – Benefits of a Professional Manual Tanning Treatment
“Are you looking for the perfect golden glow this summer ?”
Whether you want to enhance a natural tan or for a tan that doesn’t involve basking in harmful UV rays, self-tanning products provide a safe and alternative golden glow.
Whether you want a full-body tan or a sun-kissed glow on the areas that show, a professional manual tan can be just what you are looking for. Self-tanning is fantastic for clients who want to enhance their skin colour with a manual tan for special occasions, weddings, holidays, or occasions where an outfit could benefit from a little sun-kissed glow. A professional manual tanning treatment takes the hard work out of self-tanning at home and provides a perfect, stunning, sun-kissed look.
How Do Self-Tanning Products Work?
Self-tanning products use DHA to temporarily stain the outer layer of the skin, mimicking the appearance of a tan. With the correct application and aftercare, you can achieve an even, natural-looking tan that lasts.
What is DHA?
DHA is the main active ingredient in most self-tanning products. It is a colourless sugar that interacts with the amino acids in the dead cells on the skin’s surface. When applied, DHA causes a chemical reaction that produces a brown pigment called melanoidin, temporarily staining the skin.
A manual tan colour develops over a few hours (approximately 2 to 8 hours) and can deepen further in up to 24 hours. The intensity of the colour depends on the concentration of DHA in the tanning product, what is on the skin at the time of application (i.e. moisturiser) and how the skin reacts to it.
What Products do we use at Studio 8 Beauty?
At Studio 8 Beauty, we use Kissed by Mii, a sunless tanning product line from Mii Cosmetics UK, designed to provide a natural-looking tan while nourishing the skin.
Kissed by Mii products are enriched with marine mineral extracts, such as coral seaweed and coastal flowers, which help replenish the skin’s natural minerals, leaving it soft and hydrated.
This ensures that the tan develops smoothly and evenly.
Why Have a Professional Tan?
One of the most significant advantages of a professional manual tan treatment is the personalised result without the hassle of doing it yourself.
A professional tan is tailored to your skin type, tone, and preferences.
It can be customised and blended to provide a shade to match your desired depth of sun-kissed look, ensuring a more natural-looking tan whilst combining skin-nourishing skincare products. This means no orange glow or streaky finish and hydrated and moisturised skin.
1. Flawless Application
One of the main issues with at-home tanning is often uneven application or getting to those hard-to-reach places, resulting in missed areas and streaks and, therefore, unnatural results.
In contrast, a professional manual tanning treatment guarantees a smooth, even application. A skilled tanning therapist uses routines and techniques to ensure an even application that enhances your natural colour to achieve a more natural-looking tan.
When you opt for a professional manual tanning treatment, you’re not just getting a tan; you’re tapping into the expert knowledge and skill of a therapist who understands skin types, application techniques, and product formulations, therefore taking the hassle out of self-tanning.
A tanning expert knows how to prepare your skin for the best results, knows all the techniques to apply the tanning lotion evenly, and can provide aftercare tips to extend the life of your tan. Their knowledge ensures your tan looks flawless and fades evenly, avoiding patchiness and discolouration.
2. Saves Time
We all know that time is precious, and let’s face it: treating your skin to a tan at home is never as quick and efficient as a salon treatment.
Professional manual tanning treatments take the hassle out of home tanning, quickly providing you with a beautiful tan.
Unlike traditional sunbathing, which can take hours (and comes with the risk of sunburn and long-term skin damage), a professional tanning session typically takes less than an hour to apply, making it easier to fit into a busy schedule, allowing you time to enjoy a gorgeous tan without giving up more of your time.
3. Skin Health and Safety
One of the most compelling reasons to choose a professional manual tanning treatment is skin health and safety.
Prolonged exposure to the sun’s UV rays can lead to premature ageing, sunburn, and an increased risk of skin cancer. Professional tanning products are formulated to be safe for your skin, providing a beautiful tan without harmful UV exposure.
It’s important to remember that self-tanning products do not offer any sun protection. Even though your skin appears tanned, it is not protected from sunburn or UV damage. Sunscreen is still required if you’re going to be in the sun.
4. Long-Lasting Results
A professionally applied tan not only looks better but also lasts longer.
Your tan can fade evenly and last between 5 and 10 days with the correct aftercare. Moisturising your skin regularly and avoiding harsh exfoliants makes such a difference to the longevity of a manual tan, helping you enjoy your sun-kissed glow for longer without frequent touch-ups.
5. Confidence Boosting
There’s no denying the confidence boost that comes with a perfect tan.
A self-tan can enhance your natural skin colour, making you feel confident and healthy, just like a natural tan but without the risks of UV exposure, so you achieve skin confidence alongside nourished and happy skin.
6. Pampering Experience
Lastly, let’s not forget the pampering experience that comes with a professional manual tanning treatment.
The process is relaxing and enjoyable, providing a moment of self-care in your busy life.
The personalised treatment alongside a luxurious professional salon setting makes the experience feel like a treat, adding to the overall benefits of the treatment.
What to expect from a Professional Tanning Treatment
Here is a brief step-by-step guide on what to expect from a professional manual tanning treatment:
1. You will be asked to attend freshly showered and without body cream or deodorant.
2. A manual tan takes between 5 & 8 hours to develop, so remember to bring loose-fitting dark clothing to put on after your treatment and shoes that are not tight, will not rub and that you can slip on or off easily (flip-flops or sliders are perfect).
3. You can bring your bikini or old underwear, but disposable tanning knickers are supplied. Do whatever is comfortable to you.
4. The tan is applied while you relax on a couch. To keep you warm, your body is covered with a towel except for the area the therapist is working on.
5. Unless you have opted for a non-exfoliating service and have exfoliated at home, the therapist will apply an exfoliating product and buff and polish your skin before removing with hot cloths.
6. A moisturising product is applied to buff drier areas where a naturally lighter tan is needed.
7. The tanning product is applied using specialist techniques and buffed to perfection, ensuring all those hard-to-reach areas are covered perfectly. The tanning product contains a guide colour, but remember that this is not the final tanning colour and is only needed to guide the therapist on the accuracy of their application. Note. It will rub off onto clothing or bedding but is easily washed away on a normal wash cycle. Be mindful of surfaces you cannot pop in the wash, such as car seats and furniture.
8. At the end of the application, the therapist checks coverage and removes any surplus or transferred product from areas such as nails, back of the angles, soles of the feet and palms of the hands.
9. You can then pop your loose clothing on and will be advised how long to leave the product on. Expect to leave the product on for up to 8 hours. We recommend having some hand wipes handy for toilet visits, as you need to avoid washing the product off before development time has completed—no washing up!
10. And voila—after the development time, you have a beautiful sun-kissed tan without the sun. However, remember to follow the aftercare to ensure your tan lasts longer.
Summing Up
A professional manual tanning treatment offers many advantages over other tanning methods, including customised application, expertise, skin safety, and long-lasting results that ensure a flawless, natural-looking tan.
So, if you’re dreaming of that perfect sun-kissed glow, consider booking a professional manual tanning treatment and the benefits of a sunless tan!
To book your Manual Tanning Treatment, just click on any of the buttons on this page and we’ll see you in the Salon.
About the author
Lily Haylett is a fully qualified Level 4 Therapist at Studio 8 offering a range of treatments to our wonderful clients.
For more information, please give us a call on: 023 9238 0692 or email us at: salon@studio8beauty.co.uk