Tan-tastic at Strip

March 15, 2012 by poppy in Beauty

Tans make us happy. I believe that anyway. I feel healthier when I have one and generally slimmer and more awesome. I suppose that's in part because you usually only get a tan when you're on holibob somewhere sunny...and obvs being on holiday is everyone's favouritest.

But self tanning/fake tanning products have become a huge industry, I don't have any stats because I haven't bothered to research it...but if you're a girl and you haven't ever used fake tan then I don't believe you.

A lot of people hate fake tan and stay away, fearing tell-tale streaks from applying it themselves or fearing the oompa-loompa orange look that would make even TOWIE extras tremble in horror.

I've used sunbeds in the past, but always feel guilty. It's not cool to use sunbeds knowing what we know about them. But spray tans I can get behind, they're pretty much guaranteed to be streak free (as you're not bloody doing it yourself) and if you have a decent therapist they can advise you on getting the right colour for your skintone/event. A few years ago spray tans could still be pretty dodge, but they've come on a lot in my opinion. They don't even smell that biscuity any more.

I went to my new favourite waxing chain - Strip - for a spray tan last week ahead of going to Manchester for WIWT party times.

They use a tan by South Seas and I'd never used it before but was suitably impressed. I was also intrigued by the fact you can have just a half body tan (£16) or just have your face, arms and shoulders done (£12). Whilst the weather isn't amazing (although it's trying to be today) I'd be very tempted by this cheapie face/arms option.

But I knew I was gonna be in a short skirt last weekend so went for a full body.

I was actually sprayed twice in two thin layers, which I've never had done before, rather than have one thick layer which can be more of a pain to dry.

I put loose dark clothing on after and headed home, avoiding showering til the next day which is where you wash off the guide colour and the tan that's developed underneath becomes evident.

My tan lines were impressive pretty quickly :)

And I was a lot darker than I expected (which is what I'd asked for, but didn't think would be achieved) and I LOVED how tanned I was for going out in Manc.

It has really lasted and faded nicely and relatively evenly, the only problem is where my bra wires sit...but that always rubs fake tan off first. The funny thing is that the tan looks more natural now when I'm nekkid as I have white bits a la a real sunbathing sun tan!

A few days on and I look a bit yellow in this towel pic, but that's the lighting!

And the tan lines were still really evident days later...

I tan very easily in the sun and am naturally quite dark (due to my disputed ethnic heritage) so I love, LOVE being tanned. Spray tans are addictive so I recommend them with caution, but Strip do currently have a 2 for 1 offer running til the end of March on their full body spray tans (usually £30 each) and you can buy 1 and give your free 1 to a mate, so that's quite cool.

I am trying to decide if I need another one before the party on Monday. Hmmm. HMMMMMMM.

You can't currently get spray tans at Strip's Chelsea salon, but you can at Soho, City (One New Change) and at Harvery Nichols in Bristol. Deets here.