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Frequently Asked Questions
Airbrush Tanning FAQs
- Skip the body lotion on the day of your appointment. Your skin should be completely clean and dry for best results.
- Exfoliate your full body with a mitt or loofa prior to coming in for your appointment. This will promote even coverage and lengthen the duration of your tan.
- Wax before your appointment, if necessary. Shaving and threading are OK after the tan.
- Dress to your comfort level, wearing as much or as little as you prefer during the tan. Most choose to wear underwear or a swimsuit. Men are required to wear shorts or a swimsuit.
- Dark, loose fitting cotton clothing (avoid dry clean only items) is best to dress in following your appointment.
- Plan to stay dry (avoid showering, working out, contact with water or sweating) for 7 hours following your appointment.
Approximately 20 minutes in total. If you are driving, please give yourself additional time for parking.
Ultimately, this is the decision of the client. You may undress to your comfort level, and we ask that men wear shorts or underwear. Any clothing you choose to wear during the session (e.g. undergarments or swimsuit) can be laundered once in a normal cycle to remove any excess solution. We also make disposable thongs available for women. After the application, all clients should wear loose, preferably dark clothing and footwear.
Mineral (powder) makeup is OK but liquid makeup must be avoided until your tan has finished developing.
You may shower 7 hours after your appointment. You can shower as early at 5 hours for a slightly lighter version of your tan, or 6 to 7 hours for a fully developed tan. You will not continue to develop a tan after seven hours, so you can shower whenever is most convenient.
We recommend moisturizing head to toe twice daily, using an oil and alcohol-free product. This is incredibly important! We make a tan-extending moisturizer available for purchase in-studio, otherwise we recommend being mindful about the ingredients in your moisturizer to ensure that you are set up for good longevity and fading. Be sure to avoid excessive scrubbing or exfoliating for about a week after your spray tan.
With proper care, your airbrush tan should last anywhere from 8 to 10 days.
While we see many pregnant clients, we recommend getting approval from your doctor prior to booking an appointment. Our full Ingredient List is available for reference at any time. Our focus is on safety for all. To date, we have a great track record of approval from gynecologists and dermatologists alike.
Yes! We have clients of all genders. Everyone is attracted to the confidence boost that glowing skin provides, and everyone is welcome at Pure Glow.
Men are required to wear underwear or shorts. Thong style underwear and tight fitting swimwear are not permitted. Dry clean only fabrics should be avoided. Any clothing you choose to wear during the session can be laundered once in a normal cycle to remove any excess solution.
Tanning package credits may be redeemed for one year from the date of purchase.
Yes, you may redeem your Pure Glow tanning package at any of our studio locations nationwide. If the package price is higher than that of your home studio, the visiting studio will collect the difference upon checkout.
Yes, you may redeem your Pure Glow tanning membership credits at any of our studio locations nationwide. If the membership price is higher than that of your home studio, the visiting studio will collect the difference upon checkout.
No, package credits are not transferable.
Gratuity is a great way to show your Sunless Specialist that you are pleased with the service. Tips are accepted via cash or Venmo.
We accept all major credit cards.
We request 12 hours notice to cancel or reschedule your appointment, free of penalty. You may cancel online or by text. If you fail to cancel or reschedule during this 12-hour window, you will be charged a Late Cancel penalty of $25.
If you do not show up for your scheduled appointment, or cancel within the two hours prior to your appointment, package holders and members alike forfeit one credit in lieu of any monetary penalties.
It's important to us that you get the perfect level of color every appointment, but we understand that sometimes it can be hard to decide in the moment. If you decide that you want more color post rinse and development for any reason, we offer a complimentary touch up opportunity for the day following your tanning appointment.
We reserve 20 minutes for each appointment, but recommend planning for extra time if it’s your first time with us or if you are driving. Out of respect for our client’s time and in order to maintain the integrity of our application process, please know that if you arrive more than 8 minutes late for a tanning appointment, we cannot guarantee that you will be seen. However, we understand that being late happens and will always do our best to accommodate you, whether that’s fitting you in for a shorter service, having you first in line for the next opening, or rescheduling you for an alternative time.
All purchases, including service, product and deposits are non-refundable. If you weren’t pleased with your service, please request a call from a manager via text. Although we do not refund services, it's important to us that you are 100% satisfied. We encourage you to share your feedback with us and will do everything we can to get you to a better place.
We request 12 hours’ notice to cancel or reschedule your appointment, free of penalty. You may cancel online or by text. If you fail to cancel or reschedule during this 12-hour window, you will be charged a Late Cancel penalty of $25.
If you do not show up for your scheduled appointment, or cancel within the two hours prior to your appointment, you will be responsible for a No Show penalty, which is the full value of the scheduled service.
Our inclement weather policy strongly encourages clients who are hesitant about arriving on time due to weather conditions to cancel their appointment before the 12-hour window to avoid penalty. If you have scheduled an appointment, our team has committed to service this appointment, regardless of the forecast, so our cancellation policy must stand.
Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) is the name of the primary active ingredient in sunless tanning products, responsible for creating the semi-permanent color we refer to as a sunless tan. It is a sugar that interacts with proteins in the skin to form brown-colored products called melanoidins.
DHA works by reacting with amino acids in the outermost layer of the skin, called the stratum corneum, creating a complex series of reactions known as the Maillard reaction. According to the American Chemical Society, DHA's reaction does not penetrate beyond the top layer of the skin, making it safe for external application.
Imagine what happens when you cut an apple: the exposed part of the apple interacts with oxygen in the air, causing the flesh to gradually turn brown. This browning is a surface-level reaction, affecting only the outer layer of the fruit and not altering the deeper parts. Similarly, when DHA is applied to your skin, it interacts with amino acids in the outermost layer of dead skin cells. This reaction produces a browning effect, giving the skin a tan-like appearance without penetrating deeper layers. Just as the apple’s surface browning doesn’t affect the fruit beneath, DHA’s reaction stays on the skin’s surface, making it a safe, temporary effect that gradually fades as dead skin cells naturally shed over time.
Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) is FDA approved for external use, and has been widely used for over sixty years. The Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety, a regulatory body for the European Union, has also determined Dihydroxyacetone as safe for self-tanning in their 2020 review. DHA-based self-tanning is recommended by the American Cancer Society and American Academy of Dermatology. To revisit the apple analogy, just as an apple’s surface browning doesn’t affect the fruit beneath, DHA’s reaction stays on the skin’s surface, making it a safe, temporary effect that gradually fades as dead skin cells naturally shed over time.