What is a spray tan exactly?

Spray tanning (or sunless tanning) is a form of tanning where a fine mist is sprayed onto your body.  This mist has an ingredient in it called Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) that interacts with your own skin’s chemistry to turn it tan, or bronze.  This temporary effect generally lasts from 3-7 days and is completely safe for your skin (although it doesn’t provide any protection against the sun’s rays).  Napa Tans uses a process which can extend the life of the tan to about 8 days, though you can expect fading at about 5 days as your skin naturally sheds.  The results you can get from tanning sprays vary from formula to formula, person to person.

Are all spray tans the same?

In summary, no.  There are a wide variety of spray tanning solutions, application techniques, and best practices to preparing your skin for the spray tan, along with care after receiving the spray tan.  As such, there’s also a different price point for each.  From self-tanning solutions off the shelf to expensive robotic spray tanning machines in a salon, you can understand why there is differing opinions about which is the best type of spray tan or if spray tanning is worth the risk of looking like one of Willy Wonka’s Oompa Loompas.  Napa Tans has taken the guesswork out of the process, backing it with its “NO ORANGE” guarantee.  We’ll discuss that more in the next section.

Are all tanning lotions the same?

No.  Tanning lotions are made up of different chemicals that take the body through a swift skin transformation.  That transformation is almost immediate with some formulas where the mist is visible, where, in other lotions, the mist is clear and the transformation can take anywhere from 2 to 24 hours.

The best self-tanners today employ dihydroxyacetone aka DHA as their active ingredient. DHA is a simple carbohydrate, C₃H₆O₃ to be exact, and is usually derived from plant sources such as sugar cane or sugar beats, or from the fermentation of glycerine. DHA is not a dye – rather it causes a chemical reaction with the amino acids on the top, dead layer of your skin. You witness this same chemical reaction (called a “Maillard reaction”) when you brown a piece of bread in the toaster or roast potatoes in the oven to a crispy brown. The effect of DHA lasts for 3-10 days, and spray tanners are also often boosted with erythrulose, another simple carbohydrate that works just like DHA, only slower, so the sunless tan lasts a bit longer.

What color is right for me?

Applying the right color in the right amounts is a bit of an art.  At the heart of client satisfaction, is that balance of giving you a sunless glow without making it overly obvious to everyone that you just got a spray tan.  In fact, you don’t want anyone to know that you got a spray tan.  The ideal spray tan looks natural.  That means that you gradually transition to a darker bronze over time.  While spray tans last, at best, 8 days, so a natural look will be more difficult to pull off if you try to go too dark too soon.  Still, there are times that dramatic results are desired – that’s when you really need a skilled technician to prepare your skin and body for treatment, use the right solutions, employ the proper spraying technique and guide you through the development process.

What makes Napa Tans so unique?

We’re not so full of ourselves to think that we’re the only sunless tanning artists that can pull off a flawless tan.  However, we’re the only to offer a “NO ORANGE” guarantee (see FAQ below).  What we can attest to is that we follow the strictest of guidelines and best practices, as well as include the highest quality of lotions and supplies.  Together – great product and great technicians – enable us to offer a 100% guarantee on our tanning service.  If you are not 100% satisfied with your Napa Tans spray tan, we’ll spray you again within 24 hours.  If you still aren’t happy, we’ll refund your entire purchase.  We take no risks with our reputation and integrity.  All spray tans also include the full regimen of skin preparation and cover up resources.  Whether you need disposable undergarments or a scrunchie for your hair, our Napa Tans technicians come fully stocked to meet your every need.  We don’t expect you to be the spray tan pro – that’s what we do.  That’s our role.  And, as such, you get to enjoy your experience knowing that your flawless tan is our priority.

I’ve seen cheaper offers.  Why the price difference?

Napa Tans pricing, at first, might appear expensive as compared to other spray tans.  This is primarily due to two reasons – we are a mobile spray tanning service (we offer discounts for tans sprayed at our location) and we are all inclusive (you are not charged for disposable undergarments, barrier creams, hair protection, etc.).  In addition, our spray tans are not applied by a robot or machine – they are applied by a skilled technician.  This will ensure the highest quality of spray tan.  If you are looking to reduce the cost of a spray tan from Napa Tans, we also off on-premise services as well as bulk pricing (6 tans for the price of 5).  As an example of what you can save, on-premise/bulk pricing brings the cost down to about $34 per spray tan session.  And, that turns out to be the best deal in town for a guaranteed flawless tan.

What is the “NO ORANGE” guarantee?

What lotion does Napa Tans spray?

What about the competition in the Napa Valley?

We think there is plenty of room in the Napa Valley for competition.  After all, how many wineries peacefully coexist in the Napa Valley – we’re not worried about our corner of the world.  What we are concerned about is making sure that our customers are 100% satisfied.  We’re always listening.  We believe that, if you are happy with your Napa Tans spray tanning service, then you’ll come to us for your makeup, hair and all of your cosmetology needs.  Part of that exceptional experience is providing great service, with great products, on time and on budget.  The fact that we’re “mobile” also offers us a bit of differentiation.  Since we have multiple tanning technicians, our scheduling dispatch allows for plenty of travel time to and from your destination and always supports a “no rush” visit.  We also confess to being “not the cheapest”.  We need to deliver a flawless tan at a fair price – we’re doing that.  Deeply discounting our services places at risk our ability to deliver on that promise.  Still, we’re always open to helping clients who might need assistance with reducing costs.  That’s why we offer some great deals on our website – click here to see our specials.  So, to summarize, we’re not worried about the competition.

Top 5 things You ABSOLUTELY need to do!

Your time is limited and you can’t read this whole section, so let’s just break it down to the top 5 things you absolutely need to do or your spray tan may not come out the way you want.  Please, please, please follow these best practices to the letter:

1. Exfoliate with Care: Skin can be sensitive, so you have to give time for a fresh layer of skin to heal in order to accept a spray tan.  DO NOT EXFOLIATE OR SHAVE just before your session.  Deep exfoliation and shaving should be done 8 hours before your spray tan appointment.  To error on the side of caution, hold off on any deep exfoliation.  We will offer you exfoliation wipes just prior to your spray tan session, which provides the right amount of exfoliation.
2. A Pure Skin Surface: Your skin will better accept a spray tan when it is clean of all foreign agents.  You want just your natural skin, free of lotions, perfume, deodorant and makeup.
3. Wear Loose Clothing: Spray tan lotion needs 12 to 24 hours to fully absorb in the skin.  Our spray tan technician will assist you with drying, however the lotion is susceptible to rubbing off in the first 4 hours. To minimize “tan stripes” or discoloration, wear loose clothing that will allow the skin to breathe.
4. Don’t Shower for 8 Hours: This is a tough one because you’ve already gone without deodorant, and now you can’t take a shower (or bath/swim/rinse) for at least 8 hours.  Ideally, 12 to 24 hours to absorb 100% of the lotion, but 8 hours will give you about 80% of the lotion’s bronzing potential.  Your first shower (after 8 hours) should be a light rinse with NO HEAVY SCRUBBING OR SOAP.
5. Don’t Sweat for 8 Hours: Same as above, but even worse because the sweat will cause your tan not only to come off, but to cause you to drip stripes of spray tan.  These stripes can also settle into your skin, making it difficult to get rid of for a couple of days.  If this happens, you’ll want to wash it all off and get back in for a full body touch up tan.

Should I lay in the sun and get a “base tan” before being spray tanned?

Absolutely not.  The concept of getting a “base tan” to prevent sunburn is bogus to begin with—but you should definitely know that a spray tan has no effect on your body’s melanin, which is what causes your skin to tan naturally.

How should I prepare for my spray tan?

There’s no need to be nervous or overly anxious prior to being sprayed, however, if this is your first time or it’s been a while since your last spray tan, here are a few tips.

Prep your skin: Prepping your body to receive a spray tan is one of the most important things you can do to ensure an even tan that lasts as much as 8 days.  Spray tan lotions are not dyes, but rather a process that promotes your skin to darken through organic solutions.  To promote absorption and to reduce the amount of fading prior to day 5, you’ll want to exfoliate the morning of during your shower.  If your spray tan appointment is within 2 hours, don’t apply any additional lotions or cosmetics.  If you have more than 2 hours, it’s okay to moisturize, though avoid any heavy oils or cosmetics.  We will need a skin surface clean to spray.

Clothing Selection: While Napa Tans also has clear solutions available, expect your clothes to end up with solution on them.  Don’t worry – the solution washes out of most fabrics very easily in the wash.  It is however important to note bronzers may stain light hair, wool, spandex, lycra, silks or other fine fabrics. If product comes into contact with hands or clothing rinse immediately..  The solution dries in minutes, so you don’t have to worry about rubbing it off.  You’ll have an opportunity to air dry all the areas of your body, but loose fitting clothing will put your mind at easy that it isn’t rubbing into areas that aren’t dry.  The most important aspect is your undergarments and shoes.  Allow your feet to be free by wearing flip flops or other sandals.  As is the case with sun tanning, your clothes leave tan lines.  As such, choose undergarments that expose as much of your skin that you are comfortable with.  Napa Tans also offers clients disposable panties, bras and pasties to minimize spray tan lines.

Hair and Nails: You DO NOT want spray tan lotion in your hair or on your manicure/pedicure.  Napa Tans has hair nets/scrunches/hair ties to keep it up and out of the way.  We also place a barrier cream over your nails, knuckles, palms, soles of your feet and toenails to make sure that you do not stain your skin with spray tan lotion.

Shaving: There should be a 12- to 24-hour window between shaving and your appointment..  It may seem like common sense to shave before a spray tan, but shaving immediately prior to your appointment can cause the spray tanning product to irritate your skin. Shaving is a mild exfoliant that exposes new skin cells, which are extra sensitive. DHA (the pigment in spray tan) reacts with those sensitive cells and can cause some serious redness and discomfort. 

Prior to an event, what day should I get sprayed?

If you’ve got a big day coming, it’s good to plan ahead.  You’ll want to be sprayed 2 to 4 days prior to your event.  Sure, we’ve sprayed the morning of a prom, but that leaves little room for the lotion to fully process (which can take up to 24 hours).  With 2 to 4 days, you can let the color settle and even opt for a darker tone, if you want.  If you are a risk-taker and decide to spray tan the morning of your wedding, then we suggest NOT wearing a white wedding dress!  That’s a joke, but, the truth is that you will see stains on light colors on clothing you wear on the day of your spray tan.

Can Napa Tans spray in my hotel room?

Yes.  We’ve sprayed a number of people who are in town for wine tasting and just want a little color.  All of our equipment is made for specifically for mobile tanning services, including a portable tent to contain any overspray.  Our technicians carry it all in a suitcase, so it’s very discreet – we look just like another guest.  The spray gun is very quiet, so we won’t disturb any other guests.  The entire process will take between 10 to 20 minutes in total.  Please note that if there are any parking fees, this will be added to your Napa Tans bill.

When do I pay?

You’ll pay at the completion of your spray tan.  We take cash, Venmo, Zelle and PayPal.  If you don’t have cash and don’t subscribe to any of those services, please inform your spray tan tecnician or call the main office at 707.986.8267 so that you can pay by credit card via PayPal invoice.  Thank you.

Okay, my technician is here, what’s first?

The spray tan technician will need to set up in an area where the tent can fully open up, which makes it easier to spray.  The location must also be close to electrical, as the spray tanning machine needs to be plugged in.  Next, you’ll want to get undressed.  How much really depends on you – do you want to go fully nude, keep undergarments on, spray only the arms and legs – the choice is yours.  We also have disposable undergarments that permit the tightest of tans.  Don’t be shy.  Our technicians have experienced all states of dress and undress.  Next, the technician will provide you with exfoliating wipes.  You’ll exfoliate while the technician continues to set up, which will only take about 5 minutes.  In that time, you’ll both discuss color options and what look you’re going for.  We discussed this earlier in the FAQs color options. The technician can also provide you with some feedback on color choices.  We’re almost there.  We just need to protect your hair and apply the barrier cream.  The last step is some sticky feet to protect the soles of your feet from absorbing (staining) the tanning lotion.  Now we’re ready!

How do I stand?  What do I do?

The spray tan technician will instruct you on how to position your body during each phase of the spray tanning process.  You will want to avoid touching the areas that have been sprayed.  Just enjoy yourself.  Feel free to watch the lotion being applied.  It’s kind of neat to watch your color being applied.  If it’s a clear solution, the process will unfold over the next 4 to 8 hours, so the affect is not dramatic or immediate.  When the technician gets to your face and neck, she’ll instruct you to hold your breath.  DHA has not been approved for inhalation, so please do so.   The face only needs 1 pass, so it’s very quick.

How long does it take to dry?

Immediately following the spraying session, your technician will remove the gun and hand you the air hose.  Use the air hose to dry yourself thoroughly.  The technician will busy cleaning up, so you’ll have about 10 minutes to make sure you are dry.  Your technician will also help you dry hard-to-reach places like your back, so don’t hesitate to ask if she doesn’t ask first.  In truth, the lotion will dry in about 3 minutes, but remain a bit pliable for at least 10 minutes.  If you can get through this initial 10 minutes, you will be as good as bronze (get it?).  Soon after, feel free to get dressed into loose clothing or remain in whatever clothing makes you feel most comfortable.  Depending on skin absorption, your spray tan is susceptible to smudging and leaving stains.  You might feel dry, but the lotion will take up to 24 hours to fully absorb.  In most cases, enough lotion is absorbed in the first 4 hours to make any smudges imperceptible once you shower 12 hours later.  So, for those first 4 hours, error on the side of caution.  Care for you tan and avoid sweating or rubbing it away.

What can I do now that I’ve just finished being sprayed?

Try to keep the spray tan solution on overnight and don’t put on any moisturizer until the next day.  That means no showering, using soap, or any moisturizer for at least 8 hours. The color starts to develop within an hour or two and really kicks in within 3-5 hours.  Go about your day, but avoid strenuous activity that can cause you to sweat, which can lead to “tan drip”.  In those first 24 hours, do not shower, swim or even sweat.  After 24 hours, take a shower and rinse yourself of any lotion residue.  You may notice color in the water being drained – that’s normal.  Whatever has not been absorbed in those first 8 hours will not take anyway.  Rinse, but don’t scrub deeply.  Again, you exfoliated prior to the tan, so you will want to minimize skin loss over the next 7 days.  For the first 24 hours after your spray tan, your skin is extremely susceptible to free-radical damage from sunlight, so stay indoors or slather on the SPF.  Be very careful with lotions and oils on your skin, as many of them contain chemicals that can also cause your tan to fade much faster.  Moisturize with lightweight lotion instead and only moisturize when absolutely necessary.  That top layer of skin holds your spray tan, so you want to make it last.

When can I go swimming?

Your tan will need a full 8 hours to develop and cure – 24 hours to be absolutely sure.  While taking a quick dip in the pool won’t ruin your tan, spending hours on-end in chlorinated water will. Chlorine, which is a kind of bleach, will take the tan right off your skin. As such, you should limit your swim time after you’ve gotten a spray tan and patting dry right when you get out of the water.

Do I need to worry about cosmetics?

In short, no.  However, when you remove them, be sure not scrub, as exfoliation promotes skin loss.  Skin loss will promote tan loss.

What about touch ups – can I extend my tan?

Yes, though touch ups are not intended to replace a full body tan.  Touch ups can also promote unevenness of your tan.  Touch ups are just about taking care of areas that have faded prematurely due to strenuous activity.  You can opt for a full body tan, or go to our Specials page and review the pricing for touch ups.  Touch ups can also be a way to extend your tan in certain areas.  For example, maybe you came in originally for a full body tan so that you can hang out poolside with a bronze and beautiful tan.  But, the vacation is over and now you’re headed back to the office and would like a fresh glow on your face and neck.  Touch ups are also a good way to even out a tan acquired through tanning in the sun.  Hide those tan lines with a touch up.

My spray tan is dying around day 8.  Now what?

You’re probably passed the “touch up” stage and need to reschedule a full body tan.  Like most of our clients, the Napa Tan makes you look amazing.  You just feel better about yourself when you have a little color.  Let’s get you back into Napa Tans.  We’ll even sweeten the pot by offering 6 tans for the price of 5.  For our “regulars” we keep a really good record of your spray tanning sessions, so we can bypass pre-selling them as a $275 package.  That’s your reward for making it all the way through the FAQs.  Thanks so much for entrusting us with your beauty.  We look forward to seeing you.