Sunless Tanning

Manufacturers are addressing noise concerns as well. Compression and turbine systems, by nature, produce loud sounds similar to a vacuum, which salon owners find contradictory to the relaxing environment of the tanning salon.

Improved technology in the machines as well as the advent of noise-reduction cabinets have done well to quiet the airbrush or turbine sunless-tanning experience. In fact, many of these new models made their debut at the last two industry trade shows, and some companies boasted that booth visitors couldn’t tell the machines were operating at their feet.

As airbrush and turbine equipment become smaller and quieter, they also are more efficient. Overspray has been a growing concern in the salon environment because it is simply wasted solution. It leads to greater clean-up demands from salon staff and higher costs to the salon owners who are forced to order solution more frequently.

Manufacturers have invested lots of research and development into addressing the issue of overspray. Less overspray means the solution—and the investment in solution—goes further.

Because manufacturers realize sunless is going to stick around—and because the solution is what ultimately gives a customer his or her sunless tan—they are spending more time in solution development. The ingredients are better than ever, and there are more solution varieties to give salon owners more options for customers.

By now, salon staff should know that the tanning ingredient in sunless spray solution—and retail sunless products—is DHA. The colorless sugar reacts with skin proteins, including amino acids, in the outermost layer of skin. The reaction develops brown skin coloring that looks very similar to a natural tan.

DHA is available in varying levels in different solutions to cater to all skin types and desired darkness.

Erythrulose also is used in some solution. Four to five times the cost of DHA, erythrulose works synergistically with DHA to give a more natural-looking tan.

Some solutions contain cosmetic bronzers that give an instant tan color until the DHA begins to develop two to four hours later; other types of solutions, often called "clear," come without those cosmetic bronzers to ensure there is no staining or streaking. Solution vendors often provide both types to appeal to a wider range of sunless tanning needs.

New sunless spray solution is loaded with the best nutrients, moisturizers and other skin-pampering ingredients such as aloe, vitamins, hyaluronic acid, tyrosine and CoQ10. Solution makers are paying more attention to fragrances too.