A bridal airbrush tan is a good way for brides to add to their natural glow on their special day. While the process is fairly straightforward, it is a good idea to go for a trial tan in advance to get the color right and to help you know what to expect when you are ready for the real thing. These are the steps for the tanning process.

  1. Schedule your appointment for the test tan and for the actual tan to make sure they are both at the best possible time. Explain your situation and why you want to make a test run. Tamar Vezirian of Gotham Glow explains that airbrush tans are customized to skin tone to create the perfect layer of color.
  2. Arrive at your appointment wearing loose clothing, preferably in a darker color that will not show evidence of tanning solution that might rub off as the tan processes.
  3. Decide whether you want to wear a bathing suit, disposable salon thong, or tan nude. You will be in a private area to give you the option to tan as much or as little as you want.
  4. A technician will use a modern airbrush gun to apply the tanning solution to your body. During the application, you will be asked to move in certain ways to allow for even application.
  5. Once a light level of solution has been applied, you will look at the results to determine if you are happy with the amount of color. Most bridal airbrush tans are kept light to make them look natural. If you prefer to go darker, they will apply a custom solution to meet your specifications.
  6. Once the application process is completed, you will go to the dryer and spend five to ten minutes in front of a drying fan. This will allow the tanning solution to set.
  7. The tech will examine the tan to see that the application has dried evenly and looks as expected.
  8. The entire tanning session typically takes from fifteen to twenty minutes. Darker tans require more time to complete.
  9. A well-maintained spray tan will last from five to seven days. You will need to schedule your trial tan more than a week before your wedding day to ensure it has faded if you are unhappy with the results. You should schedule the final airbrush tan one or two days before the wedding to get the full impact of the tan on your wedding day and prevent losing the tan until after you return from your honeymoon.

Most brides tend to every detail of their appearance, from doing their nails to getting their legs waxed. It is important to follow the advice of the tanning salon with regard to when other beauty treatments should be given to best protect your airbrush tan. Failing to provide the maintenance needed to preserve your bridal airbrush tan could result in your skin being pale and lacking that special glow on your wedding day.