Body Wraps available at Sculpted Tans

Exciting news!! Sculpted Tans now offers body wraps!

You can do them in the privacy of your own home. No more paying hundreds of dollars to have them applied for you. They are super simple to use, and take only 45 minutes to tighten, tone, and firm the area of your choice. They can be applied to your abdomen, arms, or thighs. Simply wrap it around your desired area and await the results! You will see immediate change, and it will continue to work for the next 72 hours. After that, you can apply another wrap if you wish. That's up to you and how many inches you'd like to lose.

Individual wraps will be for sale at the salon for $35. Or, you may order online and have them shipped directly to you. If you order online, you'll get a package of 4 for $99. (that's only $25 per wrap!) There's also a loyal customer program that will give you the package of 4 for only $54.00. And it doesn't stop at wraps! There's lots of other great products ranging from wrinkle creams, cellulite and stretch mark treatments, weight loss supplements, protein shakes, and much more. As a loyal customer you'll receive 50% off of all products.

To order online, go to http://sculptyourself.myitworks.com

Body sculpting with an airbrush tan (plus some diet and exercise tips!)

So sorry that I haven't updated the blog lately! It went straight from prom season, to wedding season, to Memorial Day and beach time. So needless to say it's been crazy here at Sculpted Tans. Busy is good, I'll take it!

Speaking of beach time, a lot of people want to know if I can create abs or toner arms with an airbrush tan. The short answer is yes, but that's not always the case. Shading techniques can be used in areas such as your stomach, biceps, and inner thighs to create the illusion of defined muscles. However, you have to have at least a little definition to start with, or else it will just look darker in those areas. Excuse my brief lack of professionalism when I say "You can't turn a keg into a six pack." Sorry. One of my customers said that and it's just kind of stuck. :)

So, how do you get that definition? It all starts with your diet. You can work those abs and arms all you want, but as long as that layer of fat is covering it, you aren't going to see the muscles that you've been working so hard for. If you've been dieting for awhile and just can't break that plateau, I highly recommend hGG 1234 drops. They really do work if you're willing to stick with the plan. It is strict, but sometimes that's what it takes to get the results you want! Motivation and dedication is key!

Once you've gotten your diet in check, it's time to move on to working on your body. It is impossible to spot reduce fat. So make sure you get some cardio! You can do all of the sit ups and push ups you want, but you cannot get rid of fat without cardio. Go for a brisk walk or jog, hop on your treadmill, just whatever gets your heart rate going. Remember that sweat is fat crying. (I love that saying.)

As a busy working woman myself, I understand how hard it is to get to a gym. But I have several favorite workouts that are free on the internet, and that you can do in the privacy and comfort of your own home! Most only take about 15-30 minutes and you will definitely see results!

My favorite ab video from the Tone It Up girls. They are so fun and bubbly that I actually have fun doing their videos! Their website also has great nutrition tips.

Video for arm workouts. Many women are afraid to do arm exercises because that don't want to appear bulky. This video is especially designed for women from Sarahfit and will give you definition without being bulky!

Last but not least: Inner Thigh Insanity from http://www.blogilates.com. Get that sexy thigh gap!

Once you've mastered those, any experienced airbrush technician will be able to add even more definition to your body!  

I'm In 2 U Lotion Review

I've been hard on Devoted Creations lately. Skinny Couture was too sticky, Born this Way smelled like dirty feet, some were too thick, others too thin. But I've fallen in love with I'm In 2 U. I'm so happy that I was sent a sample of this lotion! As soon as I tried it, I got online and ordered a bottle from my distributor. That's a big deal!

From the bottle:

I'm In 2 U

R3 Action, Radiant Rapid Results

An Elevated Love of Tanning

Instant, DHA Free Bronzing Formula

with ALA Technology

The scent is labeled as Palm Garden. I'm not really sure what that is, but it smells super fresh. Not floral, not musky, just fresh. It has almost no ATO at all. I actually think it smelled even better after my tanning session. I kept smelling the back of my hand because it smelled so good. Yes, I'm aware that probably looked like a crazy person walking around smelling my hand. Oops.

The lotion is a light brown color with the tiniest bit of shimmer in it, which was a nice surprise. You won't notice the shimmer unless you really look, but it's a nice addition.

I noticed quite a bit of color a couple of hours after I used this lotion. I love instant bronzers! I'm In 2 U has the perfect amount, and gave me a natural looking tan with no orange tones. Make sure to wipe the palms of your hands after applying; it will stain if you don't.

So I give this lotion an A+. (Obviously! I ordered a bottle didn't I?) If you like UV tanning lotions with bronzers, this is the lotion for you.

I was so excited when this came in the mail. See?

Products NOT to use with a spray tan

I have to admit that I'm enjoying my day off by being totally lazy today. I don't think I've moved off of my couch once! But then I started to feel a little guilty. I should be doing something. So after browsing Pinterest for what to make for dinner, I figured I'd write a little blog post to make myself feel more productive. So here goes!

I talked a little the other day about how an airbrush tan fades, and what to use to make it last longer. What I didn't mention was what not to use. The following products will lighten your tan or make it blotchy:

-Dove shower gel or soap (mineral or petroleum oil based products will fade your tan
-Hair Inhibiting Lotions such as Jergens
-Anti-aging products that exfoliate skin
-Toners containing Witch Hazel or Alcohol
-AHA’s (Alpha Hydroxy Acids), Glycolic, Lactic, Malic, Citric, and Tartaric Acids
-BHA’s (Beta Hydroxy Acids-Salicylic Acid)
-Curel lotion  
-Retin-A type products (Retin-A, Renovate, Tazorac, and Trefinoin)
-Band-Aids or adhesive tape 
-Antibacterial bar soaps
-Adhesive facial strips 
-Makeup remover cleaning products or oils used to clean away eye makeup
-Anti-acne products that exfoliate the skin-Accutane or Salicylic Acid 
-Use of loofa or a scrub mitt etc. 
-Depilatory hair removal products …Nair, Veet, Neet 
-Facial masks or exfoliating scrubs
-Body hair bleach products 
-Wax hair removal
-Submersion in a hot tub, swimming pool with chlorine, salt water even a long hot bath 
-Shaving exfoliates the skin therefore fading the tan. Clients should use a new and clean razor with a lubricating product such as hair conditioner. Wash off conditioner when done. A dull razor will scrape off the tan.
-Bug spray. Spray into the air and walk through it rather than spraying directly onto skin 
-Women’s tans may also develop differently during various hormonal occurrences (ovulation, menstruation, pregnancy). It may be a streaky, patchy, fade worse or produce a lighter or no color.


I know it seems like a lot when it's all listed like that. It's really not that hard to keep an airbrush tan. Just use a good moisturizer, avoid those products, and your tan will reach it's full potential. 


Now onto being lazy for the day again. I feel much better. "See...I did something today!" 


I'm not the only one who enjoys afternoons on the couch. Anna & Kitty do too!

Happy Monday!!

Darker airbrush tans don't last longer than lighter ones

It's prom season! Which means Sculpted Tans has been super busy, and I love it!

Throughout the week I've had lots of young girls come to get their first airbrush tan. Naturally, they've asked around for tips from their friends on what to do, what it's like, etc. I've heard everything from "you can't shower for a week!" to "go really dark so it will last longer." The first one is obviously not true (you can shower in 6 hours) but the second I actually hear all of the time. It is also false.

An airbrush tan only colors your top layer of skin. That layer naturally comes off in 7-10 days, which is how long your tan will last. (Give or take a few days depending on how well you maintain it.) It doesn't matter what shade you choose, it isn't going to last longer just because it's darker.

Since we don't shed our skin all at once like snakes, women who choose a shade significantly darker than their natural skin tone notice that their tan doesn't fade as well as others.

Your face naturally exfoliates faster than the rest of your body. So it is normal for your face to start fading 3 days after your session. Norvell makes a product called 4 Faces specifically for that reason. You simply spray it on to a makeup sponge and apply it to your face to match the rest of your tan. One application after your faces begins to fade will last the duration of your full body tan. I have it here at the salon for purchase.

The only way to make your airbrush tan last longer is to keep it moisturized, avoid long showers or baths, pat dry instead of rub, and use a very soft sponge or your hands to rub in soap or body wash. 

Perfect Curls with Remington Styling Wand

One of the common questions I get asked (besides about tanning) is what I use to curl my hair. I'm not a hair stylist, but I've found the perfect tool to get those pretty off the beach waves, or tighter spiral curls for a night out. No training needed! It's super easy and only takes me about 15 minutes to do. I'm not a morning person at all, so anything that helps me look cute without having to get up hours before work is my best friend!

It's called a styling wand, and it's made by Remington. It can be found at Walmart or Target for around $25. It's basically a curling iron that's bigger on the bottom end and smaller on the top, without a clamp. The ceramic, pearl infused barrel reaches up to 410F. I like this particular one because you can control the temperature. A lot of other tools I've tried just keep getting hotter and hotter the longer they are on. I have very thin and fine hair, so I don't need that much heat. I set the styling wand to 328 and that's plenty for my hair. If yours is thicker, you'll need to set it higher.

For beachy waves like Kim Kardashian: 

Separate your hair into 4 sections and secure with clips, starting at the top and working your way down. Leave the bottom layer out of the clip. Take sections of hair about 2 inches wide and wrap it around the wand (wrapping away from your face). You'll need to start wrapping your hair around the bigger end of the wand, and spiral it down to the smaller in. Hold it for about 4 seconds and release it. Continue to do that for all of the other sections until all hair is curled. Run your fingers through the waves to seperate them for that "just off the beach" look!

For tighter, spiral waves like Taylor Swift:

Separate your hair into sections just like you would for the beachy waves. For spiral curls, you'll need to curl smaller sections at a time. I do about one inch wide pieces at a time. I hold it a few seconds longer than for waves, about 6 seconds. Instead of unwrapping it, just loosen it around the barrel and pull the wand out. The curls will be really tight at first. Don't panic and think you're going to look like Shirley Temple. They will relax after a couple of minutes. Continue to curl the rest of your hair by sections, until you get to the top section. I only curl the very ends of my top layer, because it's quite a bit shorter than the long layers of my hair. I also don't like my hair to be curled all the way up to the roots. I have long bangs in the front. With those, I take a flat iron and straighten them away from my face, curling them at the ends toward the back of my head. 

Here's the finished product!

Skinny Couture Tanning Lotion Review: Devoted Creations

I decided to use another tanning lotion sample that was sent to me. Actually I've used 2 in the last couple of weeks, but I'm going to start with Skinny Couture's review and let you guys wait on the other one.

The front of the bottle reads: Skinny Couture Envision it...Be it! Ultimate bronzing formula with the most advanced skinny ingredients. Gluten and oil free.

What are "skinny ingredients?" It doesn't really say. It lists: Body Fit- to reduce cellulite, Matrixly-to prevent lines and wrinkles, Revita Fit- to tone and tighten. But what exactly is in body fit, Matrixly, and Revita-fit...who knows.

I have to admit that I was excited to try Skinny Couture because the packaging is just too stinkin' cute! My obsession with pink and animal print isn't really acceptable to wear or decorate with at my age, but I still love it. So why not have a pink leopard print lotion bottle satisfy my inner diva?

Sadly, the cute bottle is all this lotion has to offer. As soon as I opened it I felt like I was hit in the face with a bouquet of flowers. Don't get me wrong, I love the smell of fresh flowers. But this was floral overload. Holy Floral Batman! Waaayy too much. I put it on anyway, hoping that the smell would fade at least a little during my tanning session. It didn't.

This lotion is bright white in color and was very thin. It wasn't hard to rub in, but I don't know that that was a good thing. It was a weird texture for lotion: watery and a little like slime.

After I was all lathered up I turned on the bed and hoped for the best. For 15 minutes I smelled like baking flowers. After about 5 minutes I felt like I was literally glued to the tanning bed! I was starting to get so sticky that my skin was making sounds against the acrylic every time I moved. Have you ever sat on leather seats with shorts on in the summer? It was like the sound that your legs make against the leather when you get up. Ick, not good.

After my tanning session was over I started to get dressed. My clothes were sticking to me. I felt like double sided tape. When I sat down at my desk there was a little piece of paper by my computer. When I put my arm down, that little piece of paper stuck to it. That's how sticky I was! I took a picture to prove it.

I can't give an honest review of the color I got from this lotion. I was so miserable from being so sticky and everything clinging to me that I wiped my entire body off with wet wipes. I would've showered if I were home, but I was stuck at work for 8 more hours. And there was no way I would've been able to stand that the rest of the day.

Maybe I'm just way too picky about lotion? Maybe I was just being a big baby and a little too harsh? So I decided to do a little Google search to see what others were saying about this lotion. I found the exact same things that I was saying. Too floral, entirely too sticky. Just all together bad.

This lotion gets a F- in my grade book. I will not be ordering any, and would not recommend it to anyone. No one that I actually like anyway. Ha, just kidding.

In this situation, the saying "Don't judge a book by its cover." Proves true. Don't judge a lotion by its bottle!

Wear Darker Makeup with a Darker Tan

Did everyone have a happy Easter? I got to enjoy the day with my family while I stuffed my face with way too much ham. But what's a holiday without lots of food right?

Speaking of food, I have an unhealthy addiction to the recipe section on Pinterest.com. Since Monday's are part of my weekend, I usually spend them making some sort of amazing dish I find on there. Yesterday I decided I was in the mood to bake. I'm slightly ashamed to say that these happened in my kitchen last night. The really bad thing is that I skipped my Zumba class just to make these babies. Oops.

Oh yeah, that would be a graham cracker crust, cheesecake center, and chocolate chip cookie dough on top. They are SO good. If you're on a diet, just look at the picture. If you're not and don't mind indulging, here's the recipe. You'll either thank me or hate me for it.

By the way, use an 8 x 8 pan. I used an 8x12 so my layers were thinner. :(

Ok, enough about yummy food and back to the the original purpose of this post. I've seen too many pictures lately of really beautiful airbrush tans. But, one thing is wrong. While the tan is great, the faces are white.

If you're wanting your tan to be at least one shade darker than your current skin tone, you'll need to wear darker makeup. It's not a good look to have a tan neck and a white face! This also goes for women who prefer not to have their face tanned. Either way, your regular makeup just isn't going to look right with your newly bronzed skin.

You don't necessarily have to invest in an entire new compact of makeup. You can even use a bronzer on top of your regular makeup to darken it up enough to match. I recommend applying it in natural sunlight to make sure you get the right shade. (Open up those blinds!) The color will look different in natural light than it does in your bathroom light.

My favorite is So Baked Bronzer by Hard Candy. And guess what? It's from Walmart and it's $7.00. It comes in several shades and isn't overly shiny. I personally don't care for the shimmery bronzers. I feel like it's highlighter for my forehead. I love Hard Candy's eye shadow too!

If you're wanting to spend a little more, Sephora also has a bronzer that isn't too shimmery and has great color to go with an airbrush tan. It's call Too Face Chocolate Soleil Bronzing Powder, and it's $29.00. It only comes in one color, but it's easy to customize by applying a little more for darker tans, or just a light coat for medium tans.

Another good thing about an airbrush tan is that you don't need to wear as much foundation anyway! The tan itself covers most imperfections, so all you'll need is a little bronzer, some mascara and eye shadow, and you're good to go! And if you're like me, I love anything that saves me a little time in the morning. That just means I can sleep later!

Spray Tan Horror Story: How to know it's going to be bad before it even happens

We all know that there are bad spray tans out there. I've seen plenty on TV, in magazines, and it's common to see an Oompa Loompa walking around Wal-Mart in her pj's.

Well today, I got to hear how the actual process went for a poor victim of the orange crime. This woman has been a customer of mine for quite sometime now and always comes to me when she has a special event to go to. Today she admitted that she cheated on me and would never, ever do it again. 

While she is a very loyal customer of mine, her mother bought her a Groupon for an airbrush tan at another place. Who can pass up a good deal, right? Of course I won't mention the place, I'm classier than that. :)

She told me that she showed up for her appointment and that the salon was just dirty. They put her in basically nothing more than a closet. The door to the "spray room" opened directly to the waiting room. So when the girl spraying her opened the door after she got undressed....well, you know what happens next. May as well scream "Hello, everyone. Please excuse my nakedness, I'm going to get a spray tan!" 

Oh, just wait. It gets better.

Now the tanning process begins. The spray tan tech starts to spray the client, and then breaks out a mitten. What's the mitten for, you say? Apparently to rub the solution all over the customer because, "it's the only way to prevent streaks." No, No, No, No, No! That's the whole point of airbrush people: so it goes on flawless. This particular customer tans topless and in a thong. I'm sorry, but I don't like strangers touching my body. Unless you're my doctor or significant other, your hands do not belong on me. 

The worst part is that this salon is using the same mitt (oven mitt, cold weather mitt, who knows) on every single customer. Pretty sure that breaks some health codes. 

I was baffled by all of this. Like I said, we all know that spray tans can be bad when the person doesn't know what they're doing or by using sub-par solution and equipment, but to hear what some people are putting their customers through actually disgusted me. Not only did she say the tan itself was bad, this poor woman stood in a closet for 45 minutes getting stinky solution actually rubbed on to her. If you're going to do all that, why not just buy a cheap self tanning lotion and do it yourself? (Don't really do that.) What if she'd never had an airbrush tan before? She'd think that's just normal and how it's supposed to be. It's not!

So....if you go into a place for an airbrush tan and you notice any of the following things, WALK OUT. Nothing good will come from it.

1.) If you are put into a closet or bathroom. That place obviously isn't serious about spray tanning and probably only do it on the side of whatever other service they offer.Which means they more than likely didn't invest in good equipment and solution either.

2.) Speaking of equipment, look at their machine. If it looks like this, it's legit and meant for spray tanning.

    If it looks like this picture, it's from Home Depot or Lowe's and is meant to spray walls. Not your body.

3.) If you see any kind of mitt, sponge, or roller brush...... run Forest, run! It takes a lot of practice to learn the correct gun and air level settings on an airbrush machine. Once someone is experienced, they know the correct settings and the solution will come out even and flawless. When the levels aren't set right, or the person just isn't experienced enough, the solution will come out in beads and make little pools of brown stuff on your skin. This is when they rub it in. You should never, ever have to rub anything in, or off during or after your airbrush tan.  

One bad experience can scar you for a life time. Don't ignore these signs unless you actually desire to look like a mix between a Zebra and an Oompa Loompa. Which, by the way, isn't a cute look on anyone.

And for the record, Sculpted Tans doesn't use mitts or a painters air gun. And, you're in an actual room set up for tanning, not hanging clothes or using the toilet. 

Airbrush Tanning on African Americans

    Lately I've had a growing number of African American women requesting airbrush tans, and everyone wants to know "will it work for me?" So I thought this post may help clarify a few things.
     The bottom line is that it all depends on your current skin tone. If your skin is already significantly darker than my darkest solution it's not going to do much of anything. For skin tones that are on the lighter side of dark (if that makes any sense at all), an airbrush tan still isn't going to make you much darker. It will, however, help even out skin tones.
      If the shade of your skin is similar to the women below, an airbrush tan will work fine for you. It will make your skin only slightly darker, even out skin tones, and help hide imperfections.

   


If your skin is close to the shade of these women, an airbrush tan will not make you noticeably darker but will still give you a nice glow and blend imperfections.

If you are as dark or darker than the women below, an airbrush tan is not recommended for you. It is very unlikely that the tan will show up, or cover imperfections.

UV Tanning lotion review: Live, Love ,Tan by Devoted Creations

Last night I posted about my not so great experience with one of the lotions by Devoted Creations. But as far as I'm concerned, they've redeemed themselves with Live, Love, Tan.

This is a fabulous bronzing lotion! It has a very refreshing cranberry scent when it is applied. It's bright white in color and goes on easily. It wasn't super thick, which I like. The ATO was almost non existent,  and it left my skin feeling moisturized but not sticky at all.

I noticed quite a bit of color developing a few hours after my tanning session. Unlike Born This Way, it was not an orange color, but a deep pretty bronze. This is definitely a lotion that I would use again. And again.

Product info on Devoted Creations Live Love Tan:

Decadent Bronzing Formula

Paraben-, Gluten-, Oil- & Nut-Free

• Mela-Dark Complex™ - Interacts with the skin to produce the most natural looking dark tan.
• Acai Oil - A powerful fruit oil loaded with antioxidants.
• Matrixyl™ - Targeted anti-aging complex that reduces the appearance of wrinkles.
• Ester-C - Protects the skin from free-radical damage, promotes even pigmentation and replenishes the skin’s moisture barrier.

Devoted Creations: Born This Way, tanning lotion

Just because I own an airbrush only salon, does not mean that I bash UV tanners. I think everything is fine in moderation. It's okay to get a base tan in a tanning bed so that you do not burn when you're out in the sun. And I'll admit, I enjoy my 15 minute relaxing alone time in the tanning bed.


With that being said, I received several lotion samples in the mail from my distributor last week. (lotions designed to use in the tanning bed.) I decided I'd give them a try. The first was called Born this Way made by Devoted Creations.

 DC is a well known lotion line and is sold in every high end tanning salon. I'll admit that I picked that one to try first because of it's cute packaging, and the fact that it said "advanced level tanners" on the back. It has a lot of bronzers in it which is another reason I was intrigued. Bronzers in tanning lotion usually, but not always, mean DHA. Which is also the ingredient that gives you that awesome color in an airbrush tan. Basically it's a tanning lotion with a little bit of self tanner in it. The smell when I opened it was pleasant. It kind of reminded me of Warm Vanilla Sugar from Bath and Body Works. I squeezed a little out into my palm and froze. I'm used to lotions having a brownish tint when they include bronzers, but this stuff looked like they melted a bowl of Hershey Kisses and poured it into a bottle. That's how brown it was! I was a little worried that if I rubbed that stuff on my skin that I would look like I rolled around in the mud. But I gave it a chance anyway, making sure that I rubbed it in evenly and washed the palms of my hands afterward. It went on smoothly and was easy to spread evenly. It didn't feel sticky at all! So far so good right?


All bronzing lotions have what we call in the industry ATO,  meaning After Tan Odor. It's the way the bronzer (DHA), lotion, and fragrance react with the heat from the bulbs and your skin. Most lotions have an ingredient in them that minimizes ATO and all your skin is left with is the slight smell of the fragrance in the lotion. I honestly didn't notice a bad ATO......until later.


Andrew and I went shopping after I got off work. We were sitting on a bench and he said "something stinks, I hope it's not me!" I just shrugged it off, there were a lot of people in that store! But then I thought, maybe it's me? I extended out my arm to him and asked if it was my lotion. He said "ewww, yes! That's what I smell." I still didn't think it was that bad. Until several hours later when we went to the movies and I was giving myself a headache. I felt sorry for the person sitting next to me. I smelled like dirty musky feet. I couldn't wait to shower! And the orange color I was developing wasn't making matters better! 


Just like perfume, lotions react different from person to person because of chemistry. So I'm sure there are people that will love this lotion. But for me, I prefer not to smell like dirty socks. This is one that I will not be trying again. 


In Devoted Creation's defense, I tried another one of their products today with great results. It smelled great, gave no ATO, and I achieved noticeable color from it in just one use! I'll tell you guys about that one tomorrow!

Product Spotlight: hCG 1234

As seen on the Dr. Oz show

hCG 1234 Drops

hCG drops combat the deep fat reserves around the buttocks, belly and thighs and converts it to energy so that the weight loss is targeted to these problem areas. Thousands of people have used this treatment to achieve fast and permanent weight loss. 

The hCG 1234 Program:

Welcome to the four different phases of the hCG 1234™ diet. You're about to embark on an amazing weight loss journey and begin achieving some remarkable results, along with literally thousands of other people who have done the same. At hCG 1234™, we present you with four different phases of the diet in order to comply with the original Dr. Simeons hCG diet protocol. We believe that if you follow the four phases, you'll achieve the best results. 

It may seem overwhelming at first. However customers who do the hCG 1234™ diet one step at a time testify to seeing the results they want almost instantaneously. 

3 Week Program

Phase 1: Taking the hCG 1234™ Drops (Days 1 – 2)

Phase 2: Starting the Low Calorie Diet (Days 3 – 21)

Phase 3: Stabilization (Days 22 – 43)

Phase 4: Keeping Your Weight Off (Days 43 – Forever)

6 Week Program

Phase 1: Taking the hCG 1234™ Drops (Days 1 – 2)

Phase 2: Starting the Low Calorie Diet (Days 3 – 42)

Phase 3: Stabilization (Days 43 – 64)

Phase 4: Keeping Your Weight Off (Days 64 – Forever)

When you purchase hCG 1234 drops, you will receive the complete 3-6 week program directions. Including delicious recipes!

Why I don't tan you while it's raining

Happy rainy Tuesday!


If you've ever had an appointment with me on a day that it's raining, then you have probably had me call you to reschedule. For new customers that have never been here before, that's confusing and probably frustrating. No, I'm not just being lazy and don't want to work that day! I'm actually looking out for you!


You cannot get wet whatsoever for 6-8 hours after your spray tan. If it's raining (and I'm not talking about just a sprinkle here and there), chances are you are at least going to get a few rain drops on you while walking back to your car. Wherever one drop of water hits your skin, it will stop the color development leaving a white spot and streaks. If you really get drenched, you're going to look like a leopard for a week. I'm not known for leopard tans, that's not a good look and I think I'd choose to be pasty over that!


Yes, you could probably call any other place and they will happily take your money, tan you, and you can hope for the best. I care about more than just your money. It's important to me that you are happy, and have a beautiful flawless tan for 7-10 days. No spots from Sculpted Tans!


If it does rain during the day of your appointment, I usually wait until 30 minutes before your scheduled time to call and inform you that we need to reschedule. In the event that we do have to reschedule, I will go out of my way to fit you in during whatever time you need the next day, whether it's outside of set salon hours or not. I am flexible and will work around you!


Here's to hoping for no rain tomorrow!
April

Preparation is important!

Hey ya'll! *insert country accent*


First time spray tanners always want to know what they can do to make their tan last longer after their session. While after care is very important and does make a big difference, what you do before your tanning session is equally, if not more, important.


You need to shave and exfoliate the DAY BEFORE your session. This will get rid of the dead skin cells, which will make your tan last longer and fade evenly. Do not exfoliate the day of your tan. 


The biggest no, no is putting on lotion the day of your session. It doesn't matter how early you get up or how late your appointment is. Lotion absorbs into the skin and creates a barrier between the solution and your top layer of skin. So, during your first shower your tan will completely wash off and you've just seen your money go down the drain. I hear "yes, I put lotion on this morning but I'll just jump in the shower and wash it off," way too often. It doesn't matter if you rinse off, the lotion is absorbed into your skin...not just sitting on top of it. 


It is fine to wear your makeup and deodorant to your appointment if you absolutely have to. For instance, if you're coming straight from work. You will need to take it off when you get here. Makeup remover is provided. Taking off deodorant is important because if you don't, the solution reacts with it and causes blueish-green circles. No one wants moldy looking arm pits! So take off the deo!


Pretty simple right? Follow those steps, and keep your skin well moisturized afterwards and you'll have a flawless tan for up to 10 days!

Product Spotlight: African Mango 1200

This is one of our new products in the wellness and weight loss line and has by far been the most popular!

African Mango 1200 by Creative Bioscience

What is African Mango?

African Mango, know scientificall as Ivingia Gabonesis, has been used for medicinal purposes in Africa for centuries and has been studied extensively by modern scientists for the past 20 years. The extract from the seeds of the fruit has been found to have a powerful effect on weight loss because it converts calories for energy and store less calories as excess fat. African Mango reduces hunger by stimulating Leptin, which tells your body it has had enough to eat, and by also delaying stomach emptying which causes you to feel full longer.

African Mango has been shown to lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels while raising HDL (good) cholesterol levels. It does this by binding to bile acids to carry cholesterol from the body. The high fiber content of African Mango aids this process as well.

Instructions for using African Mango

African Mango 1200 tables contain 1200 mg of pure African Mango extract, the most potent blend of African Mango available on the market, and will produce the fastest results for you in the least amount of time. This is the best choice for someone who needs to lose 20 lbs or more of excess fat. You will need to take one capsule 30 minutes before meals twice per day.

What to wear, what to wear!?

Ahhhh, several posts in one day! Hey, it's a new blog, so I have to get content on here right? So I'm spending my time in between customers blogging. Sorry, just pretend the dates are different. :)


I wanted to address a concern that I get from every single woman that comes through the doors. Every woman, no matter what her age or size, is nervous to be seen undressed (or half undressed) around a new person. Let me tell ya, this is what I do all day long, every single day. I have customers of all ages, shapes and sizes. Airbrush tanning is an art that takes a lot of skill to do correctly. So I assure you that a good airbrush artist is not paying attention to what you look like! My concentration is on the job I'M doing, not on your body.


The tan itself only takes between 5 and 10 minutes to do. So it's quick and easy! If you're not comfortable being exposed, that's fine too! I have women that just want their arms and legs done. Some tan in bathing suits, some in a strapless bra and underwear, shorts and a tank top, shorts and a sports bra, topless, or totally nude. So whatever you decide to wear, or not wear, is fine! Just wear what you are comfortable with!

Avoid a Bad Spray Tan by Only Choosing Professional Tanning Salons

Would you get your nails painted at Sherwin-Williams? Get your hair done at a tanning salon? Get your make-up done at a Nail salon? More than likely your answer is no. Then why would you go anywhere other than an airbrush tanning specialist to get an airbrush tan?

Let me tell you guys a little about spray tanning. The first concern that comes to mind if you're new to the spray tan craze is turning orange right? There are 2 main reasons that the "orange" color happens.

The #1 reason is the brand of solution. There are thousands of brands of spray tan solutions out there. Just like with a good bottle of lotion, or your trusted brand of makeup, quality does matter! You don't have to worry about that at Sculpted Tans. We use the industry's top sunless solution: Norvell Amber Sun. This solution is only sold to professional salons, and must be purchased through one of Norvell's distributors. It is a gorgeous "just off the beach" golden brown color. Did you know it's actually good for you? An Aloe Vera based product, Norvell is naturally good for your skin. It utilizes skin firming Copper "Firm-a-derm" technology for younger, youthful looking skin. The Caffeine in the solution is proven to protect your skin from detrimental effects of over exposure to the sun. Caffeine has also been proven to reduce cellulite! You never have to worry about a low quality solution here at Sculpted Tans. We have the best!

On to the #2 reason of the orange tan. Technique. Even with a high quality sunless solution, if too much of it is applied in certain areas, you will turn orange. Anyone can pick up an airbrush gun and attempt to tan you, but there's more to it than you may think. Airbrushing takes a steady hand and tons of experience for a perfect, flawless tan. At Sculpted Tans, it is our primary service; It is what we do all day everyday, and that's what you won't find anywhere else!

If you're thinking of getting an airbrush tan, please keep all of these factors in mind. Don't risk having to hide out in your bedroom for a week because of a bad spray tan. The perfect, natural looking airbrush tan is out there, and it's waiting for you at Sculpted Tans!

Welcome to Sculpted Tans!

Greetings ladies (and gentlemen too)! I'm April and I'm the owner of Sculpted Tans here in North Little Rock. I opened the salon in August of 2010, and it's only gotten bigger and better since then. This salon is my passion and I'm lucky enough to never have to work. Yes, I'm at the salon everyday but it doesn't feel like work to me! I enjoy getting to know people, and I love making women feel better about themselves when they leave. 


I had a simple vision when I opened here, and I will always stand behind it: To provide a high quality service at a reasonable price, and make every woman feel like she is at home when she walks through my doors. You will find that my salon is not your typical tanning salon. It's warm and inviting. Unlike other places, you are not rushed in and rushed out. When you schedule an appointment, that time is reserved just for you. You may take as much time as you need to ask all the questions you may have, and even enjoy a cup of coffee with me if you'd like!


Airbrush tanning has grown in popularity over the past several years for many reasons. It's improved from when it was first invented. Now it's almost impossible to tell a good airbrush tan from a natural tan. With all the negativity and health risks from tanning beds, many people have found airbrush tanning as a way to still have that bronzed look without the cancer that comes along with it. Television shows like Dancing With the Stars and Toddlers and Tiara's have also added to the airbrush craze. Everyone from celebrities, dancers, television personalities, and just regular Joe's like you and me are getting airbrushed.


Even with the growing popularity, people still have a lot of questions about airbrush tanning. From what to wear, how long it lasts, will it be orange (NO!!), and what products to use to maintain that bronzed glow. I have a lot of information on my website (www.sculptedtans.com), but I thought a blog would be the perfect way to cover all of those issues, and even tell you a little bit more about me. I hope you enjoy!