Calling all spray tan newbies
Happy March, everyone!
Here we are in March. It's still cold, but the sun is staying out later - thank God!!! I needed some serious Vitamin D.
My birthday was in February, and my best friend Bridget took me out for a morning of yoga and brunch. It was lovely. Usually, we go out for dinner with a group of my favorite people. But this year, I was still feeling tired. Low energy. So this was the perfect celebration.
As we did a restore and renew class, I laid on my mat, enjoying the gentle stretch with the sun shining on my face. It felt so good. Such a great way to start the day.
I'm off to a pretty good start this year with the intentions I set for myself. Yoga, check. Facial (on my actual birthday with Steph), check.
Now, for gratitude. Let me share. As most of you all know, my family is my number one. Part of my family is my nearest and dearest friends. Bridget came into my life when on the outside I was thriving, but on the inside, I was at my lowest. I always compare it to the movie Step Brothers. "DID WE JUST BECOME BEST FRIENDS?!!”
I've known Bridget for a long time, but she became my friend when I needed her most. Everyone needs that one friend that will be there for you for ANYTHING. And I never had that until Bridge.
I am grateful for her for so many reasons. And now of course P is too. She told my mom the other day, “Nanny, I love Bridge. I trust her.” So as we get ready to celebrate International Women's Day, I celebrate Bridge and other strong, independent women like her.
The only thing left to do on my self-care list is to book my next girls' trip, along with my next spray tan. There's nothing like a spray tan to get you ready for your next vacay, event, or if you just need that extra glow.
Speaking of spray tans, check out our spotlight this month where Julia, a former spray tan skeptic, went for her first spray tan with Mary. Read on to learn how it went!
Stay tuned for more changes this spring, including a new loyalty system and our redesigned website - I can’t wait for you to see it!
Community Spotlight
By Julia Mongeau
I was always suspicious of spray tans, especially given my fair Irish complexion. I thought any sort of tanning product would make me look an unfortunate shade of orange.
Though I write about spray tan specials all the time for Halo, I had a lot of misconceptions about what actually happens when you get a spray tan. So I booked an appointment with Mary at the spa to find out.
Before my appointment, I texted Mary to get all the details. She was so helpful and told me everything I needed to do to prepare. I was to exfoliate and shave the night before, and avoid any lotion, perfume, makeup, or deodorant on the morning of my appointment.
The day of my spray tan arrived, and with an iced latte in hand, I walked into Halo. Paige warmly greeted me at the front desk, then Mary brought me into the spa. The spray tan equipment was set up in the corner, and some moisturizer for my hands, plus some disposable undergarments, were ready for me on the spa bed. Mary walked me through the whole process from start to finish and answered any last-minute questions I had.
As I stepped into the spray tan tent and onto the sticky feet (thoughtfully provided to help keep the tanner off my feet), I was nervous. But Mary was so professional and coached me through each turn, ensuring she applied the bronze glow evenly, while also making sure I was comfortable the whole time. She applied two coats of Aviva Labs rapid spray tan, then some Glow by Erin finishing powder (which smells amazing, by the way). At the end of the appointment, we went over my spray tan after care plan. Then Mary sent me on my way with some moisturizer to help hydrate my tan.
When you're done with your spray tan, you need to let it set. This involves sitting around in your baggy, loose-fitting clothes for a few hours coated in the bronzer before taking a shower. Because I had plans that evening, I got a rapid spray tan, which you can wash off within 1-4 hours. As this was my first spray tan, Mary recommended showering off after about 2 hours. This gave me a warm, beautiful, and natural glow. I texted Mary immediately to thank her.
As I got ready to meet my friend for drinks, I felt…honestly, radiant. It was the perfect subtle glow that gave me such a confidence boost as I trekked out into a cold Friday night in Boston. And I still felt like myself, just with a little extra sparkle.
If I were to give some advice to a spray tan newbie, here’s what I would say:
Don’t wear deodorant - you will in fact have green armpits.
Wear loose, dark clothing that you’re comfortable in while you wait for the spray tan to set before showering.
You might feel sticky, so ask for the finishing powder! It smells so good and made the few hours I had to wait with the bronzer on much more comfortable.
The spray tan should be one of the last steps of your pre-vacation or pre-event beauty treatments - exfoliate, shave or wax, and get your nails done before getting the spray tan.
Consider your schedule. I’m lucky enough to work remotely so I could just hang around in sweats for a few hours, but if you have somewhere to be, make sure you schedule enough time to let the spray tan set.
So, I guess you can say that I’m a spray tan convert - I already have my next appointment booked.
Get your spray tan lined up for March - it’ll give you a little spring in your step as we get closer to warmer months. Halo offers both a classic and rapid spray tan option. And check out Mary's Instagram for some other great tips.
