Spray Tanning History and Evolution
Throughout history outdoor sun tanning has cycled through periods of popularity to unpopularity and back. Sun tanning periods were valued for perceived health benefits and other times only for the desired tanned cosmetic effect. Rather ironically, untanned periods of popularity were favoured also for health concerns, or for the desired untanned cosmetic effect.
Sunless tanning almost got its start in the 1920s when German scientists noted that DHA used in the X-ray process caused a brown colour change in the skin similar to the tanning effect. Unfortunately for sunless tanning, and the World of course, war broke out and any research became focused solely on the war effort.
Not until the 1950s did Eva Wittgenstein at the University of Cincinnati rediscover DHAs unique sunless tanning properties. Administering DHA orally to children for glycogen storage disease, she noted that spilled solution caused exposed skin to turn a tanned colour. Interested, she experimented with the process and could be considered the World’s First Self Tanner!
Through the popularity of the beach culture in the 50s and 60s sun tanning experienced a resurgence in popularity, which largely continues to this day. For self-tanning and DHA, the timing couldn’t have been better. Coppertone released the first commercially available self-tanner, “Quick Tan” or “QT” as an overnight tanning agent. Competitors quickly followed suit, and the self-tanning industry was born.
Safety fears surrounding DHA for self-tanning use were put to rest in 1973 when the FDA added DHA to their list of permanently approved cosmetic ingredients. Although now billed as a ‘safe tan’, it was not until the 80s and 90s when manufacturers were finally able to improve their products through additional ingredients and further refinement of DHA that self-tanners could finally generate more natural-looking tans with acceptable fading properties. The emergence of studies demonstrating links between skin cancer and repeated UV exposure during the same period further increased demand for sunless tanning products and their continued product improvement.
Somewhat messy, and difficult to apply by oneself, creams, lotions, gels and sprays were transformed into Professional SprayTanning services offered manually by specialists using compressors and spray guns similar to those found in the painting industry. SprayTanning proved quicker, more convenient, and customizable to the requests of clients with improved results courtesy of the experienced technicians offering the service.
By the turn of the millennium, the equipment technology associated with spraytanning made yet another leap when automatic spraytanning equipment was developed. Despite early difficulties, ‘auto-spraytan’ equipment is now extremely fast, allows for personal client privacy without need for a technician, and provides reasonable, although not customizable results.
Today, the Professional Spraytanning industry features both manual and automatic systems. Both systems combine with hundreds of different products by different manufacturers allowing clients to choose from darkness, shades, scents, and numerous other features, all towards achieving your perfect tanning result.
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