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With spring break coming up, many Fairfield students will be returning to school nicely tanned after a week in various tropical locales. For those students who will not be baking in the sun for the next week, there is a new option for obtaining that sun-kissed glow: airbrush tanning.
Ageless Airbrush Tan, which is run out of Heatwave Tanning Studio, offers a UV-free alternative to tanning.
Peggy Lukacsy, who runs Ageless Airbrush Tan, explains the wide appeal of the new tanning trend: "It's for everyone. I've tanned people ranging from young teens to a 75 year old woman. I've airbrushed a mom with four young kids who didn't have time for bed tanning."
Airbrush tanning can also be a good option for people who are concerned about being exposed to ultraviolet rays.
"I've had experiences with people with skin cancer in their family or people who had done so much tanning in the past that now they're concerned," said Lukacsy.
Caitlin Winters '05 went through the tanning process.
"I was impressed by the whole process. Peggy's customizing technique gave me a tan that complemented my complexion perfectly," said Winters. "The results were amazing; for once in my life I could say I was tan! I was afraid it might be too dark, which would make it look fake, but it looks completely natural. I have light Irish skin and a history of skin cancer in my family, so I am prone to sunburns and could never step foot in a tanning booth."
Winters' session took approximately 30 minutes to go over her body twice with a machine that looks like an air compressor with a hose attached and a pen at the end. The tanning solution is applied along with a bronzer to give an idea of what the actual tan will look like. Actual skin pigment change began four to six hours following the session.
Lukacsy said Winters' tan will last anywhere from five to 10 days, with the lasting period depending on each individual skin type. Lukacsy also said she will soon be purchasing a new airbrush tanning machine that will cut time off the process.
Airbrush tanning requires some aftercare. Lukacsy said following the aftercare guidelines is essential, and the most important thing to remember is moisturize often. Also, after a session a client should avoid getting wet during the first eight hours, but waiting 24 hours is preferable to help the tan last longer.
Lukacsy was trained in airbrush tanning in Florida where she said it is already very popular. "It's really hitting the market big," she said.
However, popularity in the Northeast and in the rest of the country is slowly growing as well. According to a CNN.com article on Nov. 5 2003, "So far this year, the survey found that demand for spray-on tans is up 67 percent compared with last year, accounting for nearly $1 million in sales in the United States."
"Airbrush tanning gave me a gorgeous tan without any of the harmful side effects that come from tanning booths," said Winters. "I would definitely recommend it to everyone, no matter what their skin tone is. I think Airbrush tanning results look more natural than the tans you get from a booth, so you get better results for essentially the same price."
Ageless Airbrush Tan is located in Heatwave Tanning Studio, 1871 Black Rock Tpke. To contact Peggy Lukacsy call (203) 923-6988.
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