Spray tanning systems range from simple airbrush tanning systems to complex systems that include a tanning booth. The airbrush tanning system includes a spray gun, mini-compressor and a tanning solution. Such units are also include either internal or external rechargeable batteries. The use is similar to airbrushes used by professionals but the quality and power of the compressors differ. You can purchase different color shades of tanning solutions to use with airbrush tanning systems but precautions are necessary. When using this equipment the instructions ask that you spray on the tan in either the shower or with a sheet as a barrier to absorb the excess spray mist. This is to prevent you from staining your surroundings whether clothing, walls or furniture.
A step up from the simple airbrushes are HLVP spray tanning systems. These are power machines similar to spray guns used by professional painters. These spray tanning systems come with turbines that provide strong airflow but with low controlled pressure. Such a system gives you the opportunity to adjust levels of the spraying power. You will be able to spray a large area of your body as well as adjust the pressure to spray efficiently and with great detail hard to reach areas of your skin. Such machines are practically on par with professional units and are very fast from start to finish. This is true provided the person using the system knows what they are doing.
The upper end of spray tanning systems are spray booths. These complex systems can cost as much as a new car. They are mostly purchased by professionals who offer spray tanning services. There are however some machines that mimic the actions of these systems that are targeted for home consumers. The method in using these systems is very simple. You walk in the booth for a few minutes and you walk out. The detail of the tan will definitely vary from machine to machine and in most cases they would be impossible to produce the same results as a professional tanner. The fact is spray tanning is an art. Perfect tans require art because the shading must be perfect and some parts of our bodies are naturally lighter or darker than other parts. Only a professional spray tanner could adjust the pressure of the spray on the fly. Some folks don’t require perfection though and don’t mind if their tan is a little off or if the machines missed a little spot here and there. Spray tanning systems while not perfect are satisfactory enough for many people, because if they weren’t then all these companies selling spraying tanning systems would be out of business.