Philadelphia Spray Tan

‘Tis the season to be tan — except, if you’re anything like us at this pre-Memorial Day point in time, you might be looking a little more winter white than sunny bronze. So to make your beach debut a little less scary this weekend (or to make it look like you went somewhere — without the travel bills), we’ve rounded up some of our favorite spray-tan treatments (read: no fake baking!) from across the region. We’ve included everything from full-on luxe spa treatments to no-frills spray booths — because, let’s face it, when you tie on that bikini for the first time, a faux-glow often feels better than no glow. Just be sure to follow these tips from our experts before you sign up to be sprayed, and your tan should last between three and eight days:

• DO shower, shave and exfoliate before you go
• DON’T use any scrubs with added oils in them or apply moisturizer after your shower (your tan will slip right off)
• DO wear dark, loose-fitting clothing to your appointment
• DON’T wear a bra, ladies—if you can go without
• DO wait eight hours before showering again (four at the absolute least)
• DON’T worry about the orangey residue rinsing off in your tub—it’s just the extra tanners that didn’t absorb into your skin

Joseph Anthony Retreat Spa & Salon, Glen Mills
Treatment: Sunless Tanning Treatment
Before you get your color at this relaxing suburban retreat, you’ll be scrubbed down on the spa’s heated Haman bed with one of their signature scrubs (we love the organic brown sugar). You can then either choose to have your tan sprayed on, or applied by hand by one of the spa technicians.
Price: $100 for 60-min spray-on treatment including scrub; $110 for 60-min hands-on application including scrub; $150 for a three-spray package

Metrotans, Bryn Mawr
Treatment: Airbrush Tan
Arrive at your appointment pre-scrubbed, washed and wearing those loose-fitting duds. Their professional technicians will apply your custom tan—they’ve got light, medium or dark formulas, to make sure you stay true to your original tone. You can wear an old swimsuit, but if you don’t want those annoying tan lines you can just grin — and bare it.
Price: $35 ($27 for first-timers); or $50 for a tan plus three products that will make it last.

Healthy Tans, Deptford
Treatment: Airbrush Tan
This Jersey tanning salon only uses organic products that are not only green — the color lasts. Come in fresh from the shower, and they’ll whip up a custom spray. Just remember to wear a pair of old undies or bathing suit bottoms—NJ state law won’t let you toss ’em.
Price: $32, or $80 for four (must be used within 60 days of each other)

Louis Christian Wayne Robert Salon & Spa, Cherry Hill
Treatment: Buff & Bronze
This South Jersey spa is offering a special through the month of June: they’ll buff you before you tan. Salon technicians rub their signature scrub into your skin before you relax in their lay-down shower while they wash it off with a body shampoo to get rid of those pesky oils. Then you will be sprayed head to toe with Australian Gold tanner. The salon has disposables you can wear or you can feel to bring an old bathing suit.
Price: $108

Old City Tans, Philadelphia
Treatment: UV-free custom Mystic Tan spray tan
Come to your appointment already exfoliated and ready to go. When you arrive you will be escorted to a spray room where a technician will spray you down with a tan customized for you.
Price: $30

3000bc WellMed Spa, Wayne, Chestnut Hill and Doylestown
Treatment: Sunless Tanner
You’ll begin with a full body exfoliation (using a yummy AHA scrub) before taking an aromatherapy shower to completely rinse off — and then a spa technician will apply Sans Soleil by SkinCeuticals to ensure a completely smooth, hydrating, streak-free tan.
Price: $110

Sun Myst Tanning Studios, Philadelphia
Treatment: Airbrush Tan or Mystic Sprays
At this Rittenhouse salon, you can chose between a Mystic Tan spray tan in a private booth — or have one of their technicians give you a personalized airbrush treatment. Come exfoliated and ready to go.
Price: Mystic Tan spray booth: $60 for three or $100 for five; Airbrush: $45 ($5 discount for students)

Pileggi On The Square
Treatment: Body Scrub and Tan Package
They’ll rub you down with an exfoliated scrub for a smooth, even tan at this Washington Square salon — and then they’ll whisk you away to shower off any excess oils. You’ll then receive your custom tan — and because they don’t use cosmetically tinted products, they’ll guarantee it won’t turn orange.
Price: $85

Hollywood Tans, various locations
Treatment: Instant Tan powered by Mystic Tan
The no-frills chain offers private Mystic Tan spray booths, where an automated voice will tell you how and where to stand, so you’ll come out of your 15-minute session bronzed all over.
Price: Premium formula $25, original formula $22

Susan Matthew Salon Spa, Ivyland
Treatment: Sunkissed Glow
Here, a trained specialist will spray you with a custom color packed with vitamins and antioxidants for an ultra-hydrating experience. Be sure to keep moisturizing after your first shower to maintain your faux glow.
Price: $40