Mystic Tanning Questions and Answers Q: What is Mystic Tan™? A: The Mystic Tan™ process produces a tan color on skin when a special Mystic Tan™ solution has been applied. The solution has three components; bronzer, DHA, and Aloe Vera. The bronzer is a water-soluble cosmetic dye designed to produce an instant tan. The bronzer tan remains on the skin until it is washed off in a shower or bath. The brown bronzer color can be seen in the bath water but will not stain because it is completely water-soluble. The DHA (dihydroxyacetone) is the component that creates the longer term tanning effect. DHA is a safe, simple molecule that has been used in food and cosmetics for several decades. When applied to the skin, DHA reacts with proteins and amino acids in the skin’s superficial layer to form a golden brown color. It will begin to darken 2 to 3 hours after application but it reaches its peak color within 24 hours. The DHA tan will begin to fade within four to five days. To maintain an optimal tan an individual should tan every four to five days. The Aloe Vera liquid is a natural moisturizer that comprises over 70% of the total solution. Q: Is it safe? A: All of the components in the Mystic Tan™ tanning solution have been used in food and/or cosmetics for several decades. If you have ever had any adverse effects utilizing self-tanning products or moisturizers you might experience similar effects with the Mystic Tan™ tanning solution. Q: How is the Mystic Tan™ tanning solution applied to the skin. A: The Mystic Tan™ tanning process produces a full body DHA tan utilizing MagneTan™ technology, a revolutionary process that allows the booth to apply a uniform amount of tanning solution to all parts of the body. The Mystic Tan™ tanning booth is located in a private room. You simply enter the room, disrobe, and step into the booth. A push of a button activates the Mystic Tan™ nozzles. When the special Mystic Tan™ solution passes through the booth’s nozzles, the particles of solution are polarized, taking on the characteristics of “tiny magnets.” MagneTan™ technology then uses the body‘s own magnetic properties to attract the solution particles to all surfaces of the skin. When the tanning process is finished, the customer simply steps out of the booth, towels-off any excess mist, dresses, and exits. The result is a uniform, natural-looking tan in less than five minutes. Q: Will it turn me orange? A: No! In the past, self-tanners gave many individuals an unnatural orange glow and caused streaking. Most of these undesirable results were caused by improper or ineffective application techniques. Applying creams and lotions by hand usually results in excessive amounts being absorbed in the skin. Excessive amounts applied in a single application can give an orange glow to the skin. Unnatural dark spots may also appear in dry or thick skin areas such as elbows, knees, and knuckles because they have a tendency to absorb more of the cream or lotion. Hand held spray-on applicators tend to run and cause streaking. The misting technology used to apply the Mystic Tan™ tanning solution assures that all areas of the body get a uniform coating of the solution in the exact quantity required to produce a golden brown tan. Q: What should I wear in the Mystic Tan™ tanning booth? A: Many people don’t wear anything. The room is completely private and if you would like to tan without clothing, it is perfectly acceptable. However, if you do wear a bathing suit, underwear or anything else, please be aware that whatever you wear may be stained. The bronzer we use for your initial color is water-soluble and should wash out of anything you wear, but the DHA applied may cause permanent stains on any clothing you may wear inside the booth. Q: Will I be wet when I step out of the Mystic Tan™ tanning booth? A: The mist applied in the Mystic Tan™ tanning booth is very fine, much like the mist floating in the air on a foggy day. By the time you step out of the booth most of the mist will have dried, but there may still be a few moist areas. You may see small droplets clinging to any body hair on your arms or legs. This remaining moisture can be removed quite easily by toweling dry. Do not worry about wiping off the solution with the towel. Toweling does not streak the tan and any solution that comes off on the towel was excess and will not affect your tan. Just towel off the same way you do when you take a shower. Be sure you have toweled all moist areas before dressing. Q: How long after a Mystic Tan™ tanning session before I can put my clothes back on? A: Once you have towel dried, there is little chance of the bronzer or DHA getting on your clothes. If you pursue any strenuous physical activity after your Mystic Tan™ tanning session, perspiration may cause some of the bronzer to transfer to your clothing. Since the bronzer is completely water-soluble it will wash out. Q: How many times do I need to tan with the Mystic Tan™ tanning process to achieve the color I want? A: You will be tan after one, but it may take several sessions to achieve your desired color. Once you reach the color you desire you should be able to maintain it by tanning every three to four days. Q: If I tan in the Mystic Tan™ tanning booth, can I also tan in tanning beds and in the sun? A: Yes. There is nothing in the Mystic Tan™ tanning solution that would prevent you from tanning in tanning beds or the sun. In fact, a number of customers have found that tanning with UV rays and the Mystic Tan™ tanning solution actually gives them a better overall tan. If you do plan to use a tanning bed and the Mystic Tan™ booth in the same day, we recommend that you tan in the tanning bed first. Remember however, that the Mystic Tan™ tan does not give you any protection from UV rays. Q: Will my Mystic Tan™ be an even tan or will there be some parts of my body that will get darker? A: The Mystic Tan™ tanning booth is designed to provide as even a tan as possible. However, tanners will be different heights and shapes, and may stand in different positions. It is possible that you will find some areas of your tan lighter than others. In most cases this difference disappears after several tanning sessions. Q: Because of my fair skin, I have never been able to tan before. Will the Mystic Tan™ tanning booth give me a tan? A: Yes. The Mystic Tan™ tanning booth was designed specifically for individuals who can’t or don’t want to tan conventionally. Q: I usually break out in freckles when I try to tan. Will the Mystic Tan™ tanning solution make my freckles come out too? A: No. There is nothing in the Mystic Tan™ tanning solution that will cause more freckles to break out. If fact, in most cases, freckles and blemishes will become less pronounced because the lighter skin areas will darken and reduce the color differentiation between the blemishes and the rest of your skin. Q: Will I get a better tan if I have two Mystic Tan™ tanning sessions in the same day? A: Yes, tanning twice in the same day will give you a darker tan, but we do not recommend back-to-back sessions. Tanning back-to-back doesn’t give the DHA a chance to set between tans and increases the chance that your tan may have an orange glow. Waiting 12 to 24 hours between tans will eliminate this potential problem. If you are looking for a darker tan in a single session you should consider a Mystic Plus tan which will give you about 50% more DHA is a single session. Q: How long do I have to wait after a Mystic Tan™ tanning session before I can shower? A: We recommend that you wait four hours after tanning to give the DHA enough time to fully set. If you shower earlier, you may diminish the intensity of the tan. When you do shower the initial tan created by the water-soluble bronzer will wash off, but the DHA will remain and create your long-term tan. Q: What happens if the Mystic Tan™ mist gets in my eyes? A: There is nothing in the mist that will harm your eyes. Q. Do I need to cover my hair while tanning in the Mystic Tan™ tanning booth? A: Many customers wear disposable shower caps (provided by the salon) to keep the solution from getting in their hair. The Mystic Tan™ solution does not penetrate the hair follicle. Q: Has anyone had an allergic reaction to the chemicals used in the Mystic Tan™ tanning solution? A: No. All of the components of the Mystic Tan™ tanning solution have been used in cosmetics and food products for decades and have proven to be safe for use on the skin. Q: Do I need to hold my breath during the Mystic Tan™ tanning session? What happens if I breathe in the Mystic Tan™ mist? Will the mist make me sick? A: We recommend that you hold your breath during the actual misting process, which lasts for 15 to 20 seconds. We make this recommendation because most individuals would prefer not to breathe in the mist even though there is nothing in it that would cause any harm if you did breathe it. If you have a history of asthma we do not recommend that you tan in the Mystic Tan™ tanning booth until consulting with your physician. Q: Will the components of the Mystic Tan™ solution make my skin have an unpleasant smell? A: Some customers have commented that they noticed a “starchy” smell on their skin for a brief period right after tanning, but it is usually not noticeable to others around them. Q: Are there ways to enhance the Mystic Tan™ results? A: Yes. Applying a water-based moisturizer prior to tanning helps the skin absorb the Mystic Tan™ tanning solution. Using a moisturizer frequently will help the tan last longer. You should not apply any moisturizers or lotions to the skin after tanning until the DHA has had time to set, usually 4 to 6 hours. Certain types of moisturizers or lotions applied during this period could cause streaking of the DHA.: Q: Can I go swimming after tanning in the Mystic Tan booth? A: You should not swim or shower for a minimum of 4 hours after tanning in the Mystic Tan™ booth. Swimming in chlorinated water at any time can bleach the Mystic Tan and possible cause streaking. Q: Who should use the Mystic Tan™ booth? A: Everyone! Self-Tanners: If you are already using DHA technology in self-tanning creams, you can avoid the hassle and time-consuming task of applying these creams by hand. Non-Tanners: If you have a pale complexion and have never been able to tan before, you can now have that “healthy look” with no concerns about burning or skin damage. Ex-Tanners: If you tanned for years, but gave it up because you were concerned about the cumulative effect on your skin, you can now recapture that upbeat feeling you used to have when you were sporting a golden tan. Current Tanners: If you are currently tanning, you know there is no substitute for the real thing. But sometimes you want a deeper, darker color. Mystic Tan™ can provide an even darker tan. Back to Mystic Tan Page