The latest lifestyle, fashion and travel trends
The latest lifestyle, fashion and travel trends
Footballer’s wives and the cast of TOWIE may have tarnished – or should we say tangoed – the reputation of spray tans, but in reality there’s a lot to be said for stripping down and getting yourself sprayed in a booth.
Less effort – and streaky mess – than using self-tanning products at home, and infinitely safer than a sunbed, a spray tan is the perfect way to stave off that winter pallor.
But who should you trust? Luckily for you the ES team have stripped off and been splattered and sprayed, all in the hunt for the most beautiful bronze.
Here are the five best spray tans in London:
Jules Von Hep’s at-home service
Tested by: Rosie Fitzmaurice
The experience: Celebrity tanner Jules Von Hep counts the likes of Poppy Delevingne and Millie Mackintosh among his clients.
Once he’d set up his tent in my tiny kitchen, Jules hands me a crystal to hold for the duration of the treatment to remind me to take a moment to enjoy the experience. “Tanning is all about self-care,” he says. Next, he moisturises my hands, feet, elbows, knees and creases and applies a mask to my lips. He asks me what kind of shade I want and I request something “deep but natural-looking”.
Jules uses his own Isle of Paradise tanning products. The tan sprays on clear, which means it won’t go all over my sheets that night (hurrah!). He tells me his clients will often get sprayed in the morning and head straight to work, sometimes even wearing white. It doesn’t feel sticky and dries in minutes. It will develop over the next four to six hours, I’m told.
After he’s sprayed me twice all over with the product he buffs the inside of my forearms and armpits, parts where the sun wouldn’t normally reach and shouldn’t be as dark as the rest – instant giveaways. It’s a step many people forget, he says.
The secret to prolonging my tan? Moisturising! Despite the fact that I was a little lax with this aftercare tip I was still a deep brown for about a week before it started to fade. Before he leaves, Jules hands me a bottle of his medium self-tanning water to top up my face and backs of hands as and when I need.
Awkwardness factor: Zero. Jules is super outgoing and has a knack for instantly putting you at ease.
Duration and price: £200 by appointment only – this fee includes travel to a London address. Allow at least 45 minutes for the session.
Contact: jules@theisleofparadise.com
James Harknett at W Hotel
Tested by: Amelia Heathman
The experience: In the centre of London, just off heaving Leicester Square, I was whisked away from the madness of the city into the Away Spa and James Harknett’s tanning kingdom.
This was my very first spray tan ever so I was fairly nervous I would end up looking like horribly streaky and orange. But, straight away, James reassured me this would not happen.
Before going into his tanning room, he sat me down and talked me through what would happen, how best to look after the tan afterwards and the type of colour I wanted. As I’m very pale, I wanted a light colour that looked like I’d been on holiday, and soft glow on my face so my foundation would still match.
This was certainly the outcome. I was impressed that for the first time I actually had a summer glow to my skin, and was told by my friends that I simply looked like myself, but healthier. James used Fake Bake Gold as this works well for fairer skin tones and the tan lasted a good two weeks, thanks to his advice to moisturise!
Awkwardness factor: Surprisingly, not awkward at all even though it felt a bit nerve-wracking to strip off for someone I had never met before, but James made me feel very at ease. Next time I’m in the mood to have a spray tan, I will definitely be making a reappearance at the Away Spa.
Duration and price About 30 minutes all in all. Price, £50
Contact: JamesHarnett.co.uk/Whotel
Mystic Tan at Heidi Klein
Tested by: Chloe Street
The experience: Slip behind the mirrored door at the back of Heidi Klein’s Westbourne Grove store and you will find an automated tanning booth (the only Mystic Tan booth in London) very similar in appearance to a standing up sunbed.
Assisted by one of the delightful Heidi Klein store staff you’ll be asked to select a colour from light, medium and dark (I had a base tan from summer so went for medium) and choose a fragrance (to mask any ‘biscuity’-ness) from coconut, vanilla, ‘sport’ and ‘fresh.’ I opted for ‘sport’ which, unlike the coconut and vanilla scents (which reminded me of the sickly sweet stench of the cheap fake tan I used at university) was surprisingly pretty and fresh.
You’ll then rub barrier lotion on your hands and toes while listening to a quick briefing on how the machine works (but honestly, a four-year-old could use it) before stepping in and shutting the door.
There are numbered foot positions on the floor and the self-check-out-style voice tells you when it’s time to turn (you have to pivot clockwise four times) with drying settings in between. Three minutes later you’re touch dry and getting dressed again.
The tan takes between four and eight hours to develop, but for anyone who needs it to take effect quicker (I wanted my lunch break tan to show by dinner), there’s an accelerator fluid they can add which reduces the time to four or five hours. The tan is also initially colourless (I put my white top back on no problems) but if you’re heading straight out and want something immediately visible, they can add a bronzer to the mix.
Awkwardness factor: Not only was this one of the quickest, easiest and best value for money spray tans we’ve had, but it’s also perfect for those who hate the thought of standing starkers in front of a stranger.
Just remember to listen carefully to the (incredibly straightforward) instructions to avoid replicating that scene with Ross from Friends…
Duration and price: You’re in and out in under 10 minutes. Single tan: £27.50. Course of 10: £200
Contact: To book call the Heidi Klein Westbourne Grove store on 020 7243 5665.
James Read Tanning Studio at Harvey Nichols
Tested by: Suzannah Ramsdale
The experience: If there’s anyone you can trust with your tan it’s James Read. The celebrity tanner has been painting the pins of the A-list for years and it’s easy to see why. His ethos is all about creating natural-looking colour and his formula adapts to your skin tone so there’s no need to agonise over which shade to pick. The experience is much like any other salon: de-robe, step into the booth, the tanner applies moisturising balm to the tricky areas (elbows, ankles…) and sprays away, building layers for an even tan.
Awkwardness factor: Having your naked body sprayed while you stand in a hair net and tiny paper pants is never the most relaxing of experiences, but the tanner (James Read is not there personally, alas) will make friendly chit chat to make it as quick and painless as possible. The result was an even, glowy tan which I could only ever hope to get after a week (probably two) in Greece. Super quick, super effective.
Duration and price: 30 minutes. Price, £55
Contact: Hershesons Salon, Harvey Nichols. Hershesons.com
SecretSpa using Sienna X
Tested by: Laura Hampson
The experience: Despite running a bit late, my therapist Nadine set up everything quickly and we were ready to go within minutes of her walking through my front door. She set up the portable tent in my kitchen and I was offered a pair of disposable pants but decided to keep mine on. She rubbed my hands and feet with cream to make sure the tan spread evenly and we discussed the colour I wanted to go for – as this was my first-ever spray tan, we decided to keep it light.
The process was quick and simple. Nadine sprayed the Sienna X on me and instructed me when to lift my arms and when to turn around. Once it was over, I walked to my bedroom to put on a light, breezy piece of clothing and Nadine left. A spray tan at home after work could not be any easier, you simply sleep with the formula on and wash it off with body wash and a face cloth in the morning. The Sienna X left me bronzed and glowing with an even tan all over.
Sienna X is offered in a number of salons, to find your closest one look here: sienna-x.co.uk
Awkwardness factor: I didn’t feel awkward one bit about stripping off in front of a stranger (being at home certainly helped), Nadine made me feel completely at ease and we launched straight into it.
Duration and price: 30 minutes, eight hour developing time. £40
Contact: They’re an at-home service, super convenient for the busy Londoner. bookings@secretspa.co.uk, 020 7096 0506
