ADELINE IN THE SPRAYTAN(T)

Okay, first of all, I don't really consider myself part of the spraytan crowd. As in: I think you turn orange from it. Yada yada, I'm going to play with the spraytan stereotype a bit. Just a bit too blonde, nails too fake, a little too much glitter, and while you're at it, darling, throw on a nice color too. But I'm also the type that thinks you should keep your mouth shut if you've never tried it.

So I tried to sneakily get some myths and facts about spraytan from our expert Marie José (you know, from MJ Amsterdam) but it didn't work, because she immediately figured out that I had never ever experienced a spraytan myself. “Then you should come try it?” she sent. Damn, and then you have to, right? Off I went, in the name of science of course, somewhere at the end of the day because I wasn't allowed to wear a bra afterwards (believe me, you don't want to return to the office braless with my friends). And whether I wanted to bring some darker and looser clothing, because maybe I would still give off some color, so soon after the treatment. Meanwhile, my love is building a barrier in bed because he's afraid I'll stain his side of the bed. In the most orange sense of the word.

“In the most orange sense of the word”

And do you know how I look now? As if I was lying on the beach with our Annick (who spent a week with her butt in Curaçao). Nothing orange, nothing like an orange, just totally sunkissed natural. And I feel five kilos slimmer because that's what being tanned does for you. I had the choice between number eight, ten, and twelve. And twelve is really the Donatella. A no-go for me. But off I went, into the spraytan(t) with the light version in the sprayer. Yes, you're standing in your tiny little bikini. Yes, you're being sprayed with sunless tan. No, it didn't feel embarrassing. No, you minimally transfer color. I'm telling you: this is the trick for a skirt day (because those will definitely come back) or that wedding where your legs are just a bit too milk bottle for it. Even better: no edges, lines, or weird folds because you sat crooked in the sun. Look, your off-shoulder and strapless options really benefit from this. And it's so natural because it goes over your existing tan. So if you already have a tint on your face, that stays a bit more prominent than on your legs. I also got some tips from the experts at MJ Amsterdam, of course.

Don’ts:

• If your spraytan date is on the schedule, just enjoy your body on the day itself. Because of the applying, hair removal, and perfume spraying, the spraytan adheres less well.
• Don't immediately start lifting weights, because if you sweat, your tan won't absorb as well. It needs a few hours to settle properly on your skin. So also avoid showering for the first eight hours.
• No matter how much you love your Dove or Nivea, you need to put those bottles aside for a bit. They clean so well that they break down the color.

Do’s:

• Wear dark and loose clothing (that's where you need that bra). Yes really, because the spraytan can transfer a little after the treatment.
• Do shave and scrub the night before, that ensures a nice and smooth result.
• Use a moisturizing body lotion, that helps your color stay nice longer.
• Start cautiously, so just go for the sunkissed color number first.

Facts:

• You can enjoy your color for about five days, and sometimes even longer.
• In America, you can get SPRAYED to look SLIMMER. Oh, Marie José, when can that happen at your place? I want this.
• You have spraytan with a yellow AND red undertone. Aaaah, that's why orange is the new black sometimes looks a bit weird.
• You might transfer a bit, but you're completely washable. So just throw that stained top or sheets in the wash.