Tanning booths have become the number one way for people to keep that year round tanned look. We should all now be aware of the dangers of too much sun (skin cancer) and a number of alternatives are showing success in the market to counteract these health issues.

One of the choices people are now making is to go to a salon that offers spray tanning for an almost instant, safe tan. Originally it was the creams and bronzing lotions that were the most commonly used but spraying the tan on gives a more professional finish.

Although the popularity is still to be proved, systems using the new spray tanning technology have been designed for home use. Regardless of the method you choose there are a few basic steps to follow to ensure that you get the best results possible.

Initially you need to exfoliate which will eliminate all the dead skin cells from your body. If you apply a tan agent to dead skin it will just fall off and leave light spots in its place.

Once that stage has been completed, the body needs to be moisturized all over. One of the biggest mistakes people make at this stage when applying a bronzer from a bottle or cream application is to forget to wear gloves, this leaves them with orange palms which is hard to disguise.

Also, apply lighter coats of tanning agent on the joints of your fingers, your knees, and your elbows as these areas will appear darker if you do not and the same applies to your feet. The only possible problem that can occur when spray tanning is used is some streaking caused by excess fluid, so an old towel you no longer need should be used to remove it.

Always stay as still as possible after artificial tanning to allow time for the application to settle down and create an even coating. Agents of all types will leave stains on your clothing almost as soon as you put them on so consider what you intend to wear once you have finished.

Obviously darker clothing is the best option so the staining will not be as visible, and if possible, something that you will not worry about if it gets damaged. Applying an artificial tan successfully means there are a few rules to follow which should ensure it looks as genuine as possible.