A good beauty salon is tricky because it has to be somewhere you are comfortable when you are potentially going to be nearly naked in order to get a treatment. It has to be reasonably priced, these days you will be hard pushed to find a row of shops that does not include a beauty salon of some kind so there is a lot of competition. Then they have to actually know what they are doing and do it well. You are going to these people to make yourself look and feel better and the last thing you want is to have paid to look like an idiot. This is particularly true when it comes to spray tans. I have had many spray tans and each one has been a different experience and left me with a different result. There are different techniques: the praying spinner- hold your breath for what feels like a day whilst you twirl with your eyes shut and hands clasped together; the more conventional and less suffocating but ultimately more revealing Egyptian pose- stand with paper knickers in different positions whilst the beautician either sprays or rubs you with fake tan. Then there is the fake tan, from well known brands to warehouse products, both the technique and the tan can leave you sun-kissed, tangoed, or tan-less. Sanctuary 12, whilst offering a range of other treatments, excel in their approach to tanning. They have a small room specifically designed for spray tans, that allows privacy and enough air and space for you to breathe and move whilst being sprayed. Once undressed and your paper panties or old, back-of-the-knicker-drawer pants are the only clothing remaining, the beautician will knock on the door and begin spraying. The whole experience lasts less than 5 minutes so can easily be done on a lunch break, and although the posing isn't exactly dignified the girls make sure every area is covered, leaving no streaks or patches. The spraying method means it's less intrusive than the hand applied tans and feels like a cool breeze when being applied to the skin (it seems to get colder on your stomach but lasts about 30 seconds!) The other thing that defines a spray tan is your own skin colour and the beauticians take into account what level of tan would suit your own skin and how dark you want to be, adapting the tan to suit your needs. I'm pale but love being brown so I get a level of tan that can mistake me for having been in the Caribbean for 4 weeks. After you have been sprayed, leave putting on your clothes until your skin feels dry which takes around a minute and that's it, job done. The cost: £18 for full body, £10 for half body. They do give the option of the manual tan using St Tropez if you prefer that method and product, but if you're a newbie then try the spray first as it's cheaper and works just as well. (£30 for St Tropez but includes full exfoliation). This is a great little place that makes you feel comfortable, look great, and at a good price. Tip: always wear clothes that you don't mind getting tan on, as when the tan is developing the residue can rub off, but it has always washed out of the rags I wear when having it done. read more
