Idiots guide to applying Pro Tan/contest Color

[FigureBeauty]

This thread is for anyone who needs help with or has experience with: application of color for contest. Feel free to post your how-to's or questions here about contest color/PRO Tan.

[FigureBeauty]

Okay, my personal favorite, after prolly 18 competitions, is still Jan Tana Pro Tan. It is a liquid that comes in a spray container w/a sponge for around $19.
*It usually takes about 2 bottles for me per show.
*You cannot plan on applying all your own color. My husband does mine for me.
*It takes several coats. If your show is on Saturday, you probably need to start Thurs.eve.
*First coat: Pour some product into an old cup. We get some new kitchen sponges and apply with them out of the old cup in a very sort of sloppy coat. You must plan on standing until completely dry. Do not do your face until the last day! Be sure that you shower and shave BEFORE applying color. You can rinse off in the a.m. on Friday and shave stubble quickly and carefully at that time. The first coat is just a base coat and you must have a 'base' tan to use this product. Otherwise, the tone is a bit green.

We tend to do around 5 coats probably, on Friday. Each coat must dry completely before starting another. After the first 2 coats, you want to be sure you start being very even with your application and applying almost like 'make up.' This is where a girl friend or someone experienced with such things can be sooooo helpful. This person should not mind seeing you naked. Another important note is this product works well in almost a downward swirling motion, again, applied with a sponge.

You will think you are dark enough after just a few coats....but do not be deceived. Many people end up way too light on stage because of the same thing and I can assure you this is to your disadvantage! Get as dark as you can.

We usually get up at 4 am ish on Saturday and get two more coats on. Do not be one of those who waits to get to the venue and has to paint down in the parking lot! Do not think you can take your pal backstage with you to help, you can't...most shows have rules prohibiting this. Plus, you don't want to have to be worriing about this...only to find out your division is going second and you don't have time to do this and pump up. Also some venues don't allow it backstage anyway. Better to be prepared and be done with it by the Sat morning athletes meeting.

*Do not show up to the prejudging by the way with a string top and booty shorts. Although this has little to do with color (although the clothing actually rubs off/rubs in and evens out your color), it is very important to stay warm and keep your muscles warm and your veins running on Saturday morning. This is to your advantage, trust me. You may likely find limited equipment for your pump up and many venues are kept very cold. Pack at least a resistance band from Wal-Mart, even guys. Believe me, this is much better than nothing and you might be the one who is standing there getting warm using one of these as opposed to having nothing at all to use. It is around $10 and worth having in your bag.

Girls, I recommend packing also a silk robe that takes up nearly no space in your bag and that you don't mind getting pro tan on. This is an excellent way to keep semi warm and comes off very easily and quickly if your division is called to the stage. Also nice to run to the bathroom in front of the audience if you are really close to going on and have removed your sweats.

[FigureBeauty]

PRO Tan washes out of sheets and most things. Your toilet and every toilet you grace after using will look like someone has shat all over it, lol. But it does come off. You will feel dirty Saturday morning, because you have all this product sitting on your skin but cannot take a bath. It is OKAY!!!!! I usually take a quick rinse off btw the morning show and the night show and get another coat.

[FigureBeauty]

As info, I do not put the tanning product on my face, nor do most girls and I even see that some guys do not use it....they use make up on their face. As dark as you can get it. I do not like cheap make up, especially since this will be so many shades darker than your natural color. Most people in the industry are using MAC make up. YOu can get it at Dillards or over the net. Most girls use NC45 to match the protan, I have used 45 and also 50. I do not like the nc50 because I looked like Aunt Jemimah I thought.

[FigureBeauty]

As far as how long does it take for PRO Tan to come off? Well, good news and bad news. The good news is after a shower you will feel as good as new. The color is really dark and beautiful at night when you go out and people will say....'oooooh you are so dark, where can I get that stuff' LOL. But in daylight for the first few days you rather look like a reverse Michael Jackson. After about a week of showering it has worn down considerably and you look pretty much a color you might wish to stay. This does not last, this is the bad news. YOu will look like a leper for the next two weeks, your elbows and knees will tend to stay dark and you will be spotty all over.

To remove as best as possible, get a loofah and some apricot kernel scrub from Wal-Mart and scrub in a circular motion in the shower. Do not rub so hard you hurt yourself:) but you will get a lot of it off this way. This is a water/alchohol based product, so you will want to have a moisturizer handy and use it several times a day after your show along w/the scrubbing because pro tan really can dry your skin out.

[BigSickD]

Nice of you to take the time to post that..:D