Get your glow 2 go

These days a phone call can make the dog groomer, the geeky computer-repair guy and an order of spring rolls materialize at the front door. The same can now be said for mobile airbrushing companies, which promise bronze bods and, on request, to enhance cleavage and six-pack abs in the comfort of one's own abode.

Salon airbrushing and spray-on Mystic tans have become the healthful alternatives to tanning beds in recent years. More companies are emerging to cater to clients who want at-home faux glows.

The service is a convenient substitute to visiting salons whose atmosphere might be dictated by young hosts blaring pop music.
The techniques and formulas for airbrushing differ by company, but Neila Pourhashem, marketing coordinator at Dark Tan in Newport Beach, Calif., explains the basics of the 15-minute house call.

Clients are instructed to shower, shave, exfoliate and nix makeup or lotion before "tanning."

Airbrush technicians will create a sort of bronze cocktail based on preference (fair to medium or medium to dark.) The solution is poured into a portable, rectangular machine with long hoses and detachable airbrush. (Think of the ghoul trap in "Ghostbusters.")
A clear cream is applied to hands and feet so that they don't turn out looking overtanned and fake.

Women can be sprayed in the nude or wearing a swimsuit. Men are required to wear a "jock sock." These cover-up policies vary by company.

With a twist of the nozzle, technicians can enhance abdominals with shading or add definition to legs by placing a darker line along their natural contour. The same goes for women who want to give their cleavage a bit of an extra boost.

Note to those with beer bellies: Some existing resemblance to a six-pack is required.

Shana Nelson, of Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., started OC Tan 2 U three years ago after her mother was diagnosed with skin cancer. Her mother wanted a spray tan to cover the subsequent scarring but felt uncomfortable at salons with "teeny boppers" at the counter.
As it was for her mother, the temporary glow is more than just a tan for some of Nelson's clients. "It covers cellulite, stretch marks, varicose veins and bruising from reconstructive surgery," she says. Cancer survivors can also get a warm, glowy boost.

Nelson brings a pop-up cabana, but since there's little overspray she'll work in just about any space. "Most of my clients prefer the shower but we've sprayed on sun decks, in closets and in kitchens, on boats in the harbor and dressing rooms," she says.

Curtis Canett of Mission Viejo, Calif., owner of the Bronze Squad, sends promotional teams of freshly sprayed women dressed like '70s roller girls out to nightclubs to promote the smart tan. If maintained according to directions (i.e. supplemental lotions and bronzers), he says, airbrush tans can last up to a week.

At-home airbrushing, ranging from $40 to $150 a session, is the luxury option over do-it-yourself foams, lotions and aerosols on drugstore and department store shelves. With airbrushing, there's peace of mind knowing there'll be no ensuing orange smudges or missed spots in those hard-to-reach places.

Companies also offer packages to encourage clients to throw tanning parties at their homes and offices.

Makeup artist Paige Nesiage of Newport Beach, Calif., is a regular airbrush client. She's gathering a group of friends who've expressed interest in the airbrush tan because, she figured, "Why not make a party out of it?"