SHADE Sunless Tans

SHADE Sunless Tans is located on Main Street in downtown Vancouver, Washington, and is open Sunday from noon to 4 and Monday through Friday from 9 to 8. The studio was founded by Tarah McNeice shortly after she earned her spray tan certification from The Spray Tan Lounge in 2024.

The studio's outlook is that bodies don't need changing and that a spray tan should leave people feeling more confident. Before a tan, the artist talks through lifestyle, how much a client sweats, how long the tan needs to develop, the depth of color wanted and skin type, then chooses a tan to suit. The Shady is custom-selected by undertone and depth and takes about 30 minutes to apply. According to the studio, The Drip is its most hydrating option, finished with a hydrating spray that also helps reduce spray tan odor, and it comes in a classic or sweat-resistant solution.

According to the studio, its solutions are alcohol-free, paraben-free, free of formaldehyde donors, fragrance free, vegan and cruelty free. The DHA is sourced from small-batch distributors, and The Shady solution also contains vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and aloe.

Clients are asked to skip showering for 12 hours before the tan, exfoliate with a mitt 24 to 48 hours ahead (scrubs are not used for this step), and shave at least 24 hours before, never the same day. No lotions or potions go on the skin after the final prep shower. Loose dark clothing and open-toe shoes are recommended, and clients can go nude or wear a swimsuit, underwear, shorts or a tank, with disposable thongs and nipple covers available. Tans take 12 to 24 hours to fully develop, so the studio advises booking one day before a vacation or two to three days before an event, and getting the tan one to two days ahead, sometimes three.

After the tan, the first rinse uses only water, with bronzer rinsed off by hand and rinsing repeated if streaks appear. Lotion goes on after that and twice a day with plenty of water. Hot showers, baths, hot tubs and chlorinated water are best avoided, and retinol or tretinoin should be skipped afterward. Cerave, Cetaphil, Native and Natrium are listed as suitable pre-tan products, while Dove, Olay and Method are not recommended. Spray tans don't include SPF, so clients should wear sunscreen. Partner in Crime tans are priced from $100 and require both people to arrive at the same time, and the Prenup package for brides and grooms starts at $115, with a $20 deposit and an optional third tan for $25.

Tans are matched to each client during a consultation that considers lifestyle, sweating, develop time, desired darkness and skin type.