The national media has been full of celebs flaunting the ‘pale and interesting’ look which, however natural it might be, could be more accurately described as ‘pasty and dull’.

But their foray into the world of the white and wan is likely to be a short-lived fad.

Let’s face it, when the strappy dresses come out and legs are bared, there is no doubt that a bit of colour gives a healthy glow — and more than a little bit of sex appeal.

In the days when people laboured in the fields, a tan was the sign of the lower social classes. Today, it implies wealth, leisure and a sporty and healthy outdoor lifestyle.

Apart from these attention-seeking celebrities going whiter than white, the desire for a tan shows no sign of abating, but achieving one can be less than straightforward.

Lack of sun is the first hurdle to cross — with this year being a prime example. Then there’s the fear of skin cancer and premature ageing, which increasingly makes any would-be tanner hesitate at least for a moment.

And what if you are the typical English rose who goes from white to bright red and then to pink if you’re lucky? How are you to get that golden glow without frying to resemble more of an overcooked lobster?

The answer is: Fake it. There are numerous artificial tanning products on the market, but if you don’t want to resemble a radioactive orange blob, there are some caveats to watch out for, particularly if you’re planning on attempting the feat at home.

Home tanning products have earned a notorious reputation for giving an overstrong, artificial-looking colour, not to mention the likelihood of the tabby effect — in other words streaking.

Many of the top cosmetic companies now make self-tanning products which give excellent results, but specialist brands such as St Tropez and Fake Bake have it down to a fine art.

The cheaper end of the market should be avoided. Cheap products contain cheap ingredients and you can’t expect top quality results.

Applying tanning products at home can seem like a good idea, but it is fraught with difficulties.

In the past, most creams were colourless so it was impossible to see where you had and hadn’t applied the product, leading to an uneven colour, missed bits and streaking.

Most self-tans are now coloured so they are a little easier to apply, but for the unpractised it is still quite a task. Most people apply far too much giving too strong a colour — known as being Tangoed, after the commercials for the bright orange fizzy drink.

Applying self-tan to the back and other awkward parts can be tricky without a willing and able helper, and then you have to consider orange hands as well as unwittingly dyed soft furnishings, bed linen, towels and clothing.

So, for a look that’s more South of France than Southsea, put yourself in the hands of the professionals.

Kevin Melnyk, who owns the Professional Tanning Studio with premises in Camberley and Sunninghill, believes you get what you pay for.

A studio tan represents good value for money when you consider the cost of a top-end product you would apply at home, he says.

“You eliminate the risks and mess of home application and get a really top quality product,” said Kevin.

“Tanning products contain something called DHA and it is this that makes the skin change colour. The rest is just base, fragrance and so on.

The majority of salon products are very good but those from the high street are more of an unknown quantity.

“We use California Tan which is a well-established brand, and we also have Fake Bake. This is the biggest brand since St Tropez and we introduced this in response to customer demand.

“We are one of a very few salons allowed to stock Fake Bake Gold, which is the top of the range.”

At the Camberley branch, customers wanting a spray-applied tan will be offered California Tan, but if they have their heart set on Fake Bake, this done at Sunninghill.

Customers can also have the products applied by hand. In practice, most people prefer the privacy of the booths because, of course, getting a tan means stripping down to your altogether.

There are pros and cons to both methods of application. A spray booth will give a predictable result, particularly once the customer is familiar with the equipment.

Alternatively, a hand-applied tan can be tailored to suit the client — for example, allowing for highlighting of specific areas such as the cleavage — but the end result very much depends on the skill of the therapist.

Kevin said: “Most people are not bothered about specific brands so they’re quite happy with what we have on offer. California Tan gives a lovely golden colour while Fake Bake has a range of hues including Fake Bake Fair for the very fair-skinned.”

The Tanning Salon uses a Mystic Tan booth for its spray-on tans. Fans of Friends might have seen it featured in the episode where Ross has a fake tan.

It uses a technology involving low level magnetism, which causes the tanning solution to be attracted to the client’s body rather than the sides of the booth.

The whole process takes about 30 seconds as nozzles spray the solution up and down the body.
All the client has to do is to stand in the appropriate positions and remember to close their mouth and hold their breath when their face is sprayed.

“The solution is a bit chilly, but it’s all over so quickly, you don’t get cold,” said Kevin.

“The most important thing is to stand correctly and we show clients how to do this.

“Despite our best efforts, we can’t control what the client does in the booth. It can take a couple of times to get it right, so I always recommend having a trial run if you want a tan for a special occasion.”

It takes around six hours for the product to be absorbed by the skin. Once the colour has developed, it will last for about five days, so some people like to get redone once a week.

But don’t let that golden glow lull you into a false sense of security. A fake tan offers no sun protection, and underneath your skin is as white as it was before.

If you’re going out in the sun, don’t forget your SPF lotions or you might still end up looking like that lobster after all.

DOs and DON'Ts of using a spray booth

DO exfoliate beforehand, preferably on the previous day using a same-brand product.

DO wax or shave before having a fake tan.

DO wear loose, dark clothing after your tan is applied.

DO wear flip flops or loose-fitting shoes.

DO remember to turn round in the booth at the appropriate time — a light will flash or a voice will tell you. If you don’t you will get a double dose on one side and nothing on the other.

DO apply barrier to the nails and the palms of the hands.

DO wear the supplied hair covering correctly, or you could end up
with either a white forehead or sprayed hair.

DON’T wear make-up, moisturisers, perfume, deodorants or any conflicting products.

DON’T wear jewellery and remember that anything exposed will get sprayed.

DON’T wear tight clothing or anything with straps that will rub your tan off.

DON’T do anything that will make you sweat or wet, such as sport, swimming or showering for at least six hours after your tan is applied.