Tao Hair & Beauty

I’m off on holiday as of… NOW.
But before I skedaddled in search of sun, surf and sand… I needed to get some things in order. High in the rankings was «WHOA, get a spray tan.» I’m secretly really obsessed with spray tans, I blame my pale lineage and desire to be a person that absorbs sun, instead of being blistered by it.
Pale people want to look tan, too. And for us, there are spray tans. And if you find yourself in East London, the spray tan of your dreams lives at Tao Hair & Beauty.
A tastefully low key salon just off Great Eastern Street, Tao Hair & Beauty doesn’t look like much from the outside. However, as you enter you’ll find a very nice shop with friendly staff and great treatments, hardwood floors, super clean surfaces and a variety of options to make you prettier. My kind of place. I can do without the pomp and circumstance that some Shoreditch spas seem to revel in, so Tao is right up my alley and also close to home.
Demet was my spray tanner and she was both professional and friendly. This salon uses St. Tropez system which is a good one that looks pretty natural (not orange). The spray tanning area is set up in one of the rooms downstairs and is clean and private.
Never spray tanned before? Here are my top tips:
Step-​by-​step guide to airbrush tanning:
1. Make an appointment.
2. Day of or night before: EXFOLIATE.
3. Show up with NO makeup, lotions, deodorant, etc.
4. Go to Tao.
5. Go into room.
6. Strip to your knickers (ok, its a bit personal, get over it).
7. Demet (or other tech) applies airbrush tan, in your selected shade.
8. Dry a bit.
9. Dry a bit more.
10. No exercising or ahem… other sweaty activities for 6 – 8 hours. Plan accordingly.
11. Shower at least 8 hours later. Bronzer washes off.
12. Beautiful (fake) tan that lasts for a week+ and all of your friends will wonder when you have the time to sunbathe.
13. Remember to moisturize to keep your tan long and strong.
14. Repeat.
At 24.99, it’s a bargain. I will now look sun-​kissed for a week instead of fried to a crisp. Also, no wrinkles! Hasta luego, I’m off to Mexico!