There’s a question we hear all the time, usually somewhere in the middle of a first appointment: “So, what’s actually in this stuff, anyway?”
We love that question. You’re trusting us with your color and your time, so you deserve a real answer, not a vague “don’t worry, it’s natural.” Let’s walk through it and talk about why a Just Glow tan wears so differently from the one you’d get anywhere else including off the shelf.
It Starts With the Ingredients
Every glow at Just Glow is sprayed with NUDA, and we chose it on purpose years ago. It’s water-based, not alcohol-based, which matters more than it sounds: alcohol dries your skin out, and dry skin is where tans go patchy and fade unevenly.
The base is refreshingly simple: purified water, naturally derived DHA, food-grade accelerators and the preservatives that keep it fresh. Then come the extras: vitamins A, B, C, D and E, aloe vera, elderflower, white and green tea extract, coconut, meadowfoam and jojoba oil. (Yes, your tan comes with a little skincare built right in.)
What’s left out matters just as much. NUDA is free of parabens, sulfates, gluten and nut oils, and it’s vegan and cruelty-free. And there’s no UV. Not in the solution, not in the studio, not ever. We opened Just Glow in 2017 because Bluffton needed an alternative to traditional tanning, safe for all skin types, and that’s still the heart of what we do.
So, What Is DHA, Really?
DHA (short for dihydroxyacetone) is the one ingredient that actually creates your color. It’s a simple sugar, naturally derived from sugar beets and sugar cane, and it’s colorless on its own.
It browns your skin the way a toaster browns bread. When DHA meets the amino acids in the very top layer of your skin, it sets off the same natural browning reaction that turns toast golden. That reaction takes a few hours, which is why you leave with a hint of color and later wake up with the full glow.
It’s not a tan in the sun sense. A suntan is your skin reacting to UV damage deep below the surface. DHA works on the surface. No UV, no burn, no damage required.
It fades the way your skin renews. Because the color lives in that top layer, it fades as those cells naturally shed, usually within about 10 days with good care. And it’s well studied: DHA has been FDA-approved since the 1970s and is the only sunless tanning ingredient the FDA allows in the U.S.
Why Strength and Shade Matter (and Where Orange Comes From)
Here’s what most people never hear: not all DHA tans are mixed the same. NUDA’s professional solutions range from about 6% DHA for a soft glow up to 16% for the deepest color, and each one carries a different bronzer base. Some use olive to balance redness, some are clear for sensitive skin.
That’s where the dreaded orange comes from. Usually it’s too much DHA for your skin, the wrong undertone, or a formula that dried skin out. Choosing the right strength and base for you is the whole game, and it’s exactly what the competitors or a bottle on a shelf can’t do.
How We’re Different From the Big Names
| Self-tanner | Automated booths | Just Glow | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who mixes it | Mixed once, at a factory, for everyone | One solution for whoever walks in | Custom mixed for your undertone, every visit |
| DHA strength | Usually lighter, so you build it up over several days | Fixed. You get what’s in the tank | Chosen for your skin and the depth you want |
| Undertone | One shade fits all (or tries to) | No adjustment | Bronzer base matched to you, like olive to balance redness |
| Elbows, knees, hands, feet | You and a mirror | Nozzles can’t see | A trained eye checks and adjusts as we go |
Self-tanners work for plenty of people, and our NUDA self-tanning mousse provides the best of both worlds: ease at-home use and the perfect shade options just for you.
The Part No Formula Can Do
A great formula only gets you halfway there. The rest comes down to the hands holding the spray gun. Every Just Glow tan is hand sprayed and custom mixed to your undertone by a real person who’s looking at your skin, asking what you’re going for and adjusting as they go: lighter on the hands, careful at the ankles, even across your back.
Our team includes women who know and care for the details. A licensed esthetician, and Lisa brings more than 20 years in professional skincare and makeup artistry. That’s how your fifth and fifteenth glow look every bit as good as your first.
As one of our fans, Kaylee C., put it in her Google review: “It has always been perfectly even.”
Quick Answers
Will my spray tan protect me from the sun? No. DHA color has no SPF, so keep wearing sunscreen.
How long does it last? Up to 10-12 days. Moisturize daily and go easy on scrubs and exfoliating products.
Can I go deeper (or lighter) next time? Absolutely. Just tell us. That’s the beauty of custom mixing.
Ask Us Anything
Curious about something we didn’t cover? Bring it to your next appointment. We’re always happy to talk ingredients, undertones and everything in between, Glow Girls (and Guys)!
Book your glow and see what trained hands and a skin-loving formula really look like.
Wanna glow every month and save? The Glow Club members get rollover sprays plus pre-spray and finishing powder on us plus more!
