Towel buffing is a critical part of Mist-On tanning. Experienced Mist-On tanners know that this buffing process is a very powerful tool, and use it to get a more uniform tan and a darker tan.

Here is the reasoning behind towel buffing:

• Towel buffing can be used to re-distribute some of the tanning solution applied to the body in the misting process.
  
• The buffing process gives the experienced tanner more control over the results. (Experience Mist-On tanners consider it a very powerful tool.)
  
• The buffing process can darken the tan by transferring the solution beads on body hair onto the tanner’s skin.
  Dr. Laughlin’s solution does not absorb into hair, it just beads up on the hair shaft. If not buffed onto the skin or blotted with an absorbent towel, the bead will work its way down to the hair follicle. The tanning solution then darkens the surfaces of the follicle. The darken follicle, which is essentially a small hole in the skin, could appear as a dark spot.

• The buffing process can be used to correct errors made by the tanner during the misting process, such as holding elbows too far forward, squinting the eyes, wearing the hair net too low, or rubbing against the Mist-On Tan unit while exiting.
  
• The buffing process can be used to redistribute solution coating which has been messed up by rubbing together of two recently coated areas of skin.
  If you spray paint two boards and touch them together while the paint is still wet, both painted surfaces will likely be ruined. They would appear very beaded and non-uniform. The same thing happens if you touch your inner arm against your chest prior to towel buffing. However, the beaded appearance of the Mist-On Tan can be corrected with proper towel buffing within one minute after touching the areas of skin together.

• The buffing process allows the tanner to work Mist-On tanning solution into areas the mist could not reach, like inside wrinkles or under breasts.
  The mist coats only what it “sees”. Folds and wrinkles are a tough challenge for any tanning process. Towel buffing allows you to develop a customized procedure for dealing with these challenges.

• Vigorous buffing can be used to remove tanning solution, such as cases where there is excess solution on the tops of the feet or between the toes.
  

Combining towel buffing with the use of Dr. Laughlin’s touch-up solution is a particularly effective. The touch-up solution is a toner, meaning it will redistribute the tan when used in small quantities with light buffer, and will actually remove tanning solution with used in large quantities or with vigorous toweling. The touch up solution contains no DHA or bronzer.

Very little tanning solution is removed from normal towel buffing. Here are some very rough calculations to support that observation.

About 120 ml to 200 ml of tanning solution is used in each Mist-On session. That’s about 4 - 7 ounces of solution. We estimate that about 50 to 100 ml of that tanning solution ultimately ends up on skin. The amount of solution removed by the towel is about 2 to 10 ml. Therefore, less than 10% of the solution is removed, but the overall appearance of the tan is significantly improved.

We provide very soft, slightly absorbent hand towels to each salon. We recommend the use of these towels, or similar towels, as part of each session. We do not recommend the use of hard, rough or gritty towels, the use of paper towels, the use of extremely absorbent towels, or the use of totally non-absorbent towels. Fabric softeners should be used while washing and drying the towels.

The towel buffing process is quick and easy. It should be initiated immediately after stepping out of the Mist-On Tan unit. It should be completed within one minute. It is best done looking into a mirror.

The buffing strokes should be very long and very light. The towel should “float” over the skin, with little or no pressure applied by the hand.

Do not pat. Patting creates spots. Use long, light, sweeping strokes.

What happens if you pat a paint brush on a flat surface with wet paint? The paint job would most likely be ruined, with spots and globs everywhere. The same effect can occur if you pat the newly applied tanning solution with towel. Luckily, in the Mist-On case, you can usually buff-out the spots with long, sweeping strokes.

Try to hold the ends of the towel, and buff with the center section. This reduces transfer of solution from the towel to the fingers. Washing of the hands immediately after towel buffing also reduces darkening of fingers from transfer from the towel to the hand.

• Before starting you tanning session, make certain a towel is available.
  
• After stepping out of the unit, use a paper towel to remove the barrier cream on the hands and tops of the feet.
  
• Leave the hair net on if your hair is long enough to fall onto tanned areas.
  
• Stickers (tan-tattoos) should be left on until after completion of the buffing process. If the stickers are removed at this point, it is likely that the buffing process will cover over the tattoo.
  
• Start at the top of the forehand, buffing the face with light circular motions.
  
• Next, buff the arms, with emphasis on the inner arm. The “floating” action of the towel should be guided by the hand.
  
• After the arms are the hands. Make certain to rub between the fingers and over the nails and cuticles.
  
• The chest and stomach are next. Because the towel now has solution on it, we recommend you hold it by the ends.
  
• Now move down to the crouch, then legs, then to the feet. Again, use light sweeping motions.
  
• If barrier cream was not applied to the tops of the feet, we recommend vigorously rubbing the feet tops. Also pass the towel between the toes.
  
• Having completed the front of the body, we now start on the back.
  
• Start the towel buffing of the back of the body at the neck with a light back-and-forth motion.
  
• The back is next, again with a back-and-forth motion. We suggest one hand over the shoulder, and one near the hip.
  
• Next is the center of the back and hips.
  
• Then buff the backs of the legs.
  
• This entire process should have taken about 30 seconds. We suggest you repeat the process a second time. This would take you to the one minute mark.
  
• If you didn’t remove your hair net yet, now’s the time to do so. You can also remove stickers.
  
• We recommend you wash your hands or rinse it with Dr. Laughlin’s touch-up solution upon completion of the buffing process.
  

Dr. Laughlin’s touch-up solution can be used to deal with imperfections such as spots on the inner arm from contacting the inner arm and chest prior to towel buffing. Simply apply a liberal amount of touch-up solution to your towel, and rebuff that area. Note, however, that the touch-up solution can both tone and remove the tan. The difference from toning and removing is how much solution is used and how vigorously you buff. You can correct a slight imperfection, or convert it to a major mess. Be careful.

The “hair-net trick” can be used to apply solution to missed areas, such as scalp areas un-tanned because of the hair net covering part of the forehead.

The hair net is a woven fiber mesh which absorbs solution which would otherwise end up on scalp hair. At the end of a Mist-On Tan session, the portion of the hair net over the top of the head is usually light-to-dark brown. This used hair net makes an excellent tanning-solution applicator. Apply solution to target skin using light, sweeping motions, following by towel buffing. Do not apply using patting or dabbing motions! It is usually best to “err” on the light side in this touch up process. Experienced Mist-On Tanners swear by this trick.

After completion of the buffing process, you are immediately ready to put your clothes back on. We recommend loose, dark clothing after the tan.

Now, the last and best part. It’s time to show off your tan. Good luck.

Click the photos below for an enlarged view of the images Dr. Laughlin feels best captures the essence of towel buffing