Lindsay Lohan looked impressively bronzed when she posed for the cameras while hosting the New Year’s Eve celebrations at Zero Gravity in Dubai last year.
Paris Hilton appeared equally sun-kissed when she attended the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last November.
To achieve such a healthy-looking glow, both stars called upon the services of Dubai-based aesthetician Manel Mizyed.
“I’ve been spray-tanning for about 17 years,” says the 38-year-old Palestinian-Australian.
“I started doing it with my sister in Australia and brought the kit with me when I moved to Dubai in 2012. Clients book me, ideally, seven days in advance. I then go to their house with a pop-up booth, spray-tan them within 20 minutes, dry them in 10 and I’m out the door. To become a mobile celebrity tanner was something I manifested to happen, and I feel very blessed that it has.”
Mizyed works as a “colour enhancer” by night and a sales manager for natural energy drink Green Tea X50 by day. She is also a passionate samba dancer, and has long been spray-tanning herself ahead of major performances across the region.
“There’s definitely an art to it – it’s like painting,” she says, “I spray customers how I want to be sprayed. We all want to look healthier and more toned – that’s the beauty of a good tan.”
Mizyed's big break came last year after a consultation with her first celebrity client, Dubai-based stylist Caroline Stanbury. Following her spray tan, the 40-year-old star of reality TV series Ladies of London, mentioned that a famous friend was in town.
“She dropped into conversation that she was going to meet Paris Hilton at the weekend,” says Mizyed. “I said nothing but really hoped that I might get the chance to spray-tan her. The following day I got a phone call confirming the booking. The wish came true in less than 24 hours.”
Mizyed’s positive energy rubbed off on Hilton, who offered to post images of the beauty treatment on her Instagram account.
“She was a very cool chick – we just clicked.” says Mizyed, “I used a colour called ‘cocktail’ on her, which is medium-dark. She likes to be that colour but never goes in the sun at all.”
Like Hilton, many of Mizyed’s UAE clients have an aversion to sunbathing, given its potentially harmful effects.
She also regularly visits the homes of those too busy to spend hours on the beach, in addition to bodybuilders, couples and those wanting extra privacy.
“I have Emirati and Middle Eastern clients who, much like myself, have Arabic, olive skin,” says Mizyed. “In these cases, the tanning product works especially well because it reacts with melanin. The more melanin you have, the deeper the colour goes.”
Fake tans traditionally have been much maligned for emitting strange odours as they dry over up to eight-hours, and for producing a “Donald Trump”-style glow.
“People immediately think ‘orange’, but today products are far more advanced,” says Mizyed.
“The spray I use has ingredients such as aloe vera, witch hazel and jojoba oil. They are organic and vegetable-based, with the active ingredient – Dihydroxyacetone – derived from sugar cane.
“Because it’s all natural, some of my clients are even teenagers preparing for school formals. The tan sits on top of your skin and doesn’t go in deep, it’s safe to use. That’s why it sheds after a week or so, with your own cells.”
From alabaster-skinned teenagers to freckle-faced celebrities, Mizyed has a light touch when dealing with paler-complexioned clients.
“When I sprayed Lindsay Lohan in Downtown Dubai last year, for example, she was quite fair so we only used a medium shade,” she says.
“She was quite chatty – we stayed in contact and have became friends.”
Tanning tips
• Exfoliate 24 hours before a spray tan, using a mitt or loofah to remove dead skin cells. Exfoliation opens pores and time is needed for them to close before tanning to avoid the product seeping in and creating dots on the skin. Shaving, waxing and threading should be done the day before.
• Do not use moisturiser, deodorant or perfumes on the day of a spray tan. If the face is also to be sprayed, remove all make-up.
• A spare bedroom, bathroom or garage is spacious enough for the pop-up tanning booth.
• To avoid flaking, scaling or premature fading of a spray tan, cleansing products that are oil-based or contain sodium lauryl sulfate should be avoided. SLS, which strips tanning agents, is commonly found in body washes, soaps and detergents. Check packaging before use.
• Tanning sessions cost Dh250. For more information follow Manel at www.instagram.com/manelletanexpress or call 056 303 4044
rduane@thenational.ae