WHEN I finally got the call, it was 2am: “Jimmy, I’m home, can you come over?”
I’ve been Kim Kardashian’s self-tanner for 15 years, and the later you book, the more important the tan will be.
That night, she was going to the Met Gala and her flight had been delayed, so her tan had to happen, regardless of the time.
Kim and I hit it off from the day we met in 2009, and one of my most iconic moments jobswas being taken to Paris to hang out with everyone before her wedding to Kanye West in 2014.
The Kardashians are always grateful, and even thanked me for traveling so much when, of course, it was an honor to be invited.
For Kim’s tan, I went for a shade lighter than normal, as I would for any bride.
The last thing you want to hear when you’re wearing that beautiful dress is, “Nice tan.”
I was still a newbie when I got my first celebrity tan in 2002.
A friend broke the news to me: “Hey, someone’s coming to sunbathe but they’re upset because they’re being chased by the paparazzi. So rest assured.
When the door opened, I thought, “Holy shit! It’s Lara Flynn Boyle!” Turns out she was about to walk the Men In Black II red carpet.
My name started to spread around Hollywood, but it was the 2005 Golden Globes that really stuck with me.
Eva Longoria was doing a lot of press for Desperate Housewives and booked me her spray tan on the red carpet, but she accidentally fell asleep and left it on for too long.
At the Globes she was much darker than she was on TV the day before – but luckily she looked beautiful!
CONTOUR LIKE COCONUT
I work around all my clients, whether they need it or not. At home, I recommend tanning in a room where there is overhead light in front of a mirror, which is usually in the bathroom. Wherever you can see shadow, you can go in with an extra tan and sculpt that contour. You can use your fingertips or a makeup brush to trace and then blend the edges so you don’t get a streaky line.
How to get around your…
Shoulders
Lean forward or feel where your collarbone mark is and add more tan right there.
Arms
Flex to see where to apply more tan to emphasize the tone. If there is no definition, use tan to darken the lower arms for a slimming effect.
Face
Take the product from the ear to the jaw and up to the other ear to frame your face. Then add more under your cheekbones and blend.
Abdomen
Draw a line that goes straight down from your sternum to your belly button. Although I don’t normally carve horizontal abdominal lines on women if they aren’t already there – you don’t want to paint on a six-pack!
Legs
Add a little more tan to the outside of your hips, starting at the top and working your way down the sides and inner thighs. You can also contour your calves by pointing your foot and then tracing some extra product around where the muscle sticks out.
Everyone was talking about her incredible tan, and when she mentioned my name on the red carpet, it made my career.
My next big moment came when I walked the Victoria’s Secret fashion show in 2006.
I lived nearby and found Miranda Kerr’s hairdresser. “Hey, why don’t you give Miranda a nice tan for the shoot?” he said.
It was the best free tan I’ve ever had, because next thing I know, I was getting call after call from all the other Angels.
Of course, there was a strange accident. There was the star who spilled coffee on her legs right after I tanned her for a big red carpet event.
I rushed back to fix it and she looked flawless for her debut.
TAN’S COMMANDMENTS
These tips are the next best thing to getting a tan from Jimmy himself.
- Exfoliate correctly, avoiding oily exfoliants as they can leave a barrier and cause a streaky finish. Dry exfoliation creates the ideal canvas.
- Never use paper tanning pants. Instead, wear a seamless thong for a sexy contour. Avoid anything lacy as it looks dirty.
- Use the best quality products – I only use my products to tan my clients. Sunless by Jimmy Coco Cocooning Face and Body Soufflé, £29, contains a hydration complex and colloidal gold for a soft-focus finish. Simply choose the depth of tan you want – ID3 is a sunny day, ID4 is a weekend away and ID5 is a week of vacation.
- Work in light layers to help your tan last longer. Let the first one dry completely before applying the other. I will only do a single heavy coat if the client is in a real hurry.
- Troubleshoot problem areas. Applying body lotion to dry areas – such as elbows, heels, knuckles and knees – will capture excess tan. Make sure the lotion is fully absorbed into your skin before applying your tan.
- Apply the tan from the legs upwards, but do not apply the product directly to the feet. They absorb tan a lot, so just use the residual product from the glove to prevent them from getting too dark.
- Go lighter on the face for a more natural look. Don’t forget that you can dilute your self-tanner with an oil-free moisturizer before applying it.
- Stay hydrated. After your first shower, apply body lotion and continue doing this daily. Drink plenty of water too, as self-tanner lasts longer on hydrated skin.
- Boost your glow – combat fading by using a gradual tan from day three.
- Be aware of your cycle. I’ve learned from clients that self-tanner doesn’t last as long when they’re on their period. So if your tan fades faster at certain times of the month, don’t worry, you haven’t done anything wrong – it’s normal.
Then there was a sunny day when I was tanning American actress Miranda Cosgrove.
I set up my tent on her patio and it was perfect – until I closed the back door and realized we were locked out, and she was only wearing a tanning cap and bikini bottoms.
She thought it was hilarious, but now we always tan in the garage, just in case!
The best thing about my job is giving people confidence. When I help clients feel good, that’s the best feeling in the world.
When you work with naked people, they have to trust you.
My friends love to joke that no one can take someone’s clothes off faster than me! But for me, this work is about respect and making sure my clients feel amazing.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
