Body Rays Tanning

Poor service, called 4 times and left a message to make an appointment and got no response so I took a 20 min über to get there and was told I needed an appointment… then answer your damn phone! Guy working said basically it’s not my problem, I wasn’t working when you tried to call. Now I’m stuck with a useless groupon and no tan for the wedding I’m in this weekend. Don’t go here.

Came here for my first spray tan ever and had a great experience. It is under new management but both the man behind the counter and Kelly, the one who sprayed me, were incredibly nice and helpful and made the experience enjoyable. Got a cheap groupon deal and may tan turned out great! Thanks!

Ownership has recently changed here and the new management leaves much to be desired. When I arrived, the new «owner» was selling a poor young man on a tanning package and setting him up with little regard for what any reputable tanning salon would consider safety standards (or basic advice to avoid a burn). He had never tanned before and recommended the strongest bed for the full time, noting that eye covers were optional, and simply told the man, who had never tanned before, he could get out if he got too hot. One of the staff, meanwhile, sat gossiping with her friend until he told her to go clean something up. As if this wasn’t bad enough, when I got to the counter I asked to continue a package I bought this fall. The new owner said all packages were canceled-​out when ownership changed over and to contact the former owner if I wanted to discuss it. I asked if he had a card for them and he rolled his eyes and said no. The truth is that I was ready to buy another package but after seeing what happened with the previous customer and how I was treated, I have decided to go elsewhere. There are many tanning options in DC, unfortunately this one is now too sleazy to recommend.

I’ve been coming here for over a year about once a week or more to treat psoriasis (and get tan, duh) and have always had a great experience with the beds and the staff are awesome. The pricing is a little untraditional but it’s worth it because the beds are better than any you’ll find elsewhere in the city. I’m reviewing them now and knocking off two stars because I’m currently walking down R street in the rain at 7:15 on Saturday because they changed their hours but didn’t update it anywhere on social media, Google, their website, or even here on Unilocal.Just a new printed out paper taped to their door tonight for the first time. For people like me who über across town to tan after work it’s absolutely infuriating to arrive to a locked door when every indication online is that you’re going to be open. I love you guys but come ON.

I went today to get an airbrush tan for a special event this weekend. I was told I couldn’t ask for a dark tan because it may rain this weekend and the airbrush artist didn’t want me to look streaky. I tried the quick dry application so I could shower after just 2 hrs. I waited 3 hrs after the application to shower and everything came off. I have no more color than I did originally. I even bought the special body wash for the airbrush and it didn’t help at all. I am very disappointed especially because this is the most expensive airbrush tan I have had. The airbrush artist and manager were very nice but there’s no point in getting an airbrush tan if you are not tanner after it. :/

I went to get a spray tan back in August and bought 3 spray tans for $ 80 at that time. I used one of the 3 in August when I bought it and was told that the package does not expire. I just called back today to schedule the other two and was told I was nowhere in the system. He also said that a new owner bought the company March 1^st so anything bought before then was lost. He was unwilling to honor the package I bought and was completely unhelpful. This company is shady and is not reliable. I will never go back again and will be telling all my friends that go there to stop.

I made an appointment for a spray tan at Body Rays Tanning last Monday for Friday at 6:30pm after purchasing a Groupon. This was my first time going here and I was inquiring about who would be best etc, needless to say I was met with a slightly curt attitude on the phone but I did not let that deter me. I had my appointment set for Friday.
So, come Friday I show up at the salon at 6:25pm and the doors are closed, with no one inside. Their business hours say they are open until 8pm so I found this quite odd especially since I made an appointment five days prior. I called, left a voicemail and proceeded to wait for 30 min outside the salon until I finally gave up. Next day I waited for a phone call with some sort of an apology or reason why the salon was closed and why no one bothered to call me so that I didnt waste my time showing up. Sunday comes and I was in the area and decided to go inside the salon, to my surprise it was open! I went in, let the person at the front desk know that I had an appoint on Friday and that no one was there and he said he would leave my contact info with the owner. Its been three days since my appnt and no one has bothered to call and apologize or explain the situation. VERY bad business and poor customer service!

Just got my first spray tan ever from David at Body Rays Tanning! I needed a last minute tan for an up upcoming pageant this week and the salon was kind enough to squeeze me in for an appointment ! The staff was really kind and explained how the whole process worked. The spray is all organic and is made of sugarcane (I may have tried it… it does taste like sugar!) The tan looks great on my skin and there are no streaks, I will definitely be returning if I do any future pageants! (will be posting photos of how the tan looks when I’m on stage)

They couldn’t be nicer here — and David does a great job with airbrushing. He always makes me look perfect — not streaky, not too dark, not too light, and he has a great sense of humor. Love coming here. Easy neighborhood place.

I needed a last minute spray tan on X-​mas eve of this year. I looked up all spray tanning salons near my zip code and pretty much called all of them. They were either not open or not accepting any more appointments. This also included Body Rays. About 5 minutes after I got off of the phone with David, I got a call back. He heard the desperation in my voice and offered to come in early at 9 AM so he could fit in a spray for me.
David is certainly everything the good reviews describe him as– professional, friendly, and AMAZING at the airbrush tan. I have never been so happy with a spray tan and I cannot wait to go back!

By far the best place for an airbrush tan (anywhere in the country in my book!). I’m a student in DC but am from San Francisco and have been airbrushing for the last 3 years in both cities.
I’ve tried 3 places (at various price points) in San Francisco and 3 places in DC (Glow on Wisconsin, Nectar on Wisconsin, and Body Rays) and hands down Body Rays is the place to go. I even like it better than the uppity salons typically found in San Francisco.
Glow and Nectar are super expensive at $ 65 and $ 55 per tan, respectively, although I live and Georgetown and they are close by. But I make the trip to Body Rays in Dupont (walking, since there is no metro in Georgetown) because I am in love with the solution and color that David (the airbrush technician) applies. It’s also only $ 45 regular price, before discounts and other deals they often offer!
I usually just give him a short description of what I’m tanning for (just because, an event, vacation, etc) and he picks the color for me. I trust him completely and I always get a ton of compliments. Especially in the winter, people who don’t know I got an airbrush tan can’t tell WHAT it is that is making me «glow» or look good, but I always am told that my skin looks pretty at events after David airbrushes me. (Its perfect because you really don’t want people asking you why you are tan in the dead of winter)
The best part about the application is that David contours the color perfectly so that it looks natural. Too many salons (both in DC and San Francisco) go for the «solid» look and my underarms, inner thighs, hands, and lower face&neck end up the same color as the rest of my body. Everyone knows those places don’t get as tan naturally so the airbrush looks totally fake. At Body Rays, David colors you like a real human being and is especially careful with your face and hands.
Seriously, trust him. Totally would recommend for first timers AND airbrush addicts like myself. You won’t be disappointed!

It’s conveniently located. The prices are OK. I got a decent tan, and the staff was friendly. I’ll definitely go again when I feel pale.

I go here too often not to write a review and give David, the guy who does the airbrush tans, the props he deserves. I only go here for his airbrush tans – I have never used the beds or Mystic tan services.
David is really, really, REALLY excellent at what he does. Trust his judgment and let him spray you to the color level he thinks works for your skin tone and the season. I have been to him at least 10 times and every time my tan has turned out flawless. You would never know I got a spray tan. I have also sent a couple of friends to him who have much different skin tones than mine, and they all turned out great. David is funny and I have always felt 100% comfortable with him (you go topless to get sprayed… unless you want tan lines?)
Note: do not plan on showering, working out, going out, or walking in the rain for 8 – 12 hours after your spray tan. You will look start to look darker as you «develop» (until you look almost too dark) but after the first shower it looks like it’s supposed to. I usually get it done in the evening, sleep with it, and shower in the morning. If it gets on sheets or clothes, it washes off easily. If you have a special event, I highly recommend!

I don’t «review», as a rule, but I just wanted to compliment the staff at Body Rays on their terrific customer service. I know that they’ve received mixed feedback on service below, but last week when I took my so-pale-I’m-translucent skin into Body Rays with an expired airbrush Groupon, the man at the front desk warned me that it was going to be a very, very dramatic change for March and there was nothing he could do to tone it down. When I balked, he gave me a free (!!!) Mystic spray tan instead, and logged my airbrush into the system for a later date when it would look less bizarre. He didn’t try to upsell, didn’t try to pressure, and was incredibly professional and helpful with his instructions. I was very impressed with a level of customer service you wouldn’t normally expect walking into a tanning salon off the street. Will absolutely return to this place this summer.

As an FYI, it’s damn cold in DC right now! Anyway, I was waiting for a good deal on Groupon to do some tanning and get some «sun.» I did this when I lived in Seattle and it really makes you feel better. If you close your eyes, it really can feel like you’re at the beach.
Anyway, I’ve gone here twice now and the gentleman helping has been really nice and even remembering how much time I spent in my last tanning session. He doesn’t give you any hard sell or make you feel guilty about using Groupon. He’s just very professional and friendly. Overall, it’s been a good experience and it’s not busy both times I’ve been during the evenings. It’s so far been a great place to go for my tanning.

Nice staff. However, I wonder about some of their cleaning practices. I was getting bad back breakouts when I went there and the top of the beds were obviously not being cleaned.

I received a Groupon for an unlimited month of tanning. Body Rays is a cute ‘mom and pop’ shop and the customer service I’ve received is great. I never have to wait and the front desk actually remembers me. If I decide to tan again once my Groupon is over, I will definitely come back here. Plus, they have late hours, open until 8:30pm, for people who work until after 6.

Excellent Customer Service! Staff helped me pick the best tanning option and offered some tips to help enhance my tan before traveling out of town for a wedding.

I went here with a Unilocal deal and had a very good experience. I did the machine spray tan because I was too shy to have someone spray me. I was actually very impressed with the results. I got a little too much spray on my feet because I forgot to wipe it off at the end, plus there was some residue on the floor where my feet were. Overall, it looked great though!

First time trying an airbrush tan and had a great experience. Discovered Body Rays via a Groupon.
The guy who does the airbrushing does a really great job, walked me through the whole process, and how to maintain it. The trick is definitely to wear loose clothes there as he said he would go a bit heavy with the airbrushing and you shouldn’t shower for 6 hrs. I did a bit on my clothes but it washed off with no issues whatsoever. The color was perfectly natural. Love it!
And yes, you definitely need to make an appointment for this service.