I’m old-fashioned when it comes to tanning—I just need a towel, a sun beam, and someone to wake me up after a while. But sometimes, like during the most brutal winter in decades, a trip to the beach isn’t feasible. That’s when I can get behind the idea of a quick and safe spray tan.

I decided to visit Spray of Sunshine, where they deal exclusively in spray tans. (They know the process inside and out, so I felt confident I wouldn’t end up looking like the love child of a human and a carrot.) They have two spray-tanning methods at their studio: an automated Mystic booth and a custom airbrush tan.

Instead of picking one, I decided to try both, taking a week off in between appointments. Read on to see which one sounds best for you.

Mystic Spray Tan

Price at Spray of Sunshine: $30

Time: Less than 2 minutes!

Lasts: 3–5 days, on average

Prep: I put lotion all over my hands and feet, including in between my fingers, around my cuticles, and on my heels. (This keeps the tanning solution from getting too dark or blotchy in those thin-skinned areas.)

Coverage: The booth definitely sprayed my entire body. In fact, it was a little too thorough—even though I put the lotion on my feet, their bottoms looked darker and more orange than the rest of me. A few go-overs with a pumice stone at home took care of that, though.

Cool factors: You’re inside a talking robot. Once the door was closed and the booth was activated, a friendly female voice told me how to position and reposition my feet. At the end, she even said bye to me! Another cool thing: When the spraying is over, you magically don’t feel wet.

Least favorite part: The spray was cold. The team keeps the solution at room temperature, but it still feels freezing when it hits your body. Thankfully, it’s supposed to feel refreshing in the summer.

Overall: The Mystic booth gave me a strong, all-over tan in a crazy-short amount of time. It’s the perfect choice if you have a really busy schedule or want to look sunkissed immediately. Just take your time with that lotion application!

Custom Airbrush Tan

Price at Spray of Sunshine: $48

Time: 7–15 minutes. Mine took about 12.

Lasts: 7–10 days, on average

Prep: I just walked into a private room and stood on a towel. Emotionally, though, you should prepare yourself for being nearly to completely naked in front of someone! In my case, it was airbrush artist Nikki Myers, whose cheeriness made me feel totally comfortable.

Coverage: Just as total as the Mystic but more detailed. Nikki had me spread my fingers for her, did quick swipes of spray across my wrists, and even used a mini paint roller on my shoulders afterward to make sure that my tank-top straps didn’t leave a line.

Cool factors: The airbrush is a brown nozzle that looks like a gun from a sci-fi western. Plus, you get to chat with whoever’s airbrushing you.

Least favorite part: The solution felt even colder than it had in the booth, although every once in a while, Nikki would pause and blast me with warm air, which helps dry the solution. I was also quite sticky afterward, and I couldn’t wash off the feeling—I had to wait the recommended eight hours before showering.

Overall: The custom airbrush costs more, but it looks a tad more natural and you get more personalization—they can tweak the solution and their techniques to create the look you want. I’d totally endure the initial stickiness again for longer trips and special events like weddings.

Photo by Mahreen Younus, Groupon