The global tanning Kingpin, responsible for the perennially honey-dipped limbs of Rosie Huntingon-Whiteley, Cindy Crawford, Mariah Carey and the like, is back with round two of our tan chat. Here, James Read shares his ultimate tan tips (involving a surprising kitchen utensil), the most perpetuated myths when it comes to the fake bake, and the story of the travelling tan. He also sheds some light (or shade) on the upcoming trend in tanning, much to the dismay of us tanning-obsessive folk Down Under. Mist and mousse at the ready.

G: What are your ultimate tanning tips?
J: Don’t wash your hands after you tan, so you don’t get the white hands / brown arms. And, use a straw after you tan because you don’t want the white top lip. Also don’t brush your teeth after you tan – do it before. And a tanning mitt on a wooden spoon works as a great back applicator.

G: What is the biggest myth you hear when it comes to tanning?
J: It’s orange. Also, it smells. And it’s not dark enough for you in Australia! [laughs]

G: On that, do you think we have a preoccupation with being ridiculously dark?
J: Out of every country I’ve worked in in the world, about 90% of people here ask for a dark tan. They just love it – because people don’t go out and sit in the sun here anymore so it’s that whole thing of looking like you have been in the sun. You feel really confident and it gives you that feeling like you can go and conquer the world.

G: Tell us, what is the best way to travel with a tan?
J: Planes are the best times, actually. When you go on a plane with a tan it deepens the tan, because you’re up in the air. I’ve noticed when I’ve done it, my tan is actually darker when I wash it off. Also, when you’re on holiday, use a waterproof SPF, an oil-free one and that will stop the chlorine and sea salt removing your self-tan. Use a tan accelerator or a tan maximiser to make your tan last longer. They’re designed for a real tan but they also work for a self-tan. Moisturise your dry areas before you tan, exfoliate 24 hours before and moisturise daily to make your tan last longer and then exfoliate after three or four days to make your tan fade evenly – but for a tanorexic like yourself, you won’t bother. Exfoliation is a dirty word!

G: What is the next big thing in tanning?
J: It’s about stripped back beauty, stripped back tanning. It’s a massive trend. I just think beauty next year is going to be stripped back, something quite cool…