How To Prepare For Your Tan
Exfoliation: Dead skin cells can cause streaking and flaking after a spray tan. We suggest using physical exfoliants like body scrubs, loofahs, dry brushing, or even a washcloth every day for three days before your appointment. This will help to remove the dead skin cells, leaving your skin perfectly smooth and ready to absorb the maximum tanning solution. *It is important to note that you should not use chemical ingredients like retinol and glycolic acid at least 24 hours before your tan. These chemicals can prevent the tanning solution from absorbing in to your skin or work at exfoliating your tan too.
Shave: While shaving before your appointment isn’t obligatory, shaving up to 24 hours after a spray tan can remove the spray tan solution along with your hair. If you do choose to shave before the appointment, do it at least 24 hours in advance to allow your skin and pores to recover. Similarly, allow 24 hours between waxing and spray tanning, because this procedure will open up your pores, leaving an uneven tint.
Shower: An incredibly important step in the spray tan process, we recommend showering exactly 8 hours before your appointment. This allows your body time to resume its natural pH level while at the same time offering all the benefits of exfoliation.
Wear Loose Clothes and Sandals, Utilize Nail Polish: One of the most common questions new spray tan clients ask is, “what should I wear to my appointment?” We recommend wearing dark, loose-fitting clothing and sandals that will have the lowest chance of being stained. Tight bras, shirts, pants, or shoes can cause tan lines if worn immediately after your appointment, ruining the spray tan masterpiece that your technician just performed. If you plan on wearing undergarments during the spray process, be sure to wear something you don’t mind getting stained. Another insider tip is to paint your nails before your spray tan. Nail polish helps to prevent discoloration around your nails and cuticles.
Avoid Makeup, Deodorant, and Moisturizer: Acting as a barrier to prevent your skin’s absorption of the spray tanning solution, makeup and deodorant should not be worn during your appointment. If you can’t go without them, bring a pack of oil-free wipes to quickly remove all substances before the technician sprays your skin. Avoid using moisturizer a few hours before you’re being sprayed too, as it will disrupt your skin’s absorption of the tanning solution.
Shave: While shaving before your appointment isn’t obligatory, shaving up to 24 hours after a spray tan can remove the spray tan solution along with your hair. If you do choose to shave before the appointment, do it at least 24 hours in advance to allow your skin and pores to recover. Similarly, allow 24 hours between waxing and spray tanning, because this procedure will open up your pores, leaving an uneven tint.
Shower: An incredibly important step in the spray tan process, we recommend showering exactly 8 hours before your appointment. This allows your body time to resume its natural pH level while at the same time offering all the benefits of exfoliation.
Wear Loose Clothes and Sandals, Utilize Nail Polish: One of the most common questions new spray tan clients ask is, “what should I wear to my appointment?” We recommend wearing dark, loose-fitting clothing and sandals that will have the lowest chance of being stained. Tight bras, shirts, pants, or shoes can cause tan lines if worn immediately after your appointment, ruining the spray tan masterpiece that your technician just performed. If you plan on wearing undergarments during the spray process, be sure to wear something you don’t mind getting stained. Another insider tip is to paint your nails before your spray tan. Nail polish helps to prevent discoloration around your nails and cuticles.
Avoid Makeup, Deodorant, and Moisturizer: Acting as a barrier to prevent your skin’s absorption of the spray tanning solution, makeup and deodorant should not be worn during your appointment. If you can’t go without them, bring a pack of oil-free wipes to quickly remove all substances before the technician sprays your skin. Avoid using moisturizer a few hours before you’re being sprayed too, as it will disrupt your skin’s absorption of the tanning solution.
What To Do Post-Tan
Loose Fitting Clothes: One of our key tips for your spray tan preparation was to wear loose fitting clothing to the salon, and we recommend staying in this outfit for the remainder of the day. Select your most stylish dark, loose-fitting outfit and pair it with sandals for lowest chance of staining your clothes and the least amount of friction. Tight bras, shirts, pants, or shoes can cause lines, streaks, and indentations if worn too soon after your appointment, ruining the spray tan effect that your technician just applied.
Baby Powder is Key: Deodorants were also mentioned as something that should be avoided before your tan, and unfortunately the rest of the day after is no different. While you may just want to tough if out for the rest of the day to avoid the patchiness that both sticks and spray can cause, sweat also causes streaks and spots. We’re going to let you in on a secret industry tip; baby powder works wonders to solve both the smell and sweat problem. Apply liberally around sweat prone areas such as your underarms, inner elbows, back of your knees, and under your butt. Who says looking great, smelling great, and prolonging your tan has to be difficult?
Liquids are the Enemy: The duration you should wait to shower after your tan varies depending on the level of color depth, your skin requirements, and the solution used, but six hours on average is recommended. This means that you also need to avoid rain, pools and the beach. Solutions are a tricky science, needing enough time to absorb and ensure an even shade. Keep in mind that leaving the solution on any longer than 12 hours can cause streaking as well, so adhering to their advice is important.
Follow Proper Shower Procedures: When it finally is time to take a shower, there are several important things to keep in mind that may differ from your normal wash routine. First, don’t spend an excessive amount of time in the water as it may cause fading before you are even able to flaunt your tan in public. Utilizing water that is too hot can also speed up this process, so be sure the water is lukewarm before you hop in. During the first shower avoid using soaps on your skin. If you need to use soap, keep in localized to the necessary areas.
Avoid washing your hair during this initial shower if you can. But, if it is absolutely critical to wash your hair, a methodical wash that avoids touching the skin is the best technique. After your shower, dab, don’t rub the towel against your skin to dry off the water. Over the next 12 hours, your tan will continue to develop before reaching its peak jaw-dropping look.
Hydration for the Win: After you have taken your first shower, keeping your skin as moisturized as possible will be THE key factor affecting how long your tan will last. Prepare oil-free body lotion to use daily after your first rinse to properly rejuvenate your skin’s vital nutrients. If you don’t moisturize properly, there is a chance that your spray tan will wear off in dry patches of skin.
Lotion with oil should absolutely be avoided as it will have the opposite effect of what you are trying to achieve, preventing the skin from absorbing the solution and shortening the lifespan of your tan. Oil-based fragrances, perfumes, and even products like bug spray will also have this same negative effect; meaning direct skin contact with these products should be avoided as well for the sake of your tan.
Keep Exfoliation and Shaving to a Minimum: Ideal for the preparation of your skin and harmful for the preservation, exfoliation wears away at the surface of your fresh spray tan. Along with pore strips and bandages, it should be kept to a minimum until your brilliant color begins to fade away. Shaving is also a tricky subject, as it offers the same drawbacks but is much harder to avoid for 5-8 days. So, if hairy legs or armpits aren’t your thing, then be sure to shave with light pressure and an emphasis on using slow, even strokes of your razor. If done correctly, this will prevent any unwanted exfoliation and fading.
Baby Powder is Key: Deodorants were also mentioned as something that should be avoided before your tan, and unfortunately the rest of the day after is no different. While you may just want to tough if out for the rest of the day to avoid the patchiness that both sticks and spray can cause, sweat also causes streaks and spots. We’re going to let you in on a secret industry tip; baby powder works wonders to solve both the smell and sweat problem. Apply liberally around sweat prone areas such as your underarms, inner elbows, back of your knees, and under your butt. Who says looking great, smelling great, and prolonging your tan has to be difficult?
Liquids are the Enemy: The duration you should wait to shower after your tan varies depending on the level of color depth, your skin requirements, and the solution used, but six hours on average is recommended. This means that you also need to avoid rain, pools and the beach. Solutions are a tricky science, needing enough time to absorb and ensure an even shade. Keep in mind that leaving the solution on any longer than 12 hours can cause streaking as well, so adhering to their advice is important.
Follow Proper Shower Procedures: When it finally is time to take a shower, there are several important things to keep in mind that may differ from your normal wash routine. First, don’t spend an excessive amount of time in the water as it may cause fading before you are even able to flaunt your tan in public. Utilizing water that is too hot can also speed up this process, so be sure the water is lukewarm before you hop in. During the first shower avoid using soaps on your skin. If you need to use soap, keep in localized to the necessary areas.
Avoid washing your hair during this initial shower if you can. But, if it is absolutely critical to wash your hair, a methodical wash that avoids touching the skin is the best technique. After your shower, dab, don’t rub the towel against your skin to dry off the water. Over the next 12 hours, your tan will continue to develop before reaching its peak jaw-dropping look.
Hydration for the Win: After you have taken your first shower, keeping your skin as moisturized as possible will be THE key factor affecting how long your tan will last. Prepare oil-free body lotion to use daily after your first rinse to properly rejuvenate your skin’s vital nutrients. If you don’t moisturize properly, there is a chance that your spray tan will wear off in dry patches of skin.
Lotion with oil should absolutely be avoided as it will have the opposite effect of what you are trying to achieve, preventing the skin from absorbing the solution and shortening the lifespan of your tan. Oil-based fragrances, perfumes, and even products like bug spray will also have this same negative effect; meaning direct skin contact with these products should be avoided as well for the sake of your tan.
Keep Exfoliation and Shaving to a Minimum: Ideal for the preparation of your skin and harmful for the preservation, exfoliation wears away at the surface of your fresh spray tan. Along with pore strips and bandages, it should be kept to a minimum until your brilliant color begins to fade away. Shaving is also a tricky subject, as it offers the same drawbacks but is much harder to avoid for 5-8 days. So, if hairy legs or armpits aren’t your thing, then be sure to shave with light pressure and an emphasis on using slow, even strokes of your razor. If done correctly, this will prevent any unwanted exfoliation and fading.