Tanning Tips
Preparing for your Spray Tan
Proper spray tan preparation plays a huge part in how your spray tan will look and how long it lasts. Follow these steps for the perfect spray tan.
Exfoliate!
Exfoliating will remove any dead, dry skin cells which will allow the spray tan to absorb into fresh clean skin. This will mean your tan will not only be more even, but it will last a lot longer too. An exfoliating mitt or glove in a warm shower works perfectly. Please refrain from using moisturising soaps & washes like Dove or anything that contains oils or goats milk in the ingredients. These will create a film over the skin and may interfere with the tanning process. This also applies to exfoliators, coffee scrubs, essential oil scrubs, please check the ingredients.
Wax & shave before
Wax at least 48 hours before a spray tan, this will allow the pores to close and to ensure an even looking tan. The same rule applies to shaving. Aim to shave at least 24 hours before your spray tan.
Moisturise
Leading up to your spray tan moisturise your knees, elbows, knuckles and any other dry or rough skin you may have. An aloe vera based moisturiser is perfect for this. Avoid AVEENO and DOVE moisturisers as these can leave a film on the skin and lead to a blotchy looking tan.
ON THE DAY
Don’t wear
On the day of your spray tan don’t moisturise your body or wear deodorant or perfume. This can lead to a blotchy tan. Remove any makeup you are wearing prior to your Spray Tan to ensure you have a clean canvas for best results.
What to wear
The Tanning House will supply disposable underwear, or if you prefer an old dark pair of your own will also work. We will also supply a disposable hat for you to wear if you wish and if you have long hair you need to tie it up.
The Perfect Tan – After Your Spray Tan
Loose clothing for after
Make sure you bring dark loose clothing for after your spray tan and slip on sandals. Underwear without tight waistbands are ideal to wear home or just your disposable G provided. Shoestring straps and tight clothing can cut into your tan during the development time so wide straps and loose clothing are best. Avoid bras and socks until you have washed off your tan.
If it is raining or looks like it could, please bring clothing that covers up and protects all of your skin, as well as an umbrella and closed in shoes. As you can't get wet while your tan is developing (between 1 – 8 hours depending on which tan you have chosen). Washing your hands and getting caught in the rain can result in your tan washing off in patches.
See here for the perfect after tan clothing options.
Don’t touch your tan – tanned palms are not a good look!
After your spray tan if you rub and touch your tan before you’ve rinsed it off, you’re going to end up with tanned palms. Don’t do this! If you’ve gone for the overnight tanning option, be careful while you are sleeping!
Don’t get your sweat on… just yet
It’s important to avoid sweating after your tan, during the developing time. Workouts are best avoided until the tan has fully developed.
Washing off your tan
When you rinse off in the shower, after your spray tan has been on for 2 – 8 hours (depending on which option you have gone for), you want to use lukewarm water and no products. You will see the bronzer washing off and it is quite normal to go back to close to your original colour. Your tan will continue to develop over the next 8 – 24 hours and you will be left with a gorgeous tan. DHA can take up to 48 hours to fully develop.
Maintain Your Spray Tan
Follow these tips to maintain your spray tan
Moisturise
Proper hydration is what will help to maintain your tan, but an oil-rich formula can actually make it come off faster. Use a very basic lotion that isn’t oil-based and moisturise right after your shower (24 hours after to your first rinse off). Fragrance and alcohol free is best.
If it exfoliates your skin… it will exfoliate your spray tan right off
Bathing, swimming, rubbing sand all over your body… all of these activities result in a layer of your skin coming off which makes maintaining your tan difficult and will effect how long your spray tan will last.
Think about using a tan extender
If you want your spray tan to last even longer then you might want to try a tan extender, these are best applied four days after a spray tan.
