How do I prepare for a spray tan? Whether you’re looking to get a head start on a sun-kissed glow before summer starts or you need to give pale skin a much-needed glow-up during the winter months, a spray tan is one of the safest ways to do it. Although it may be tempting to jump into a tanning bed, this can damage your skin, causing premature aging, dark spots and other unwanted skin conditions. Instead, consider getting a spray tan — it’s a safer way to achieve the perfect bronze. If you take the right steps to prep your skin for a sunless tan, no one will ever guess it’s sunless.
Exfoliate all over. I always recommend exfoliating at least eight hours prior to your spray tan appointment for most schedules, this means the day before. Exfoliation helps slough off any dead skin cells on the top layer of your skin, which is important because otherwise they can shed post-tan, which can lead to your faux glow looking patchy and uneven.
Don’t shave (or wax) the day of your session. Shaving and waxing should be done [at least] 24 hours prior to your appointment. This allows time for the skin to calm, ensuring a flawless and comfortable spray tan. If you shave or wax too close to your scheduled session, the spray tan may seep into your pores and produce dark dots. It can also irritate your skin, especially if it’s sensitive.
Take a shower. Do your best to keep your skin sweat-free before your spray tan. If you work out before your tan, it is recommended to shower and wash your face as sweat can sit on the skin and therefore stop the tan from absorbing evenly. In this final shower skip the products and just give your body a nice rinse off.
Avoid using oil and lotion beforehand. It’s important to keep your skin hydrated, but don’t use oil or lotion on the day of your appointment. As it will interfere with the spray tan development. Your spray tan artist will be applying a non-oil-based moisturizer to dry problem areas like the hands, elbows, knees and wrists.
Remove all makeup. Along with avoiding oil and lotion, you should remove all makeup, deodorant and perfume with a cleansing wipe just before the spray. Your skin should be free from any products that could interfere with the spray tan.
Stop using retinoids and hydroxy acids. Twenty-four hours before your appointment, cut out the retinoids and hydroxy acids in your skincare regimen. These ingredients increase cell turnover, which will cause your tan to fade more quickly.
Wear dark, loose clothes. After getting a spray tan, some of the color may rub off onto your clothes. To avoid that issue, wear dark, loose clothes to your appointment. If you feel comfortable, skip your bra and go commando.
Don’t forget about your nails! Discolored nails can be a dead giveaway of your faux tan, so paint your nails before going to your appointment. If you go to a nail salon right before your spray tan, tell your manicurist, “no oils, no massage.” This is why it’s better to go the day before. Your spray tanner should also wipe your palms, soles, fingernails and toenails after the spray. If they don’t, she recommends taking a pack of wipes along and doing it yourself.
Communicate with your spray tan artist. If you want to get the best spray tan results, remember to communicate with your spray tan artist. Always start by informing them if you have allergies, sensitive skin or any other skin conditions. Then, it’s important to be detailed when explaining exactly what shade you want. The best way to think of this is what you want your end result to be — do you want a light glow, a medium golden tan, or a rich deep bronze?
You should also tell your spray artist whether or not you want your face sprayed. If you don’t, your spray tan artist would simply fade the spray tan lightly down the neck to avoid any hard tan lines. However, most people have their faces spray tanned because it looks great! This is a personal decision though so make sure your spray tan artist knows!
Hopefully this helped you prepare for your upcoming spray tan appointment but more importantly, inspired you to make one!