preparation and aftercare
Get the most from your spray tan!
The week before your tan
Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water and moisturizing skin daily.
If you have especially dry skin, you may need to exfoliate nightly beginning 2-3 nights before your spray tan.
Complete any necessary beauty appointments such as manis, pedis, facials, or waxing 24 hours before your spray tan appointment. Don't worry, the spray tan solution will not stain your nail color.
Laser hair removal should be done 2 days in advance with no sensitivity or abrasions present.
Please be advised there is a small percentage of people whose skin may not react favorably to a spray tan. Ex- severely dry skin, recently using retinol or skin resurfacing products, Accutane etc. Please discontinue these products at least 7 days before your session; we can also avoid spraying the treated areas if preferred. Contact us if you have any questions.
The Day Before Your Tan
Exfoliating is the key to a flawless tan! Shave and exfoliate the night before and NOT right before.
Shave first, then exfoliate. Pay extra attention to dry areas like the ankles, tops of your hands & feet, knees, elbows, neck, underarms and the back of your arms.
Exfoliating mitts are hands down the best way to prep your skin for a spray tan. They're under $10, can be thrown in the wash and reused, and can help you remove any stuborn areas when it's time for your tan to come off. You can use an oil-free scrub and a washcloth, but steer clear of loofahs because they don't offer the level of exfoliation needed for spray tans.
Avoid using any bar soaps or cream based body washes (including Dove!). These products will leave a residue on the skin acting as a barrier to your sunless tan.
Remove all pre-existing sunless tanner before your appointment. Tanning over existing tan is like painting over chipped nail polish, the results are blotchy and uneven. If you're having trouble removing your tan, try soaking in a tub for 20 minutes before you exfoliate. Please be gentle with your skin! If you're a weekly tanner and having trouble exfoliating your previous tan off, consider picking up one of our tan removers.
Wash your hair. Make sure to wash your hair prior to your appointment (or plan out your hair washing schedule) as to avoid washing your hair during your first rinse. Ingredients in shampoo + conditioner can interfere with development of your sunless tan.
The Day Of Your Tan
Shower at least 2 hours prior to your appointment with gel based body wash or just rinse with water. Using a body wash free of mineral oil, sulfates and parabens before and after your tan will help your tan last longer.
Avoid wearing any lotions, oils, perfumes, or deodorant-these will create a barrier to the tan! If your appointment is right after work, school, etc., we have wipes you can use to remove a small amount of deodorant and makeup, but skip the lotion and perfume.
Wear dark loose-fitting pants, a baggy shirt and flip-flops to your appointment. Do NOT wear jeans or leggings. Any tight clothing put on directly after your spray can cause unwanted lines.
Plan your day accordingly. Please plan on wearing loose dark loose-fitting clothing, no exposure to water (cooking/washing dishes/bathing kids) and no heavy sweating until after your first rinse.
All tans include rapid rinse solution. Rapid solution rinse times: Light-2 hours | Medium 3-4 hours | Dark 5+ hours. Traditional 8 hour solutions are also available and must be left on for 8-12 hours or overnight.
Place a towel over your driver’s seat for your car ride home if wearing shorts or skirt/dress to avoid transfer of bronzer to car seat.
If there is rain in the forecast the day of your tanning appointment, please come prepared with an umbrella, long sleeve shirt, long loose-fitting pants or flowy skirt and fuzzy socks or close-toed shoes that won’t rub.
Not sure what to wear during the tan? You can wear whatever! Bikini, bra, thong, nude…We don’t care! But if you're under 18, you are required to wear undergarments. Disposable thongs, bras, and pasties are also provided.
Men must wear underwear.
Please be aware that you will have tan lines with whatever you decide to wear.
Before beginning, we will discuss your desired color and darkness to ensure you are feeling confident when the session is complete!
The entire process takes less than 20 minutes and off you glow!
Immediately After Your Appointment
Rinse at the time your technician advises you to!
Do NOT touch your tan.
Do not get wet or sweat until after your initial rinse. Any contact with water or any liquid can smudge or stop the tan from developing in that area. If you do accidentally get a drop of water or your pets tongue comes into contact with you, no worries, take a dry, stiff makeup brush and blend out that area. Most likely it's just the bronzer that was messed up and your tan should still develop fine.
When rinsing, use warm water and NO soap to rinse off the top coat, also known as the cosmetic bronzer. Use your hands to brush the water down your body until the water runs clear down the drain, ensuring all of your cosmetic bronzer coat is washed off. Don't worry, this is not your spray tan washing away!
Gently blot your skin with a towel to dry and moisturize immediately after.
Worried your tan looks lighter after you rinsed it? It totally will! Your tan takes a full 24 hours to see the final result.
Your tan needs moisture to last! Moisturize every morning and night to prolong the life of your tan. The more hydrated your skin is, the longer your tan will last and the more even it will fade. If you allow your skin to dry out, you will start to see a cracking appearance from the tan (that snakeskin look!). When your skin dries out, so will your tan.
Tips to Maintain your Glow
Avoid Swimming, Hot Showers, Long Baths, etc. Anything that naturally exfoliates your skin, will do the same with your tan.
Avoid products that exfoliate your skin until you are ready to remove your spray tan, avoid products like body scrubs, loofahs and wash-cloths. These items will exfoliate your tan away.
Vacations
Avoid the following as much as possible, but if you're going on a fun vacay to the beach, just let us know and we'll give you some tips for prolonging your glow in the water:
- Ocean, hot tubs and swimming pools.
- Exercise/sweating for 24 hours, but please be aware that sweat may affect your tan even if you wait longer than 24 hours to sweat.
- Perfume or any sprays for 24 hours.
*Spray Tan Tip: The instant cosmetic bronzer that you see upon application is like makeup! It will build up/move around or smudge and may appear imperfect. It is important to wait until after the first initial rinse and full soap shower to see the real results!
