Spray Tan Prep & Care

I want all of my clients to have the best experience and spray tan possible.

To help insure that this happens, I ask that my clients do their part to follow these key instructions, to insure a beautiful, natural-looking tan.

Not following these instructions could lead to a quick-fading, uneven or blotchy tan.

-Drink Water, by regularly drinking plenty of water and applying moisturizer to your skin, especially in the days leading up to your tanning appointment, this will help keep your skin cells healthy and ready to absorb the tanning solution.

-Schedule other appointments including but not limited to any nail, lash, brow, or dermatologist appointment prior to your tanning appointment. I would recommend to have these appointments done, at least one to two days prior to tanning. Of course, always consult with your dermatologist on what they recommend as well.

-Exfoliate your skin gently, but thoroughly, at least 24 hours prior to your tanning appointment. This helps to remove any dead or dying skin cells, and helps reveal a fresher, more even surface on your skin to allow for a longer lasting and even tan.

-Shave or wax any desired areas at least 12 to 24 hours prior to your appointment. This insures that the pores in your skin close properly before any tanning solution is applied.

-Day of appointment: Shower before arriving to remove any sweat, deodorant, makeup, moisturizer or perfume. Make sure you are dry and that your hair is dry too, should you elect to wash your hair. Do not wear any moisturizer, makeup, deodorant, or perfume to your appointment, as this will create barriers on your skin and create a blotchy, uneven tan.

-What to wear: Bring dark, loose-fitting clothing to wear immediately following your tan application. Loose clothing doesn’t hug the skin as much, which prevents rubbing of the bronzer on your skin. The bronzer in the solution should wash out, but it is best to wear dark colors to prevent lighter clothes from potential staining.

- Sleeping, If you plan to sleep in your fresh tan, I recommend wearing light-weight, long pants and long sleeve shirts. I even suggest wearing socks to prevent tan transfer. You do not want to sweat, so I recommend only using sheets as covers or a thin blanket in addition to the pjs. To protect your bedding from any potential stains, make sure you had either changed the sheets to a darker set or folded a darker sheet into your bed (like a sleeping bag) that you can lay inside as you sleep.

-After Tan, During the development time, of at least 8 hours, you must avoid getting wet! You have been granted the night off from doing dishes, bathing the kids or doing the laundry! I don’t want you to work up a sweat either, so skip the gym. You get to sit comfortably and catch up on that tv show or read that book you never have time for. If you are thirsty, try to drink all drinks carefully through a straw.

• Allow your tan to develop for at least 8 hours before rinsing off. If you slept in your tan, simply wake up and rinse off. For the first rinse, avoid scrubbing or using soap. You want to give the active ingredient, dihydroxyacetone (DHA), as much time as possible to absorb into the skin.

-Soap, Most soaps have harsh chemicals that can immediately begin to strip your fresh tan. If you must use soap, use the most natural options that have the fewest ingredients. I recommend using Cetaphil Daily Refreshing Body wash or Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Body Wash as the soap to use, while caring for your tan. Avoid using soaps that have ingredients, such as, mineral oil. Just let the luke warm water rinse off the excess bronzer. It may be scary to watch the bronzer wash away, but I promise you are still tan. Use a towel to gently “pat-dry” and follow up with a liberal amount of moisturizer. Continue to apply moisturizer regularly to keep your tan healthy and even. If you are careful and attentive, your tan can last about 7 to 10 days.

-Frequency: Due to the pH levels within our skin, I recommend tanning no more than twice a month to achieve best results. Tanning more frequently than that, could lead to drier skin, resulting in a less vibrant tan, that fades quickly.

-Remember: Everyone has different skin types. There may be situations or certain clients, who follow every rule perfectly, yet still could have irregularities in their tans.