Without any argument, one can say that spray tan is the best among the various ways to achieve the sparkling bronze look. Fake tan is the painless and most effective manner of tanning.
However, it can become useless if you take it lightly and fail to prepare well for a session.
A spray tanning session hardly takes 15 minutes. If you are thinking those 15 minutes is going to give you a confidence-boosting glowing tan, you are wrong in every possible way.
You need to prepare yourself for the tanning.
Keeping all the important spray tan prep tips and quires in mind, I’m gonna guide you through what to do before getting a spray tan.
Common mistakes like using moisturizers and deodorants hours before spray tanning, waxing one day before the appointment, etc. can have a profound impact on your skin.
It’s not the end of the prep tips; there are many more you should know.
Keep on reading to ensure the endured and flawless fake tan!
Don’t forget; well begun is half done!
Table of Contents
How to Prepare for a Spray Tan
Achieving the perfect spray tan will be as quick as a flash if you prepare your skin for the tanning session. The preparation should start well in advance; at least one week before the actual appointment.
So, what are the things you should focus on before your next spray tan appointment?
I would say there are two critical areas :
- Chart all your appointments wisely so that they won’t hamper the development of your tan.
- Prepare your skin for the tanning session
Let me explain to you the important tips before spray tan elaborately:
#1. Schedule It wisely
I have seen many people simply hit the salon without any proper planning. This will not only ruin the results but also cost you more.
You need to plan way prior for an appointment. You must be clear on what shade you are looking for. Carry one of your summer pic for a reference.
Many routines like shower, waxing, threading or any hair removal measures, use of moisturizer, face masks etc must be charted accordingly.
And if any vital occasion like your wedding is on the way, have one session done before two weeks and see if it is what you want. Repeat 2 days before the big day.
All you need to ensure is that your pores must be closed and skin must be free from any barriers when you are standing for the spray.
You need to pick a date which is free from any other social appointments. No gym or swim within 24 hours!
#2. Waxing and Shaving
Waxing is a great way to exfoliate your skin. I always recommend people to do waxing before a spray tan.
If you want to remove your unwanted hairs via waxing or threading, do it 48 hours before your tanning session. Because waxing will open up your pores, which if not closed before spray session will result in blotched look.
Shaving is another recommended way of exfoliation. Shaving before spray tan should be done at least 8 hours before the tanning session.
You are not advised to shave or wax immediately after the spray session. Hair removal will exfoliate your skin and takes away the color leaving uneven patches. So to avoid such mess, keep your skin hair-free way before the session and give it enough time to close the pores. You can read more about waxing and spray tanning here: https://tanninggirl.com/spray-tan-after-waxing/
#3. Check The Weather
The effect of the session will be washed away literally if you come in contact with water within 8 to 14 hours after the session. So you need to avoid getting wet and sweaty.
To avoid that take all the precautionary measures if it is the rainy season. Feel free to carry an umbrella to the salon. However, avoid tight hair caps and boots.
#4. Prep Your Skin
Since our aim is the longevity and even coverage of tan, you need to pamper and prepare your skin before each session. Always be gentle with your skin. Know how sensitive your skin is and choose the products wisely. Stay away from oil based and heavy lotions or creams.
You must understand the fine line between needed moisturization and overloaded creaming. While moisturization is a must after tanning, it’s a don’t 8 hours before the tanning session.
You should try to nourish your body every evening. Dry areas like elbows, ankles, hands etc. are the ones where more spray tanning exposure is required. This means extra care should be given to these areas while exfoliating (moisturizing/scrubbing).
You can also conduct a patch test to identify what works best for your skin. This is the best way for newbies to find out the tanning formula that works for them.
#5. Scrub Away Your Dead cells
Exfoliate exfoliate!
You need the tan to be absorbed into your fresh and new skin cells. The existence of dry, dead skin cells results in terrible look, patches, and uneven color. To make it look as natural as possible, you must invest in a gentle scrub or loofah.
The day before your appointment is the apt time for the scrubbing. Taking a shower in the morning of the actual appointment date is a great idea to boost your exfoliation. You can learn more about it here: https://tanninggirl.com/showering-after-tanning/.
After a long and relaxing bath, using a wet washcloth, loofah or sponge, gently rub your skin in circular motion.
- Shower Bouquet’s Loofah and INNERNEED scrubber are two good exfoliating products you can try. They don’t cost much and are being used by many happy tanners all around the world.
As said before, emphasize more on dry areas like knees elbow etc and scrub away from tip to toe. Do not use any harsh chemical scrubber or shower gel.
For sensitive skin, exfoliation is to be done with extra care to avoid further irritation after the process of tanning.
We have a detailed article on how to exfoliate before spray tan and I would recommend you to read it to get a gorgeous spray tan result.
#6. Hydrate Hydrate!
After exfoliation, soak your skin with your favorite chemical-free
moisturizing lotions or creams. You need to moisturize your skin twice a day on a regular basis for a week before the appointment for great results.
- CeraVe Moisturizing Cream and LilyAna Naturals are two of the best-sold moisturizers in the market. I have seen many customers talking great deeds about the two. I’m sure that you will also get wonderful results using them.
However, you need to stay away from the moisturizer at least 8 hours before spray tan. You need zero barriers between your skin and the tan product.
Dove products are not at all recommended for spray tan since it tends to create a layer on your skin which will reduce the effect of the tan.
You should try to buy good quality moisturizers. You can use them as lotions to use after spray tanning to moisturize your skin. This is one of the easiest ways to extend your spray tan.
#7. Cleaner Skin For Neater Tan
As you hit the salon, remove your entire makeup and deodorants or any lotion residue from your skin. You can use a regular makeup remover or baby wipes for the same.
Use of deodorants or perfume will harm your tan due to the presence of aluminum in it. So for even and gorgeous tan results, stay away from all the barriers!
Remove every single jewelry from your body. You don’t want any left out ring mark, isn’t it? Even after the procedure, at least for the next 12 hours, you must not use any jewelry as such.
#8. Protect Your Hair And Nails
You can use a shower cap or protective cap provided by the salon to keep your hair out of the way. Use hair bands and bobby pins to keep your long hair intact. You want nothing to come in between you and your tan.
Make sure that your neck and shoulders are open for the spray.
For nails, you can invest in protective creams; especially for cuticle area which absorbs most of the color. You can even rely on good nail polish to reduce the chances of staining your nails.
Salons might provide barrier creams to protect your palms from getting colored.
In case you stained your nails, don’t worry, it can be removed without much strain. However, don’t indulge in stain removal the moment you leave the salon. Water is not the best friend for now!
#9. Dress For Perfection: Wear Loose Dark Clothes to the Salon
Dress for the occasion. Choose a black or dark loose dress. You don’t want your clothing to absorb the product rather than your skin, isn’t it?
It is so clear that you need to say a big NO to your favorite clothes and tight dresses. Jeans is not an option at all.
When it comes to undergarments, use those which you don’t bother it is stained. Undress to your level of comfort. Use flip flops and not shoes or boots. No need to wear any kind of socks or stockings.
You can find more on what clothing to use while going for spray tanning here.
What to do before a Spray Tan- The Essential Checklist
So far we have discussed the things to do before a spray tan. Let me rephrase the important dos and don’ts for ease of comprehension.
Before you step in for your next spray tanning appointment, make sure that you have the following pre-spray tan tips covered.
The Dos
- Shower and exfoliate your skin a day before
- Scrub away your dead cells
- Moisturize your skin regularly
- Take care of the dry regions to avoid blotches
- Shave your skin at least 8 hours prior
- Protect your nails and keep your hair out of the way
- Apply nail polish to protect your nails from discoloration
- Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated
- Keep the session on an idle day
- Wear dark and loose clothing
The Don’ts
- Don’t use moisturizers 8 hours before the spray tanning session
- Avoid sweating or shower for the next 12 hours to keep the tan intact
- Remove all the makeup, lotions, and jewelry before the session.
- Don’t use any deodorants while going to the tanning salon
- Don’t wax 48 hours before the appointment
- Avoid bar soaps like DOVE while taking the bath
Once you pick the right color (read Tanning Girl’s article on spray tan shades to know more), right salon and the good time, then the fake sun-kissed golden glow will stay with you for at least 7 to 12 days.
All you need to ensure that you have done all the preparations well and are aware of what not to do.
FAQ
When should I shower before spray tanning?
You should shower on the morning of the spray tanning appointment day. Use some good scrubbers to exfoliate your body in the morning shower.
Can I moisturize before the tanning appointment?
Yeah, you should moisturize starting from one week before the appointment. But it should be stopped 8 hours before the tanning session.
Can I shave prior to spray tanning?
Yes. You should shave before spray tanning. But make it sure that it is done at least one day before.
Can I go to the salon with normal clothes and makes ups on?
No, you should visit the salon with loose and comfortable clothes. A black dress is preferred. Give a break to makeups and jewelry items.
Products to Use before Spray Tanning
I have seen low-quality tanning just because the customer used substandard products for moisturizing, shaving, scrubbing etc.
Your primary focus should be to use those products as per our advise while preparing for a spray tan.
Some of the recommended products are:
| Product Type | Best Product | Features |
| Moisturizer | CeraVe Moisturizing Cream (Amazon) |
|
| Body scrubber | INNERNEED Soft Silicone Scrubber (Amazon) |
|
| Waxing | Wax Warmer (Amazon) |
|
| Body Exfoliator | LivingPro Exfoliating Brush Set (Amazon) |
|
| Shaving | Morpilot Electric Shaver (Amazon) |
|
I think I have detailed everything on what you should do before getting a spray tan.
You don’t need to google anything more on pre-spray tan tips. We have listed everything for you; ranging from the things to do to products to use.
So, plan your next spray tanning session wisely and prepare your skin for the appointment.
Keep all these points in your mind and let your skin glow!
Before I sign off, I would recommend you to have a strong understanding of what works the best in spray tanning. For this, don’t forget to check Tanning Girl’s tips on spray tanning to get a confidence-boosting tanned look in no time.