What to Wear when Getting a Spray Tan and After

It has been a few years since I had my first spray tanning session. I still remember that one thought which was constantly haunting me.

What to wear during and after a spray tan session was something making me a little uncomfortable. Being a shy girl back then, I was reluctant to showcase my half-naked body to someone unfamiliar.

So, if you are wondering about what to wear to a spray tan salon, believe me, you’re not alone. We all have been there.

The clothes you wear during spray tanning has a lot to do with the outcome.

Just like the spray tan clothes you wear during the tanning session, what to wear after a spray tan is also equally important. It is this clothing that defines how well the spray tan develops on your body.

Feeling a bit confused?

Don’t worry. We will help you to select what fit bests you during and after a spray tanning session.

Before we explore the best spray tan clothes, let me tell you something that makes you happy.

Nowadays, no technician will ask you to wear a particular dress code. They will advise you to wear loose, black outfits or no clothes at all. But your comfort is the most important thing for any salon and you are free to wear anything that makes you most comfortable.

Why is Spray Tan Clothing Important?

Ever wondered why do schools have uniforms? Or why does the military have a dress code?

Yes, because everything requires a different attire that works best for you.

As of today, we will be talking about the different attire requirements of spray tanning.

Spray requires certain prerequisites to be followed when deciding what to wear.

When deciding an outfit for your tanning needs, it is important to keep in your mind that:

Spray tanning isn’t just a little task that can be done with a swift movement of the hand. On the other hand, the spray tan has to go on all of your body.

So, unless you’re totally naked, you will have to make a choice that is suitable for the chemicals to do their job on your skin without any disturbances.

Read on and you will find out how you can make that choice.

What to Wear to a Spray Tan?

It must be an exciting morning when it’s time for your spray tan appointment, isn’t it?

In the hustle bustle of daily life, it’s an extraordinary feat to successfully plan and reach your tan appointment, considering the amount of planning it requires.

Consequently, one must not forget that amidst all this planning, planning what to wear is as important as everything else. (NB: If you’re new to spray tanning, I will advise you to read Tanning Girl’s spray tan prep guide)

At the back of your head, you must be asking yourself questions like “why is it important?” or “what does my outfit have to do with a tan?” Don’t worry; we have the answers to all your questions. All you have to do is read on to find out.

Let me tell you that it’s not just the clothing that matters. Your footwear, the solution, deodorant etc. have their on say when it comes to spray tanning.

In a nutshell, you should wear the following outfits:

Now, let’s talk about everything in detail.

What to Wear When Getting a Spray Tan

Yeah, let’s start with what is most important.

They say that it’s better to get naked while getting a spray tan. But, many of us might not be that brave. So, here are some clothes and accessories you can try wearing during a spray tanning session.

1. Not your best underwear

For all of you have had tanning sessions before, you might’ve noticed tiny tickly trails of tanning solution running down your bellies and to your crotch. This trail does not have any adverse effects on the outcome of the tan but is the part of the original tanning solution being used in your tanning.

This trail eventually finds its way where the tan does not even matter (no pun intended) but when you’re wearing underwear, it gets taken up by it. Yes, the underwear fabric absorbs any extra solution being sent down.

This being said, you might want to consider not wearing your best pair of underwear to a tanning session. Wear loose underwear that can be disposed of off if stained with the tanning solution.

Disposable thongs are the best option. We have interviewed many regular spray tan customers and they have always said only good things about disposable thongs. The best thing about these thongs is that you will get 100 such clothes for less than $20.

2. Tanning Solutions

Yes, before you wear anything to cover yourself up, there’s one more thing you need to wear first.

Tanning solutions are not just helpful when you’re heading out for a UV tanning session but during spray tanning sessions too. Tanning solutions such as bronzers and accelerators need to be applied at least 60-120 minutes prior to your tanning sessions.

Moreover, you need to be careful to not let your clothes touch your skin, especially where the solutions are applied in substantial amounts. For this, you will again have to apply tip # 1 where I told you to wear loosely fitted clothes.

3. Spray Tanning Feet Stick Pads

You need a spray tanning feet sticky pads or protectors to prevent stained feet and foot disease. I always recommend using one to my client as this is the easiest way to prevent any communicable diseases.

Now coming not the available options, you will get a lot of cheap products in online stores. Reenee Tan Economy Pink Spray Tanning Feet Protector Pad is one such good option. It is very simple to use and wear. But the fact that it is made up of paper makes it prone to damages. If you are not serious at tanning, you can try this cheap spray tan feet protector.

My recommendation to you is to try a premium quality spray tanning Foot Protectors. The product I will recommend is from none other than MaxiMist.

This is made up of premium first quality Eva foam material. The best thing about this product is that it will fit for any foot size. Yeah, you heard it right. The feet protector can be trimmed to any sizes.

What to Wear After a Spray Tan

No doubt, what you wear is a big factor in how the tan will work out.

Done with the tanning? Congratulations, you’ve pulled it off very easily and properly if you followed the steps above.

If you want to get the best tan, you should know very well what to do after a spray tan.

Needless to say, wearing the right costumes is one of the most important aspects of your tanning timeline. From getting a tan to getting it again, this process is where either you make it or break it.

After a spray tanning session, many people will find themselves facing skin irritation and allergies. Most commonly, these occur naturally to some people with rare skin types so you need not worry about it.

The dress you wear after a spray tan session also holds equal importance to that of your clothing during the session. If you happened to wear uncomfortable and tight clothes, you will destroy your tan.

Here are some suggestions from personal experience on what to wear during your spray tanning session.

1. Wear Loosely Fitted Clothes

If you wanted to let air into your house, would you open the windows or tightly close them? Well, I’m not comparing your body to your house but the principles are the same.

When spray tanning, the tanning solution has to reach every inch of your body to ensure an even tan. This solution not only has to reach places but stay there for a considerable amount of time.

Wearing tight clothes will prevent tanning solution (spray) from reaching many inaccessible areas of your body like cleavages and underarms. If the sprays don’t reach all parts of the body, you will end up with an uneven tan.

We don’t want this to happen.

So, wear loosely fitted clothes that will allow your body to get all of that is being provided to it.

Arolina Short sleeve is an amazing cloth you can use while going for a spray tan. It is very loose and comfortable.

This is a long dress with sleeves and is made of up of cotton. The cotton material will ensure at most comfortability. You will feel relaxed wearing this after the tanning session.

2. Dark Clothes

I’m sure you carefully applied my suggestion of wearing loose fitting clothes to avoid messing with the solution on your skin, but there’s more to it.

The solution on your skin is not the only thing that needs extra precaution but your clothes too.

Tanning solutions, coupled with tons of chemicals, Especially bronzers don’t wink twice before staining your clothes. Therefore, designer outfits are a big NO!

On the other hand, you ought to keep yourself covered too, thus dark colored clothes should be preferred after a spray tan.

These dark colored clothes will not easily respond to any bronzer action and stay hygienic as long as they are on.

3. Flip flops after the Tanning Session

I’m pretty sure that you might have seen people asking this question a few days after the tanning session:

Why won’t my legs tan?

Yeah, you guessed it correct. You’re using the wrong footwear after a spray tan session.

Don’t tell me you don’t get your feet tanned with the rest of your body.

During a tanning session, your tanner will try to keep every single inch of your skin in the same tone, including your feet.

I’ve seen people come into my salon wearing high boots or heels, vans, sneakers, joggers and even riding boots (once!). Let me tell you again, all this fancy footwear has nothing to do at the salon.

According to my experience and preference as a tanner, I’d suggest you wear flip-flops to a tanning session. This not only eases you out but also is preferred by the tanner because then you both don’t have to waste time and space removing and storing footwear.

Just wear them flip flops and throw them off your feet whenever needed. It’s that simple!

4. Skirts (for women!)

Another tip that you could roll up your sleeve is wearing a skirt after your spray tanning session.

If you are a man, sorry, this won’t work. On the other hand, women have the advantage of wearing a skirt after a session, which does not only help saving extra fabric from getting stained but also keep their legs exposed.

These exposed legs, especially when exposed to UV, will bring out a tan that you wouldn’t even have imagined.

Moreover, fresh air to legs that have just recently been under stress with tanning solutions will do wonders for the upcoming tan.

If you wear skirts regularly, the tanning day would be just a bad day to cover your legs anyways!

5. Perfume? (Maybe!)

Most people mix and match their routines to find a little time to fix their spray tanning sessions into their timetables. This is not a difficult feat, however, is a smelly one though.

Spray tanning solutions are made of chemicals, which don’t normally smell like you want them to. You might want to consider putting Valium from Canada on a good perfume on your clothes (not deodorant or body spray!).

This perfume will help cover up for the rusty smell which normally also smells like malty biscuits. You don’t want to go to work smelling of biscuits, do you?

What not to Wear?

We’ve covered all the dos, haven’t we?

Now it’s about time we talk about the don’ts.

If you’ve properly followed everything said above, I assure you a better tan than the ones you’ve gotten without knowing all this.

On the other hand, there are a few things that have to be kept off the shelves especially on the tanning day.

1. A big NO to Bras

For women (obviously!), bras are a big no on the tanning day.

Nothing personal, but you would understand the wisdom behind this only after you wear them and find strap marks on your shoulders and back once the tan has set. Yes, the straps in your bra will leave their mark very easily.

So, unless you’re a very conscious woman, I’d suggest you let your chest breathe.

2. Bags

Unless you’re going to a school with tons of books over your shoulders, you should skip any and all the bags that you have to carry. These bags will not only create strap marks all over the place but also make you sweat a lot.

If I didn’t tell you before, excessive sweating will also blotch your tan.

3. Socks

Now, this is something I shouldn’t have to mention but let’s just do it just in case you forgot.

Socks will ruin your feet tan just as fast as anything. This is because most of the spray tan will get absorbed into the socks and coupled with excessive sweating, all you will be left with is the ugliest pair of feet ever.

4. Jewelry

This includes all the heavy jewelry that women mostly wear. This does not include small earrings, but if you’re used to wearing heavy necklaces and other piercings, today is the day to take them off.

This jewelry will keep your skin void of air and ventilation, thus resulting in a slightly different colored tan. Guess what will be the outcome?

5. Say no To Deodorants and Make-Ups

It’s not rocket science to understand that deodorants and makeups are never going to help the spray tanning process. Both of them contains chemicals and there is a high chance that it will interact with the spray tan solution and end up with unwanted results.

So, What do You Wear for Your Next Spray Tan Appointment?

Yeah, that is a long article. I do admit that.

But I believe I have opened your eyes with respect to what to wear and what not to wear to a spray tanning session.

If you happened to read our spray tanning tips (if not, click here), you might know that spray tan clothes play a pivotal role in the development of your tan. If you select the wrong clothes, you will end up with an uneven tan and that will be a mistake you will never forget(at least for the one-week post tanning session).

Let me once again summarize the best spray tan clothes for you:

So, choose your clothes wisely when you go for spray tanning next time.