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8 Spray Tanning Tips That Will Help You Make The Most Of Your Tan

spray tanning

You might be one of those people that wants to get a sunless tan, but hates the idea of lying out in the sun or paying for a salon tanning session. But you still want that healthy-looking glow and the protection that a tan provides your skin from the sun. A spray tan session can be a great solution for sunless tanning. Here are 8 tips for getting the most out of your spray tan.

Make sure your skin is clean and dry

Before a spray tan, you’ll need to make sure that you are completely clean and you have dry skin. If you’ve been sweaty or had any contact with water, wash your body with soap and water and then put some cleanser on any areas that you may have missed. If you’re particularly prone to breakouts, it’s best to avoid the spray tan solution a day or two before, or up to 24 hours after you’ve had a breakout. If you’re prone to it, it’s best to get a spray tan a day or two before your event and let it dry for a few hours in between. Make sure your hair is done in a style that will work with a spray tan. Your spray tan won’t look as good if you’ve got really messy hair, if you’ve got hair that sticks up, or if it’s too dark. Spend the time to get your hair done in a style that works well with a spray tan.

 

Apply a moisturiser to your skin before your spray tan

A moisturiser is the best way to give your skin a supple texture, but also one that locks in the colour of the tan. Don’t forget to pat it in, before the spray tanist pours it on. Doing an exfoliant before your spray tan is important so that you get the most even coverage. Get rid of your dead skin cells with a peel or gel, or even use a scrub before your spray tan. If you wear make-up, you want to make sure it is also removed. It also helps to exfoliate regularly with a soft exfoliator, such as Cetaphil. Use a cleanser and moisturiser after your spray tan so that you don’t wash away the colour. If your skin is dry, you can use a moisturiser or soap after a spray tan.

Tan skin
tanning woman

Prepare your skin for what's coming

The last thing you want to do before you do your spray tan is getting your skin all wet and messed up. Prepping your skin with an astringent is a great way to prevent razor burn. You want to exfoliate to prevent acne breakouts, so make sure you exfoliate before you get a spray tan. Make sure that all the skin before and after the spray tan is the same, and that no areas are exposed to the sun. The colour will not be the same, so once you do it again, make sure that you get it done again right away to get the exact same colour. Find a colour that matches you You probably know by now, but if you do a spray tan at home, you probably won’t get the same colour as if you go to a salon. The colour you get from a spray tan may be different from the colour from the salon.

Protecting your hands

If you want to avoid spraying on a lot of heat to your hands, wear gloves. Avoid using lotions or gels that contain oils or emollients. Avoid spraying directly onto clothing. Watch out for water You need to watch your hands to make sure you’re not over-spraying. You don’t want your hands to turn out orange! Wear sunscreen Sunscreen should be applied before spray tanning, to protect your skin from any sun damage that might be caused. Wait until your skin has cooled off before heading outside. Avoid touching your face You need to avoid applying lotions or oils directly to your skin. Use a towel to wipe off the lotion from your skin immediately after spray tanning. Consider using a glove to apply tanning lotions.If you want to avoid spraying on a lot of heat to your hands, wear gloves. Avoid using lotions or gels that contain oils or emollients. Avoid spraying directly onto clothing. Watch out for water You need to watch your hands to make sure you’re not over-spraying. You don’t want your hands to turn out orange! Wear sunscreen Sunscreen should be applied before spray tanning, to protect your skin from any sun damage that might be caused. Wait until your skin has cooled off before heading outside. Avoid touching your face You need to avoid applying lotions or oils directly to your skin. Use a towel to wipe off the lotion from your skin immediately after spray tanning. Consider using a glove to apply tanning lotion.

Preparing for the spray

Be sure to shave off all your body hair before your spray. Make sure to apply lotion or oil to any existing body hair before the tanning process. Wear clothes that allow your tan to be applied evenly to your skin. Keep the shower curtain open while you’re showering. Put on your freshly applied tanner as soon as possible after you’ve finished showering to help prevent the tan from absorbing into your skin. You can put on a thick, clingy loose t-shirt or a shirt that has ties or buttons for the spray tan application. For an easy application, have someone apply it while you sit on the side of the bathtub. When you’re finished showering, don’t touch your tan with your hands.

Protecting your clothes

It is easy to spot tan lines that were not there before a spray tan. Choose a garment that can be spray-free. If it has a lining that can be removed, you can wear it without ruining your spray tan. If it has buttons, you can remove them before the tan. Just remove them with a warm cloth. To apply the tan, apply a liberal amount of spray on your body. If you have sensitive skin, you might want to use a lighter layer. You should then wait 20 to 30 minutes to allow the product to dry. Apply your tan and wait 5 minutes before you apply any makeup. After your tan has dried, remove any product that was left on your skin. Apply sunscreen You should not just wear your spray tan to protect your tan from your sunburn, you should also protect it from your sunburned skin.

Take care of your skin

Spray tans are not as good on dry, inflamed skin as they are on supple, moisturized skin. And they’re not great if you’re covered in shaving cuts. So before you get your spray tan, make sure your skin is completely clean and makeup-free. Then use a good moisturizer afterwards to keep your skin moisturized. Choosing the right tan artist is really important. First, find a good-quality tanning salon, not a cheap impostor. The tanning beds used in the poshest salons are approved by the FDA and are safe to use with most lotions. They’re also much quieter and don’t have as many strobe effects as some of the cheaper tanners. Bring along warm clothing and shoes Showers and bathrooms are generally the warmest areas in a salon, and have multiple outlets.

Use a tanning lotion to maintain your tan

Even if you’re doing it at home, make sure you have a cream or lotion with you to keep your tan from fading. It doesn’t hurt to be prepared, you never know if your tan will last a couple of days or a couple of weeks. Don’t spray tan in the middle of your thighs or other body parts that you don’t want to tan. If you try that, you may end up with streaks on your legs from where the spray tan doesn’t spread evenly. When you use a spray tan, you can have the technician spray your desired body parts. But sometimes, spraying tan in these areas can dry out your skin. If you don’t want streaky legs, don’t spray tan your thighs.

Conclusion

Most spray tans last between 2-4 weeks. But remember that each area of your body needs to be treated separately, so if you get the legs and the arms did, make sure that you bring in a specialist to cover your shoulders and upper body before you show up for your first appointment.