For quickly bronzing up, try a spray tan. They are not only healthier for your skin than self-tanner, but they also last longer than self-tanner. You must follow a few crucial instructions before your appointment to ensure that your spray tan looks even and lasts.
Table of Contents
Ways to Prepare for a Spray Tan
Know What to Expect
When the spray nozzles turn on for the first time, you might become anxious. However, don’t worry; your tan technician can guide you through the procedure to prevent you from looking like Ross. Additionally, they will discuss your desired outcomes and advise on the best shade to use.
By the way, if it’s your first time, you might want to stick with a lighter shade. In this way, you can determine the appropriate shade moving forward. Furthermore, the results of a spray tan usually appear darker before you take a shower. Therefore, if the initial shade is darker than you anticipated, don’t worry.
Remove Body Hair
The game of body hair is not ashamed! Just keep in mind that a spray tan can cause your hair to dry out or turn discolored. People, we’re talking bright orange pubic hair here. Therefore, you might want to shave one or two days prior to your appointment.
Not the best time to schedule a body wax before getting a spray tan. Spray tanning can irritate the skin and leave dark spots on open pores.
Exfoliate and Cleanse Your Skin
It’s not just polite to shower before getting a spray tan. Better outcomes may also result from it! You definitely don’t want sweat to prevent the spray tan from absorbing evenly into your skin.
Additionally, you should exfoliate for at least 3 days prior to getting a spray tan. This provides your body with a more level foundation and may produce better outcomes. A loofah, dry brushes, or scrubs should work.
Go Natural
Prior to getting a spray tan, avoid moisturizing. Sunscreen, lotions, makeup, and deodorant can all act as a barrier between your skin and the tan. This may result in an uneven tone and blotchy appearance.
Baby powder is an excellent deodorant alternative if you’re worried about sweaty or itchy pits. It can absorb moisture and is simple to wipe off.
Oh, and don’t worry about having dry skin. Before your service, you might be able to apply a special moisturizing lotion that your tanning technician has that won’t interfere with absorption. Furthermore, some spray tan solutions already include moisturizers, negating the need for additional application.
Retinoids and alpha hydroxy acids speed up cell turnover, which could cause your tan to fade more quickly. At least a day before your appointment, stay away from these products.
Dress the Part
Setting up spray tans takes time. On the day of your appointment, you should choose comfortable clothing. The skin can become scratched and smudged by clothing that is too tight. Wearing dark clothing or an old t-shirt is your best bet if you want to avoid worrying about stains.
Just so you know, you should also put your jewelry away. Your results can also be ruined by jewelry like rings, necklaces, and bracelets.
Talk With Your Spray Tan Technician
Before the spray, having an open discussion with your spray tan technician can help a lot. Here are some things to bring up:
- Would you like a contour?
- Would you like a spray tan on your face?
- Which color will complement your skin tone the best?
- Do you have any skin sensitivities that they ought to be aware of?
Don’t Wear Any Deodorant, Moisturiser, Or Makeup
Many deodorants create a barrier that prevents spray tan solutions from penetrating, which can cause your underarms to turn white.
We advise against using moisturizer the day of your tan because of both makeup and moisturizer act as barriers to your tan.
Benefits of Spray Tanning
In case you hadn’t realized, everyone loves to glow. In fact, a 2017 study found that 9.5 percent of participants intentionally tanned outside. But there may be a price for that beauty. It is common knowledge that tanning increases your risk of sunburn, age spots, wrinkles, and dry skin.
Your risk of skin cancer will significantly increase if you suntan. A single tanning bed session can raise your risk of basal cell carcinoma by 29%, melanoma by 20%, and squamous cell carcinoma by 67%, according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association. However, spray tanning is considerably safer.
If you want your summer glow to only last a few weeks, spray tanning can also be very helpful. Furthermore, unlike traditional tanning, the results are almost instantaneous.
Risks of Spray Tan
DHA Inhalation
Applying spray tan to the lips, nose, or area around the eyes is not advised by the FDA. The skin, not the lungs, is the target audience for spray tanning. Coughing and sore throat symptoms may result from breathing in the solution.
During your session, wear a nose plug and cover your mouth to prevent inhaling spray tan. Additionally, you can request that your salon refrains from spraying directly on or near your face.
Allergies and Skin Sensitivities
In people with specific skin issues, DHA may cause irritation or itching. You should talk with a dermatologist before spray tanning if you have:
- sensitive skin
- severe acne
- psoriasis
- eczema
- rosacea
Sun Damage
People who get sunless tans don’t shield their skin as well from the sun’s harmful rays, according to a 2018 study. While more research is required to confirm that this trend is accurate, now is still a good time to discuss sunscreen.
Remember to use sun protection if you plan to spend time outside flaunting your tan. Even if it’s bad outside, wear sunscreen every day. You can further lessen your risk of sun damage by donning hats and protective clothing.
Caring For, Extending, and Removing Spray Tan:
Keep Your Spray Tan Moisturised
- Starting the day after you get a tan, moisturize like crazy. you have to guard it against becoming dry and those tanned skin cells rubbing off. The best way to achieve this is to moisturize both morning and night. This means dead skin cells will be moist and stay “plastered” to your body long which improves the longevity of your tan.
It’s crucial to make sure the moisturizing lotions you use are oil-free since oils break down the DHA and give your skin that cracked appearance
We recommend Black Magic Tans Nourish Moisturiser with SPF 15 – $25
- Prevent your skin from being excessively exfoliated. After your spray-on tan, how about taking a hot, luxurious bath? That, as well as rolling around on the beach in the sand, will speed up the exfoliation process of your skin, in my opinion. While frequent swimming in a chlorinated pool will burn more calories than a quick dip in the ocean, it won’t. (In contrast to bleaching it, chlorine does not exfoliate tans).
- Use gentle shower products. Some soaps are too abrasive, and using them can cause patches of tan to disappear. Use high-quality soaps without oils if you must use soap. A mild shower gel will be much better for your spray-tanned skin, which is even better.
Prolong the Depth of Your Tan.
The ability to prolong the life of your tan and increase its depth as it begins to fade may be for you if you’re not a weekly tanning addict (like a lot of us are).
The spray tan tends to rub off first from areas like the hands, feet, and face (many face cosmetics have exfoliating properties). You might notice that the tops of your thighs become lighter first when wearing tight clothing, such as jeans.
It’s worthwhile to spend money on touch-up products and moisturizers with DHA for extending your tan. (A moisturizing sunless tanning product can prolong the life of your tan.
We carry Tan X-Tend by Black Magic, a DHA-based product with an SPF of 15 that costs $25 and is made to prolong the life of your tan.
We prefer not to reapply spray tan for flawless results. And I strongly advise you to take it out entirely. After that, you have the ideal foundation for your fresh tan.
Conclusion
You can achieve a sun-kissed look with a spray tan without the dangers of UV radiation. Preparing your skin before tanning can improve results and extend the life of your tan. Prior to your appointment, make sure to discuss any concerns with your tanning technician. For your particular skin condition, they can suggest the best shade and product.
Prior to your spray session, you should also take a shower and exfoliate. Dead skin cells and product residue can cause an uneven finish; this helps wash them away. Oh, and remember to dress in dark, loose-fitting clothing for your appointment.
