I don’t know about you, but I feel my best when my skin has a healthy glow! We live near a lake so during the summer our family is out in the sun a lot. And I feel the most confident when my skin is tanner and glowier! Recently, I had my very first spray tan…can you believe it took me so long?! My husband and I were headed to Maui and my winter skin hadn’t seen the sun for months! I wanted to look great from day one, not at the end of out trip. So, I did all the research to make sure my tan would take well and last and I’m sharing that knowledge with you! Here’s how to prep for a flawless spray tan so you can have glowy skin too!
How to Prep for a Spray Tan
You can’t just walk into your spray tan and hope it sticks. You’ve gotta do some prep work to help it attach to your skin and also last long. So here are some tips to try before you go:
- Exfoliate your entire body! Check out this post on how to dry brush. Basically you take a boar bristle brush and brush the dead skin cells off so the tanning solution will stick to you well.
- Shave any areas that you want the tanning solution to attach to well.
- Shower to have clean skin. Also, you want your tan to marinade as long as possible so it may be a while before you jump back in the shower. So start with a clean slate!
- Skip moisturizing your body before you go! Applying moisturizer will make the tanning solution slip off. You don’t want that to happen!
- Don’t apply any skincare or deodorant. Along the same lines as the moisturizer, these things can make the solution slide off.
- Remove any jewelry that may get in the way and cause weird tan lines.
- Wear loose and dark clothing so it doesn’t rub the tanning solution off. If you wear something light, it could stain.
So in a nutshell, exfoliate your skin by dry brushing, shave, shower to have clean skin, skip the moisturizer, and wear loose clothing.
What to Wear to Get a Spray Tan
My philosophy is less is more! Think of it like this…any skin that is covered up won’t get tan. So wear less than you think so you won’t have awkward tan lines. I opted for a thong and nipple covers. If you’re embarrassed for the tanning lady/guy to see you, remember that this is their job. They’re used to seeing all the things! =)
The nipple cover idea was a last minute idea I had and it was genius! Watch the video to see what happened with my nipple cover…..haha!
How to Make Your Spray Tan Last
Once you’ve gotten your spray tan, you want it to last as long as possible! Here are a few tips to help you:
- Wear loose clothing right after so it doesn’t rub your fresh tan off.
- Avoid taking a shower for as long as you can…at least 8 hours is good. And once you shower, use lukewarm water and avoid scrubbing.
- After your first shower, moisturize daily to keep your skin hydrated.
- You can apply a tanning lotion to help your skin stay tan longer. Just remember to wash your hands after applying it!
- Avoid places like saunas, spas, and chlorinated pools.
I hope these tips help you have a beautiful glow that you love!
And speaking of glowy skin…if you want healthier, happier, glowier skin, then take the skin quiz to see what skincare products are best for your skin type! Join the waterless beauty movement…it’s where all the healthy skin is at!!
Here are other blogposts that you might enjoy:
- 5 Key Reasons You Should Try LA Dope for Glowing Skin
- Age Gracefully with Seint Beauty
- Unlock Radiant Skin with Oliveda’s Skincare
- What is Waterless Beauty?
- Feeling Your Best and Looking Your Best
- The Ultimate Guide to Finding Your Perfect Cleanser
- The Benefits of Red Light Therapy for Your Skin
About the Author
JoEllen is a licensed aesthetician, certified makeup artist, and certified John Maxwell coach, speaker, and trainer. She works with women helping them look and feel confident. She loves teaching women simple beauty techniques so they can feel empowered to try it at home. Her motto is that when you look and feel good, you do good!
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