Tips for Getting the Best Spray Tan
If you want to get a glowing tan that will boost your confidence without being exposed to harmful UV rays? You can achieve this in just minutes with a spray tan. This type of tan also allows you to add a bronze, youthful glow to your skin no matter the season.
However, before you step into the tanning booth at your local tanning salon, it’s important to know how to prepare for your appointment to ensure you’re satisfied with the results.
One of the most important things to remember when it comes to spray tans is that you have to pick the right time to tan. It’s crucial that you avoid water for at least four hours after your tan, but it’s ideal to stay away from water for up to 8 hours. Water can interact with the tanning ingredients and cause streaking, which will make the tan noticeably uneven. If you can’t avoid sweating or swimming for that amount of time, you should probably save your tanning appointment for another time.
Be sure to exfoliate your skin before your tanning session as well. When you exfoliate, you’re getting rid if dead, dry skin cells on your body. Exfoliation allows the tanning or bronzing spray to quickly absorb into the skin and adhere quickly. This makes your tan even and helps it to last longer. It’s best to use a light exfoliation and moisturizing body scrub in the shower. Try to stay away from in-shower moisturizer and bar soaps, since these can interfere with the tanning process and give your skin an unwanted orange tinge.
On the day of your tanning appointment, don’t wear any makeup or lotion. You should moisturizer your whole body days before your session to make the tan last longer. However, lotions and moisturizers can interfere with the bronzing spray’s ability to absorb into your skin. If you do wear makeup the day of your tanning appointment, make sure you remove it before your session to make sure the tanning spray is evenly applied. Make sure that you use deodorant sparingly on the day of your spray tan as well. Deodorant can actually interact with the tanning spray and cause your armpits to turn green.
You should also prepare for your tanning session by wearing loose-fitting, dark clothing. Make sure you remove all your jewelry and leave it off until your tan is completely set. Loose clothes and not wearing jewelry will keep your tan even and prevent streaking. If your clothes don’t fit too tightly, you reduce the risk of the tanning spray staining your clothing.
Once you have all these factors in place, you’re ready for your tanning appointment. Be sure to talk to your tanning specialist about the best positions for tanning if it’s your first time. This is especially important if you want certain parts of your body to receive more tanning spray (i.e. you’re preparing for the summer and your chest and legs are lighter due to being covered in the winter). You can also ask your tanning specialist if tanning nude, a swimsuit or paper “underwear” is best for your session based on your comfort level. Happy tanning!