We often get asked by clients how to prepare for a spray tan and there are a number of things you can do so that your skin is ready and your tan lasts for longer.

Before your spray tan

Firstly, we would always advise that if you are having any other treatments, these should be done before your spray tan. So, if you are booked in for waxing, manicure or pedicure, make sure this is before your spray tan.

We would also advise that you should shave the day before your spray tan. A little tip we share is to rinse with ice cold water after shaving, this will close your pores making sure your tan doesn’t get in them and appear as little brown dots.

Secondly, it will come to no surprise that we would advise you to exfoliate your entire body the day/evening before or in the morning if you are having a spray tan later that evening. Exfoliating your skin with a gently exfoliator or scrub will take off the top layer of dead skin cells, revealing the fresh skin cells beneath, ready for your spray tan to be applied.

We ask all our clients not to wear any perfume, creams, lotions, deodorant or makeup for their spray tan appointment. We like to work with a clean canvas!

During your spray tan

Be willing to strip down (or you can go commando!) so that you have little or no tan lines. Remember that if you are wearing your underwear the self-tan may stain some fabrics. We offer our clients disposable underwear if requested. Remember to also tie your hair back and use a headband to stop any solution getting into your hair.

We always check with our clients at this stage if they have any prior experiences of spray tanning, any skin conditions they may have, any eczema or psoriasis or any areas that they feel lighten quicker. This ensures we are fully aware of any tricky areas that may need special attention.

We ask our clients to make us aware if they are pregnant before their spray tan so that they can consult their doctor. We may also require you to do a patch test on your skin as you may be more sensitive than usual. If you are breast feeding, we would also like to know so that we can avoid the nipple area.

After your spray tan

You should be careful after your spray tan and avoid getting wet, this includes sweating, swimming, showering and getting caught in the rain! You also want to avoid wearing any tight clothing, especially trousers with seams or jogging bottoms with tight cuffs.

Depending on which spray tan you have chosen, the time it takes to develop varies. Traditional spray tans will need about eight hours while certain express solutions will allow you to shower after one to three hours.

How long will my tan last?

The length of time your spray tan lasts depends on a number of things however we usually say between five and twelve days. Your face and hands will last a shorter amount of time because you will wash both of these more often.

We recommend moisturising with body lotion, post-spray tan and be careful if you use oils become some of these can strip your tan (mineral oil, grapeseed oil and coconut oil). We also recommend drinking lots of water to keep your skin hydrated.

Find out more about the spray tans we offer using both Bondi Sands and Sienna X tanning products.

If you would like to check our availability or book an appointment, please book now or call 01932 853 200.