After your tan
Rinse at the time I’ve recommended to you!
After your spray tan, do not touch your tan and avoid skin-to-skin contact until your rinse. If you rub and touch your tan before you’ve rinsed it off, you’re going to end up with tanned palms. We definitely don’t want this!
Stay in your loose fitting clothes! Don’t get changed into tighter fitting clothes and avoid wearing undies or a bra, best to go commando😉
While your tan is marinating (between 1 — 8 hours depending on which tan you have chosen) avoid getting your skin wet. This can result in little droplet patches. Washing your hands and getting caught in the rain can result in your tan washing off patchy. If it’s raining or even if it’s not – we do live in Auckland after all, bring an umbrella in case. I will of course do my best to get you to your car dry.
It’s important to avoid getting your sweat on after your tan. Workouts are best avoided until the tan has fully developed, time to relax. Development time ranges from 8 — 24 hours.
When rinsing, use lukewarm water and NO soap/products to rinse off the top coat, also known as the bronzer. Use your hands to brush the water down your body until the water runs clear down the drain, ensuring all of your bronzer is washed off. Don’t worry, this is not your spray tan washing away, even if it seems like it!
Gently pat your skin dry with a towel after your rinse shower (& after every shower with a spray tan). Worried your tan looks lighter after you rinsed it? It definitely will! Your tan takes up to a full 24 hours to see the final result.
Spray Tan Tip: The instant cosmetic bronzer that you see upon application is like makeup! It will build up/move around or smudge and may appear imperfect but don’t freak out. It is important to wait until after the first initial rinse and full soap shower to see the real results!
Making your tan last
Moisturise like CRAZY from the first day after your tan! Proper hydration is what will help to maintain your tan, you have to guard it from becoming dry and those tanned skin cells rubbing off. BUT an oil-rich formula can actually make it come off faster. Use a very basic lotion that isn’t oil-based. Moisturise morning & night to prolong your tan & keep your skin nice and plump. Fragrance and alcohol free is the best way to go.
If it exfoliates your skin…it will exfoliate your tan right off. How about a hot, luxurious bath after your spray on tan? I don’t think so! Bathing, swimming (especially in chlorinated pools), rubbing sand all over your body…all of these activities result in a layer of your skin coming off which can make maintaining your tan difficult.
Final tip, pat your skin dry with a towel rather than rubbing vigorously. It all sounds like a lot to remember but you get used to it very fast.