Spray Tanning

Plan ahead! Which day do you want to look the most gorgeous? Book your spray tan for a day or two before this. 

Always perform hair removal procedures at least 8 hours, preferably 24 hours, before your spray tanning appointment. Waxing and shaving both remove skin cells, so waxing or shaving after your spray tan will inevitably remove some of the tanned skin—wax or shave before. 

Exfoliating helps skin absorb the tanning solution more effectively, enabling the tan to last longer and fade more evenly. Exfoliate your skin the night before your tan – use an exfoliant that is not oil-based. Concentrate on the areas of your knees, ankles, feet, and elbows where dry skin is more prolific. 

Do not wear any makeup, moisturizer, or antiperspirant the day of your tan. This will interfere with the absorption of the tanning solution into the skin and inevitably result in patches. 

Remove contact lenses and all jewellery and don’t put it back on for a few hours after your tan.

During the tan, most people elect to go naked to get a total all-over tan however, your beauty therapist can provide you with a disposable g-string, or if you prefer, you can wear your underwear but be aware your underwear will get overspray on them from the tanning solution's trace colour. Don’t worry, it washes out – we recommend black or dark underwear. Immediately after the treatment, until you shower, try to wear loose fitting clothing, no bra if possible and avoid shoes of any kind except perhaps thongs. 

First up, WATER is the spray tan enemy until the tan has developed and you decide to take a shower. Water includes sweating, so try to avoid overexertion that may cause this, and be careful around the sink if you decide you need a cuppa. Once the tan has developed, and you have showered, it’s life as normal.

We recommend the client wait at least a few hours after tanning to give the tanning solution enough time to fully set. We will discuss this with you at the time of receiving the treatment. 

When you first shower after a spray tan, you will observe a lot of brown colouring running down the drain. Don’t fret – this is just the trace colour used so we can see that the solution has covered all areas of your skin. Remember, the actual DHA tanning solution is clear. 

When showering or bathing, keep your water temperature at cool to warm, and don’t scrub your skin. Instead, gently wash your body (don’t use a loofah), and when drying, pat your skin rather than rub it. We recommend you wash with an SLS-free (Sodium Laurel Sulphate-free) body wash.

To extend the life of the tan, keep the skin well moisturised. Moisturizing aids in keeping the skin from naturally sloughing off, thereby prolonging the tan. 

Exfoliate only towards the end of the life of the tan, once the tan has completely faded, or just before being re-tanned.

Depending on a person’s activities, skin type, and condition of the skin, these tans will last approximately 7 – 10 days. Using a quality moisturizer on the skin daily will help extend tanning results while keeping the tan looking healthy and glowing. You can’t stop the natural cycle of shedding skin cells, but you can keep your skin hydrated so that patchiness is reduced as your tan fades naturally.