How to fake tan your back

Fashion your own tanning tools to make the process easier

Get a friend to help.

The last time we did a forward roll followed by a full-on cartwheel was in P.E. class. And although we may not be as lithe and limber as our 15-year-old selves we can still cut the mustard when it comes to applying fake tan to our backs. But everybody needs a little help sometimes right?

Here’s our guide to applying tanner to your back:

Get some assistance. If you have a friend who can help you to apply your self tanner then get them to give you a hand! Ask them to gently rub the product onto your back with a tanning mitt. They should be able to see which portions of your body you’ve already fake tanned – advise them to steer clear of any spots that you’ve previously covered to avoid creating a patchy finish. A small amount of tanner will go a long way so there will rarely be the need to re-load the mitt with more product. Take a look in a mirror to ensure that you’re happy with the application before your friend leaves!

Get flexible. It is possible to apply self tanner to your back without doing yourself an injury. With a little bit of practise, practise, practise you will soon be able to twist just enough to cover your entire back in a matter of minutes. Make sure you can see your back in a mirror and you should be able to successfully apply an even coverage of product. One great tip is pop your hand inside a tanning mitt and place a small amount of tanner onto the underside of the mitt. That way you can stretch your arm behind your back and apply the fake tan using the back of your hand rather than your palm. It’s a bit less of a stretch and you will still get flawless results.

Get crafty. If you don’t have anyone to help you apply your sunless tan (and you aren’t flexible enough to reach tricky areas) you’ll need to use your imagination. Many fake tan pros use cling film as a tool to apply product on their back. Simply apply a very tiny amount of self tanner to a strip of cling film and slowly rub it onto your back in the same way that you would dry your back with a towel after a shower. Other canny fake tanners use foam brushes or attach their tanning mitt to the end of a long wooden spoon to extend their reach.