The A-Z of spray tan prep

You’ve got your treatment all booked with your favourite local beauty therapist, and you can’t wait to get your golden goddess glow – but what do you need to know ahead of your treatment?

Here’s our one-stop guide to everything you need to know about spray tanning:

1. Avoid deodorant on the day of your tan. It acts a bit like a barrier and can prevent the skin from soaking up the solution, leaving it looking patchy and uneven.
2. Bring along loose clothing to wear afterwards so that you don’t disturb the product once it has been applied.
3. Cut back on your perfume and miss out on the make-up. The solution should be applied to cleansed skin to encourage an even distribution of the product.
4. Don’t wear anything fitted or with tight straps that could wipe off or remove your solution before it has had time to develop.
5. Exfoliate at least 24 hours before your treatment to remove dead skin cells. This will help the solution to smoothly glide on and extend the life of your final tan.
6. Feet, ankles and elbows tend to be drier areas of the body that will absorb more tanner than other areas. Be sure that your therapist applies a touch of Barrier Cream to each spot before your tan to encourage an even result.
7. Give yourself 15-20 minutes for the solution to dry fully before you put your clothes back on to avoid any product bleeding onto your garments.
8. Headbands work perfectly for pushing the hair back and managing an unruly fringe.
9. If you’re unsure about any part of the treatment you can always ask your therapist!
10. Jewellery, including bracelets and earrings, should be removed before your tan.
11. Keep away from the loofah after you’ve had your treatment. The rough texture will slough away the skin cells on the surface of your skin and take your golden colour away with them.
12. Leave embarrassment at the door. Your therapist has done a million and one spray tans on all sorts of body shapes and sizes and won’t care one bit about your stretch marks.
13. Moisturise every day to lock in your colour.
14. Nail polish makes for the perfect barrier to the tan solution. Varnish your nails beforehand (even with a clear polish) to protect your nail bed and cuticles from staining.
15. Oily products – take a break from them, just for the day! Much like other cosmetics, they can create a barrier to the skin, preventing a flawless result.
16. Perfume and other cosmetic items shouldn’t be worn on your treatment day because they can prevent the solution from clinging onto your skin.
17. Quit the gym just for the day you’ve had your tan solution applied and before you’ve had time to wash your guide colour off. Sweating will slash the effectiveness of your tanner.
18. Relax and trust your therapist to do their job. Spray tanning is a pampering treat for the skin so permit yourself to indulge in some TLC.
19. Shave at least a day before your treatment to remove unwanted hair. If you shave afterwards, you’ll reduce the lifespan of your tan so do it well beforehand to retain your golden colour for as long as possible.
20. Tie your hair up in a ponytail or bun to give your therapist clear access to your face.
21. Use a gentle shower gel on your skin when you wash your tanner off to avoid drying out your skin and reducing the life cycle of your tan.
22. Very dark guide colours aren’t representative of the final shade of your tan so don’t be worry if the applied tanner looks too rich! Your true colour will be revealed after you’ve had a shower 6-8 hours later.
23. Wax at least a day before your tan to allow your pores to close up. If you tan immediately after waxing you’ll end up with a dotty and uneven finish.
24. Xtra things you can do to prolong your colour: avoid hot showers and long soaks in the tub to keep your tan looking golden for as long as possible. Bypass the swimming pool because chlorinated water can strip the colour from your tan.
25. Yes! You’ve done it so now’s the time to catch some…
26. Zzzzzzs and allow your tanner to develop overnight. However, make sure it has fully dried before your head hits the pillow to avoid colour exchange. It’s also a good idea to steer clear of white bedsheets!

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