Client Info · Prep & Aftercare
Prep & Aftercare: Get the Most From Your Tan
A great tan starts before you walk in. Follow this guide and your custom color develops evenly and lasts 7-10 days.
Client Info · Prep & Aftercare
A great tan starts before you walk in. Follow this guide and your custom color develops evenly and lasts 7-10 days.
Step 1: Prep
Six simple steps so your skin takes color evenly from day one.
Buff away dry skin from head to toe the day before your appointment. Fresh, smooth skin absorbs solution evenly, which means no patchy spots as your tan fades.
Hair removal opens your pores, and freshly opened pores can grab extra solution. Give your skin at least 12 hours to settle before you're sprayed.
No lotions, oils, perfume, or deodorant the day of your tan. They create a barrier between the solution and your skin, and barriers cause streaks.
Tight straps and waistbands press lines into fresh color. Come in something loose and dark, think flowy dress or oversized tee, so nothing rubs while you develop.
Rings, watches, and bracelets leave pale outlines behind. Take them off before your session, or better yet, leave them at home.
Shower at least 4 hours before your appointment and arrive with a bare face. One note on soap: skip Dove, Caress, and other bar soaps before your tan, as they leave a residue that keeps the solution from bonding to your skin.
Want this as a printable list? Grab our spray tan prep checklist before you book.
Step 2: Aftercare
The first 8 hours set your color. The next 10 days are all about protecting it.
Your color develops while the solution sits on your skin. Rinse at 4 hours for a lighter glow or wait closer to 8 for deeper bronze. Longer wait, deeper color.
After every shower, gently pat your skin with the towel. Rubbing pulls color off in streaks, and pat-drying keeps your fade smooth and even.
Hydrated skin holds a tan. Apply an oil-free lotion morning and night, since dry skin flakes and takes your color with it.
Pools and ocean swims strip color fast. If you're tanning for a beach or pool trip, expect the water to shorten your tan's life, and keep swims brief.
Exfoliants, retinol, and alcohol-based products all speed up skin turnover, which fades your tan early. Pause them until you're ready for your color to go.
To keep an unbroken glow, book your next session before your current tan fully fades. Most clients rebook every 7-10 days.
Want to stretch every day out of your color? Read our guide on how to make your spray tan last longer.
Good to Know
Disposable undergarments, hair caps, and sticky feet are all provided at your appointment. Just show up prepped, and we handle the rest.
With the aftercare above, your custom tan lasts 7-10 days and fades evenly, no patchiness, just a gradual return to your natural tone.
Pregnancy safety, sensitive skin, what to wear, and more are covered on our spray tan FAQ page, or explore our airbrush tanning services to pick your glow.
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