FAQ: After Your Spray Tan Appointment
How long after the tan can I shower?
It depends on the type of solution you choose. With the classic traditional, it is 12 hours. With Express, it is anywhere from 1-4 hours depending on your skin type and desired tan level.
Exfoliating before and moisturize after! Applying moisturizer at least twice a day will both prolong your tan and reduce the appearance of uneven fading and patchiness. Check out our skin care product line for the best products to use for skin prep and spray tan longevity: Simply Tan Skin Care
All of our skin care products are available at each of our studio locations.
How can I prevent my tan from fading unevenly and looking patchy?
How long after the tan can I sweat or exercise?
24 hours after your tan is set!
Your spray tan is very vulnerable the first few hours of application (4-8 hours). And so sweating can turn your tan into a greenish tone, and you don’t want that. It is best to wait a full 24 hours to let your tan fully set and develop before putting on those exercise sneakers.
Here are some tips to help with maintaining your spray while being active!
Moisturizing right before you exercise will help prevent your new tan to streak and fade quickly
Baby powder can also aid in preventing a spray tan from coming off. Apply to your armpits, ankles, the back of your knees, other skin areas where you sweat excessively
Wear a fabric that's breathable. Sweat is inevitable, but the right kind of material will help it dry faster before it wipes away your tan.
Steer clear of those rough gym towels — the abrasive cloth will strip your spray fast.
Lastly, check out our skin care products (www.simplytan.biz/shop) which help to extend the life of your tan and can help touch up any patchy areas from excessive sweat!
If the tan is for your wedding - NO! Working out after your wedding spray tan will risk uneven fading and tan lines. Best to wait until after your big day!
If I get a wax after, will it affect the tan?
YES, waxing will completely remove the spray tan. All waxing should be done 48 hours BEFORE a spray tan.
Moisturizers to avoid- When moisturizing after a spray tan, you want to be careful you’re not using products that will dry out your skin or limit the life of your tan. While moisturizing is definitely important to keep your skin happy and healthy, you want to make sure to choose a moisturizer that will do its job well. Some even contain ingredients that will streak your spray tan, and some are exfoliants and as we know, you should only exfoliate after a tan when you’re ready to say goodbye and prepare for your next appointment.
Here are some ingredients to avoid when moisturizing after a spray tan:
Mineral oil
Fragrances
Most essential oils
Anti-aging products
Toners
Hair removal products
Retin-a
Make-up removal products
DO NOT USE Curel or Dove – these can ruin tans!
Soaps to avoid -
All Dove soaps! Though generally being very mild to the skin, and having a lower pH, they tend to cause tanning solution absorption issues, uneven or no color, or peeling or faster tan fade. Dove changes the pH level of your skin and throws off the whole spray tanning process.
Irish Spring: Not only will this dry out your skin, but it’ll even cause or worsen acne, irritate sensitive skin and it contains mineral oils which will pull your spray tan right off!
Oil of Olay: This soap can not only sensitize your skin to allergies, but it can cause serious skin irritation. Oil of Olay is a big no no for your spray tan.
Aveeno: This product contains alcohol which will dry out your skin and fade your spray tan dramatically.
What products should I avoid after spray tanning?
This follows in line with using the right products for your spray tan to not only help with longevity, but to maintain the color that you love! Soap and moisturizers that have a lot of excess ingredients can alter the color of your tan as it fades.
Why does my tan color change as it fades out, and feels orange?
What products are best for maintaining a spray tan?
Our glow bundle!!! Our bundle includes a gentle & hydrating body wash, lotion specifically made for spray tanning, & our most popular tanning drops to help easily freshen your spray tan in fast fading areas like your face.
Other than that….other good choices would be Shea Moisture, CeraVe, or Hempz. Some people prefer pure Coconut Oil, Shea Butter, Sweet Almond Oil, or Cocoa Butter.
Moisturize with a mineral oil-free moisturizer twice a day.
Sulfate-free and natural products are best.
When moisturizing after a spray tan, these ingredients and products are your BFF:
Shea butter
Fragrance-free
Oil-free
Aloe-vera
Coconut oil
When it comes to moisturizing after a spray tan, less is usually more. Look for ingredient lists that are short and sweet. Bonus points if you can pronounce all the ingredients and know what they are!
Most acne medication, including face washes containing salicylic acid and/or benzoyl peroxide, will dry out the skin, which will affect the results of the tan. It is recommended to not get a spray tan when using these medications, or take a pause on using them a few days before your spray until your tan has faded.
If you're using a retinol, or any face or body products that have AHAs in them, like glycolic, lactic, and citric acids, avoid them for at least 24 hours before your spray tan and until your tan has faded out. They cause your skin to exfoliate on a deeper, cellular level, which can cause the spray tan to fade faster.
Can I apply retinol or acne products with my spray tan?
Wait at least 24 hours after your spray tan to shave for the first time. Use an oil-free moisturizing body wash when shaving, not traditional shaving cream. Most shaving creams on the market contain alcohol and heavy detergents that can strip your tan. Keep in mind, the more often you are shaving, the faster your color will fade. For the best tan results, get waxed a few days before your spray tan!