First-Time Spray Tan? What To Expect

Ray Joderson
3 min readAug 28, 2018

Spray tans can be a good alternative for those who prefer to get some color but do not prefer tanning beds or sunbathing for health reasons. The risks involved in spray tans are lesser and the worst thing that can happen is that you may turn orange. To avoid such disaster from happening, here are things that you need to know before you go for your first spray tan.

Exfoliate before tanning

Exfoliate and have a clean skin before you go for a full body spray tanning. By doing so, you can avoid a patchy tan and your tan will last longer. Some experts advise to shave before an appointment and use glycerin soap.

Know the salon

Before going for a spray tan, check out the place where you plan to have it done. Read about the salon’s reviews and see what others have to say about it. The salon and the technician are huge factors when having a spray tan. It is also important to check out the hygienic practices of the salon as well as the tanning solution used. These are all important because you might end up getting an allergy or turning orange.

Moisturize and Hydrate

Before going to have your full body spray tanning, moisturize weeks before. Use glycerin-based lotions because they leave fewer residues.

Drinking lots of water after a tan is helpful. It can help make your tan last longer. Remember that what you take in will reflect in your skin. Stay healthy so that you can have a healthy skin. Avoid going to the beach right after your tan.

Tanning needs time

If you are planning on going to an event, avoid getting a spray tan the night before. Tans tend to look intense a day after the spray so you might end up looking orange in all the photos. You can get a tan two days before the big event so that the first layer of the tan will have been washed off already. It will also look better and in case there are any problems with the tanning, you still have time to fix it.

Find your shade

The tan of your friend may not be the shade that will look best on you. Tans have a lot of tones and hues so make sure that you have consulted on the best tone for your complexion; there is an available tone for your color of choice.

Stains are normal

After your tanning session, you may want to wear something dark. It is also normal to have some discoloration on your bed sheets. These can be easily washed off.

The smell of spray tan

The smell of spray tan will stick for a while but it will eventually go away. So try not to worry so much about it.

These simple tips should help the first exposure on the spray tan. Always discuss your tan color with a professional so that you can get the best results. Do not forget to inform them of any allergies that you may have or any open wounds.

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