Whether you’re heading somewhere tropical, you’re off to a wedding or you simply want to reverse the paleness from a long winter indoors, getting a spray tan is a quick and easy way to bring some color back to your skin. When done right, it gives you that just-off-the-beach sun-kissed glow for days, but much safer—no laying out or dangerous UV exposure required. However, to get the most natural and long-lasting results, prepping your skin beforehand is key. Wondering how to prep for a spray tan? Read on for all the tips and tricks, directly from a tanning expert.
How to Prep Skin for a Spray Tan
To get the best results out of your tan, skin prep is essential. It starts long before the day leading up to your spray tan appointment—it actually begins the week before.
First, make sure you’re starting with a blank canvas. “If you have any existing self-tanner or an old spray tan on, start removing that days in advance,” says Erika Vasco, founder of The Tan Edit. “Trying to scrub it off last-minute usually leaves behind uneven pigment, and the new tan will grab onto that immediately.”
Next, the rest of your prep will be about 48 hours before your appointment. First up: exfoliation. “Exfoliate one to two days before your appointment so the skin is smooth, but not freshly worked on,” says Vasco. “Focus on areas that hold dryness—ankles, knees, elbows—but don’t overdo it.” A gentle exfoliator like the Esponjabon Oatmeal Soap Sponge ($5) can do the trick.
Then, hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. “Hydration is what makes a tan look expensive,” says Vasco. “Dry skin doesn’t hold color evenly; it breaks it apart. When your skin is hydrated, the tan develops softer, more diffused, and fades evenly.” So, she recommends hydrating dry areas the night before your appointment.
Then, on the day of your appointment, arrive completely free of any product on your skin, including lotions or deodorant. “Even if the skin looks clean, those ingredients can sit within the follicles and continue reacting,” says Vasco. This will deliver a more even tan.
The state of your skin matters before a spray tan: “What most people don’t know is DHA doesn’t penetrate the skin; it reacts with amino acids in the stratum corneum,” explains Vasco of the active ingredient that makes spray tans work. “It’s a surface-level process, which is why skin condition directly impacts the final result.”
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Can You Shave Before a Spray Tan?
You should only shave 24 to 48 hours before your appointment, and not any later than that. “Freshly shaved skin is less consistent, which can affect how evenly the color forms,” says Vasco.
Shaving also exposes the hair follicles, which can affect results too. “What people think are ‘open pores’ (which don’t open or close) is actually follicular pooling, where bronzer or DHA settles into the follicle, creating a dotted look,” says Vasco.
What Should You Not Do Before a Spray Tan?
Avoid anything that could disrupt your skin, including applying lotions and deodorant or doing any last-minute treatments.
“Oils, lotions, deodorant, perfume and anything sitting on the surface will interfere with how the tan develops,” says Vasco. “Even subtle residue can shift the result.”
In terms of avoiding last-minute treatments, that goes beyond just shaving. “No waxing, no aggressive exfoliation, no trying something new right before your appointment,” says Vasco. “Skin that’s been recently ‘worked on’ tends to develop unpredictably.”
How to Make Your Spray Tan Last Longer
Yes, you can easily make your tan last longer by hydrating. That means using hydrating skin-care products, whether that’s cleaning your skin with hydrating body washes or applying moisturizing lotions, as well as drinking plenty of water. “If you’re spray tanning regularly, this isn’t prep, it’s maintenance,” says Vasco. “DHA is inherently drying, so if your skin isn’t consistently hydrated, the tan won’t wear well.”
It’s important to be consistent with your hydrating skin-care all the time, not just the few days leading up to an appointment. “Drink your water and moisturize twice daily, and not just when you have a tan on,” says Vasco. “Skin that’s balanced holds color better, fades cleaner and looks more natural.” A daily moisturizer like Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion ($15) that’s non-greasy and non-comedogenic is a good option.
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Tips for Beginners
Getting a spray tan for the first time can feel daunting, but it’s really not. “Formulas are more refined, techniques are more customized and there’s a much deeper understanding of skin tone and undertone now,” says Vasco.
For first-timers, her biggest tip is to trust your spray tan artist and follow their directions as they’re the expert. “If they tell you to rinse at a certain hour, there’s a reason—it’s based on how your skin develops,” says Vasco.
And if you aren’t quite ready for a spray tan but still want to get the glowing effects, that’s okay too: You can try a self-tanner at home. If you’re nervous about a spray tan on your face, you can also ask your spray tan artist to avoid it and then just use self-tanner like The Tan Edit Water Veil ($44) on your face to make everything look cohesive.
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