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While self-tanning offers a convenience that saves us all those awkward red sunburns and that dreadful damage to our skin, it isn’t always as simple as it seems to be, especially, if you’re a redhead like my friend Megan.
There are so many self-tanners on the market, and they all come in different shades and tones. If you’re a redhead, then you know a self-tanner needs to complement your natural coloring without accentuating the more orange tones.
So what is the best self-tanner for redheads? For redheads, a gradual self-tanner is probably the best option. You can start off with a lighter shade that gives you good coverage but also allows you to achieve the shade you want by reapplying the self-tanner. You can build the shade until you are happy with the color and then maintain it from there on out.
Finding the right self-tanning product can help you get that summer glow, all without having to damage your skin under the harsh rays of the sun. You are still able to have a bronzed, flawless tan, no matter your skin type.
Self-Tanners And Redheads – The Complete Guide
Let’s find out how to choose the right shade of self-tanner for fair skin.
What Tanning Shade Compliments Red Hair?
It can be tough for a redhead to find the right shade and depth of a self-tanner that not only matches your skin tone but one that also helps cover freckles. A base color should accentuate your skin tone without stealing the show from your gorgeous red hair. It is important to get a self-tanner that won’t leave you with an orange tone, which is undesirable for anyone using a self-tanner, but even more for someone with red hair.
A lighter tone will serve fair skin much better than darker, more bronze tones. It is always a good idea to do a shading test beforehand to check that the shade blends in well with the rest of your skin tone. Too dark of shade might actually highlight freckles on the skin more than a lighter, more fair tone.
Those who have red hair more often than not have fair skin and are quite pale. This really helps the red hair shine and steal the show, but when looking for a self-tan, you need to look at what shade will help continue to highlight and compliment your red hair.
Avoid using a dark self-tanner as this will look unnatural and be too drastic of a change. If you are adamant on obtaining a dark tan, rather use a gradual tanner that will allow you to achieve the tan over a period of time, changing your shade gradually.
A sheer or medium colored self-tanner will be the most complimentary to your skin. It might not give you that dark-bronzed tan some celebrities seem to pull off, but it is the shade that works with red hair best and will be the optimal shade to show off your natural assets. Self-tanners with pinker tones will help balance out the naturally occurring undertones that most redheads have.
Remember that pale skin can also mean sensitive skin, so when buying a self-tanner ensure it is free of harsh chemicals. One with added moisturizing benefits is also a must, as it will nurture and nourish the skin after the self-tanning product has been applied, which also goes a long way in ensuring your self-tan stays for longer
Will Self-Tanner Cover Freckles?
If you have freckles, it is important to check the coverage of the self-tanner you are using. A thick self-tanner will cover freckles, and a light self-tanner will not cover the freckles but instead will help to tone them to the rest of the skin.
A heavy spray might not be so great on fair skin as it might make you look over-tanned as well. Sticking to a lighter coverage that can be gradually built up will be your best bet. You can at least be in control of the shade to develop on your skin.
The main thing to remember when self-tanning with freckles is that the self-tanning product should not be thick enough to completely cover freckles, but it should instead blend the freckles into the skin more evenly.
When tanning naturally under the sun, freckles will actually darken, which means that it is much better to use a self-tanner than spending time in the sun if you want the appearance of your freckles to be less visible.
However, when using a self-tanner you want your tan to look natural as if you have been spending hours in the sun. So this is where many people become nervous to self-tan over freckles.
Self-tanners can, in fact, make freckles appear darker. It is advised to stay away from a one-use, thick self-tanner, as these will leave you with an unnatural looking tan that is blotchy and not controllable. Instead, opt for a self-tanner that offers gradual tanning.
This way you can apply the self-tanner to your skin over a period of time, slowly darkening your skin while also helping lessen the appearance of freckles. It will allow you to decide how dark you want your skin to go, and also help you control how much coverage you are giving your freckles.
The right product will allow you to blend in your freckles, so it is really important to do your research to find which self-tanning product will help pale skin and freckles blend in perfectly, while still maintaining that natural glow that you want from a self-tanning product.
Think about it this way if it all makes your nervous – some people even use self-tanner to create the illusion of freckles on their skin!
5 Best Self-Tanners For People With Red Hair
There are so many self-tanners on the market. You need to be wary of what you buy if you are a redhead, as many self-tanning products and tones will not suit your natural coloring. Here are some of the best self-tanners to try if you have fair skin or red hair:
1. Beauty By Earth Organic Self-Tanner
Check the price on Amazon. Many redheads find that their skin is more sensitive to some products than others. This makes the Beauty by Earth self-tanner one of the perfect options for sun-kissed skin.
On top of that, Beauty By Earth happens to be my favorite self-tanner in the world, and the one I’m using most often.
The Beauty by Earth self-tanner works great on fair skin, transforming it to have a beautiful summer glow.
The sun-free tanning product allows you to save your skin the damage of sitting in the sun for hours but still provides you with an optimal tan. The color of the tan can be built, but it is not too dark to look unnatural on redheads.
It is cruelty-free and has never been tested on animals. The ingredients are all natural, meaning it is soft and gentle on any skin type. It contains ingredients such as organic shea butter, organic coconut oil and Japanese green tea which has nutritive properties.
The Beauty by Earth self-tanner is perfectly safe for sensitive and fair skins and can be used regularly without damage. Instead, the nourishing ingredients actually help to hydrate and look after the skin well after the tan has been applied.
2. Tan Towel Self-Tanning Towelette
Get it on Amazon. This isn’t your usual self-tanner. The Tan Towel Self-Tanner Towelettes are exactly what they claim to be – towelettes that hold self-tanner products, and when applied to the skin, the self-tanner product develops a tan on the body.
The tanning towelettes are easy to apply, saving the mess of lotion and other products messing during application. The product dries within seconds, making it mess-free and stain-free. The towelettes also help exfoliate the skin, making the application even and consistent.
While the Tan Towel Towelettes are usually used for medium to darker skin tones, you can adjust the application to suit fairer skin.
Simply apply lighter in a circular motion all over the body and wash the excess product off of your hands.
The resultant tan is radiant, leaving a bronze look that is summer fresh. The clear liquid formula is infused into the towelettes for a natural, sunless tan. The tan develops within 24 hours and can last for up to 7 days.
The towelettes are easy to use on the go for quick touch-ups, as they can be easily stored in a handbag or travel bag. The formula works with each person’s individual proteins and amino acids in order to achieve a tan perfect for their skin. Tan, exfoliate and moisturize by just using the tan towelettes!
3. Sally Hansen Air Brush Legs Light Glow
Check it out on Amazon. The Sally Hansen Air Brush tanner was made to be used on the legs. The flawless application helps blend in freckles, veins and any other imperfections on the legs.
The formula was made to ensure a streak-free application which is also transfer-resistant so there won’t be any resultant staining on clothes or sheets. The spray is skin-perfecting, and will give your legs a smooth tan and make them look firm as well!
Enhanced with Palmaria Extract, the lightweight spray is the answer for pale legs and helps blend in the tone of the skin to lessen the appearance of freckles and other patches of darker skin.
The quick and easy application helps to tan on the go and is perfect for touch-ups when out on the town.
4. Jergens Natural Glow
Check it out on Amazon. This gradual tanner is perfect for fair skin. It creates a flawless looking tan with a natural-looking color, but also hydrates and nourishes the skin.
The Jergens Natural Glow doesn’t just cover the skin with a tan, it enhances the natural glow of the skin, all while deepening the natural skin tone in a streak-free application. The product is infused with elastin, collagen, and ginseng, all which helps reduce the appearance of cellulite in 7 days, making the skin looked toned and firm.
The antioxidants and Vitamin E in the self-tanner help moisturize the skin, leaving it looking and feeling healthy and nourished. There is a light fresh scent which steers far from the usual self-tanner scent.
All you need to do to apply the product is to smooth it onto the skin daily before getting dressed, gradually building a tan that suits your skin tone.
5. St. Tropez Self-Tan Bronzing Mousse
Check it out on Amazon. St. Tropez is a trusted brand among the self-tanning market, so there is really no way you could go wrong with the St. Tropez Tan Bronzing Mousse.
It is a super lightweight mousse that is easy to apply. The tinted mousse dries in 60 seconds to give the skin a rich bronze glow. To speak to its effectiveness, it has won Elle Beauty Awards, cementing its place in the self-tanning community.
The streak-free and natural looking tan after application blends well into any skin tone and the self-tanning mousse doesn’t have that unpleasant self-tan smell that everyone wants to avoid. Once it dries in 60 seconds, it takes 4-8 hours to develop, darkening to give you an even tan that will last for up to 10 days – much longer than most tanners in its category.
It is a vegan-friendly formula that doesn’t contain any harmful chemicals, and instead, it nourishes and moisturizes the skin, leaving it beautifully tan and beautifully nourished as well.
Self-Tanning Tips for Redheads
Below are my best self-tanning tips for redheads.
Use Tinted Moisturizers
A great way to tan pale skin is by using a tinted moisturizer. You can achieve a subtle summer glow while building a bronze tan, all while looking after your skin and keeping it nourished and hydrated.
Moisturized skin is the perfect canvas for a self-tan application, and it is also the best way to keep a tan lasting longer.
People use self-tanner to avoid the damage done by the sun so it would make sense to further protect your skin by giving it the hydration and care that it needs daily.
Exfoliate, Exfoliate, Exfoliate!
Exfoliation might be the most important step to ensure an even and lasting tan.
Some areas of the skin tend to be drier than others, such as knees and elbows. By exfoliating the skin the day before your self-tan application, you are ensuring that you will be able to have an even and streak-free tan.
The active ingredient in self-tanners is DHA, which reacts with the outer dead layer of the skin called the epidermis. An excess of dead skin cells in an area will mean that the DHA will react more there, and leave a darker patch of skin that will not blend in with the rest of your tan.
Remove All Traces Of Hair
This mainly applies to self-tanning legs, but it is really important to remember to shave or wax 24 hours before applying self-tanner.
If there are hairs on your legs, they might act as a barrier for the self-tanning lotion to reach the skin properly.
This could leave you with streaks and an uneven tan. Removing all the hair on your legs before application should give you the perfect canvas to apply self-tanning lotion too.
This way you will have an even tan and any blemishes should be covered up as well.
Also, be sure that you don’t shave or wax for at least 24 hours after applying the self-tanner. This can end up taking off the top layer of your skin, and the self-tan with it.
Embrace The Stink
Do not apply any deodorants or other beauty products before applying your self-tanner. Make sure any make-up or deodorant is washed off before the application, as these might act as a barrier for the self-tanner and you will be left with a streaky, patchy tan.
Choose Your Shade Carefully
You need to work with a self-tanner that compliments the natural shade and tone of your skin.
Using one that is off your natural color will leave you with a tan that not only looks unnatural, but it will look too dark as well. Find a soft mixture shade for fairer skin, one that will compliment your freckles and beautiful red hair.
Avoid any self-tanners that have red or gold tones, instead, use one that has a dark brown shade.
This will really compliment the red tones in your skin and hair, helping your tan look more natural. You can even do a test run on a small patch of skin before doing the full application, just to make sure that the self-tanner is the right color.
Once you have done a full application and the color turns out to be wrong, it can be quite difficult to remove.
Don’t Over-Cover
When applying self-tanner to fair skin, you need to be careful not to apply it too thick.
The goal isn’t to cover freckles or blemishes, but instead, you need to blend in all the natural tones of your skin together.
Start with minimal coverage and go from there. You can always build on the tan you have by reapplying a gradual tanner daily, but it is difficult to instantly reverse the look of a thick coverage.
Celebrate your freckles and natural tone by highlighting them with a good self-tanner, don’t try to cover them up completely.
Make The Most Of It
A good self-tanner should last around 7-9 days, but there are certain ways you can extend the life of your tan, and keep it looking healthy as well.
Moisturizing daily with a petroleum-free lotion will leave your skin looking healthy and nourished, and it will also ensure your skin remains a good canvas for the self-tan to stay. Healthy skin glows naturally, so it will only add to the beautiful shine of your new tan.
It is also a good idea to use a moisturizer that has built-in SPF, not only to protect your skin from damage done by the sun, but also to protect your self-tan from being damaged by the sun as well.
Avoid Red Bases
Redheads and fairer skin types are more prone to highlighting the red in self-tanning bases than other skin types. Because of this, it is important to do your research beforehand to ensure the self-tanner you are using isn’t made with a red-base.
There are some self-tanners that use a green-base which helps with pigment correction and to cover up blemishes and patchy skin. Pulling through the red in a self-tan might leave you with an outdated, orange tone.
Related Questions
How do you self-tan properly?
Self-tanning isn’t nearly as daunting as many people feel it might be. By using a good product and following sound application tips, you can effectively apply your own self-tanning lotion at home.
Most self-tanning products come with their own application guides which are easy and simple to follow.
Is self-tanning safe?
Self-tanning is a much safer way to tan than by sitting in the sun. The UV rays from the sun can severely damage your skin, so opting for a self-tanner with moisturizing properties saves your skin from damage, while still giving you an incredible tan.
Final Thoughts
Having red hair, pale skin and freckles is such a blessing. They are unique features that many women would die for. Instead of using self-tanner to hide your beautiful skin, instead, find a self-tanner that will complement and highlight your best features.
Believe it or not, you can still have a natural looking glow and summer tan with fair skin. Don’t limit yourself to damage from the sun, instead try a good self-tanner that will nourish and care for your skin, while helping you build a flawless summer tan.
I hope you enjoyed my article on the best self-tanners for redheads.
I've loved tanning ever since I was pretty young. I realized over time that If I wanted to maintain a beautiful bronze glow, and not damage my skin, I'd have to learn to use self-tanners. This blog is a place for me to share everything I've learned! Curious what my absolute favorite self-tanner is? Find out here.
