Self-tanning is a great way to achieve a gorgeous summer glow without having to frequent the tanning salon or sit in the hot, sweltering sun for hours. It is quick and fairly easy to use, and it can be done all from the comfort of your own home. You may have stumbled on this article from my popular post on applying self-tanner without a mitt.
However, like most things in life, experience is the best way to learn how to do things right. If you have found yourself halfway through a self-tanning application with a fully tanned front, but absolutely no way to get the self-tanner onto your back, you are not alone.
So how do you apply self-tanner on your back without a mitt? Can you use cling wrap? You can use cling film to apply a self-tanner on your back by cutting it lengthwise and buffing your back like you would a store-bought back self-tanner applicator.
This is a fairly common mishap that most of us overlook when undertaking our first self-tanning session. The excitement of the potential tan has us thinking a bit erratically and we forget that we don’t have super-human stretchy arms that can reach around to our backs.
Surprisingly enough, you don’t actually need any specialized tanning equipment to achieve an even self-tanning application on your back. You can do it all with a simple household essential that almost every home has – cling film. Take it for a trip out of the kitchen and use it to give yourself a beautiful glow.
How to Use Cling Film or Plastic Wrap to Apply Self-Tanner
Before you get carried away with ideas of being wrapped up in cling film smothered in self-tanner like a self-tanning burrito, stop.
Cling film or plastic wrap can be used in place of a mitt to apply self-tanner to those hard-to-reach areas on your back, and you can do it without help from anyone else.
Here is a simple way to get self-tanner spread across your back on your own, just by using a little bit of cling film.
Choose the right self-tanner
You would probably have a favorite self-tanner by now, but if not then it is worthwhile to do some research to find which self-tanning product works best for you. When using cling film to apply self-tanner, it is best to use a cream or mousse. A spray tanner will be pretty ineffective when using this method.
If you don’t have a favorite, I personally love this one you can get on Amazon, or you can check out my full self-tanner buyer’s guide.
Prepare your skin before
As with normal self-tanning, you need to make sure that your skin is prepped leading up to the self-tanning application. Properly clean and exfoliate your skin the night before. Moisturize after this, to give your skin some extra hydration to make your tan last. This will ensure that the self-tanning ingredients react with your skin evenly.
If you don’t remove the excess dead skin cells in certain areas, you will land up with a patchy and uneven tan. This is due to the ingredients in self-tanner which react to the outer layer of skin and cause the bronze tan to develop. The moisturizer will keep your skin looking healthy, especially if you continue to moisturize after the application.
- Cut a piece of cling film around 2 feet long.
- Fold the cling film repeatedly until it is around 2 inches thick.
- Place some self-tanning lotion in the center of the cling film, as much as you think you might need to cover the whole of your back.
- Put the cling film to your back and move it backward and forwards, buffing it as you would if you were drying your back with a towel.
- Once the self-tanning lotion has been easily spread using this method, leave it to set for about 30 minutes before putting on any clothing or sitting back against any furniture or material.
This method should give you a fool-proof way to apply self-tanning lotion evenly on your back, without the help of anyone else. It is as simple as drying your back after a shower and it is using a household item which almost everyone keeps in the cupboard.
Practice makes perfect
If you are tanning for a special event, you want to make sure it is done perfectly. There is nothing worse than having an amazing outfit planned and then having to wear full cover because your tan has come out super streaky.
While this method is pretty straightforward, practice the application beforehand to ensure that it is done properly and then you can figure out the best way for yourself. Practice the application at least a month in advance so that you can follow up with a few extra practice runs, just to be sure.
If you want other ideas for ways to apply a great self-tan, check out this article I wrote.
Cling Film, Plastic Wrap, Saran Wrap, and Self-Tanning
They seem to be two odd items to use together in order to perfect your self-tanning application, but when all else fails and you find yourself without a proper tanning mitt and a bare, pale back, cling film will be your knight in shining armor. It is easy enough to practice at home and is an inexpensive way of getting an even and perfect summer glow.
