How Often Should You Spray Tan?

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Having a gorgeous, even tan is not as easy as it sounds, but many of us wouldn’t be able to get through the summer season without one.

Possibly the least desirable way to achieve a bronze tan is to do it naturally, by sitting out in the sun for hours on end.

Not only is this incredibly dangerous for your skin, but not all of us have the time, the right skin type, or live in a sunny area.

The answer to this, if you want to avoid the infamous self-tanning horror stories at home, is to go for a spray tan.

To maintain a gorgeous glow throughout the year, how often should you get a spray tan?

For most skin types, spray tanning should be done every 2-3 weeks, or approximately every 9-12 days. With proper maintenance and preparation, your spray tan will look even and radiant between appointments.

Scheduling your spray tan will help you keep up with appointments, but how often you spray tan will also depend on how well you care for your tan and your skin type.

How Long Spray Tans Last In Different Shades

Understanding how spray tans work will help you decide how often to have one done. Spray tans are a sunless tanning solution.

A product is spread onto the skin in a fine mist, evenly, to create a smooth tan. The product, which is sprayed onto the skin, contains DHA.

DHA reacts with the outer layer of skin cells to darken the skin, with a colour developing over a few hours.

Most spray tans are done by professionals, either at a salon or a mobile spray tanning business. However, with the right equipment and experience, you can apply a spray tan at home.

The shade of the spray tan will also determine how long it lasts. Stronger products are used for darker tones, and sometimes a second fine mist is applied to the body to ensure the tan is as dark as the client wants.

The shade definitely plays a role in how long the spray tan stays even and apparent.

Most spray tans are advertised to last 10 days, but this is not always true for all shades.

Lighter shades – Lighter shades can last up to 5 days. Light shades are achieved using a mild spray tan product, so the chances of it lasting are not great.
Medium shades – Medium shades can last up to 8 days at most. These require more product, and often a stronger product than a lighter shade, so the colour development is stronger, which means it will take longer for the colour to fade.
Dark shades – Darker shades last the longest, up to 10 days. These are strong products, with a deep, rich colour, which takes longer to fade compared to light and medium shades.

The reason for the difference in staying time is down to the DHA content. The darker solutions contain more DHA, and the more DHA contained in the product, the longer the colour will remain on the skin.

For the best spray tan schedule, watch this video by The Skinny Confidential on YouTube. She offers many of the same tips that I provide below, so be sure to continue reading after watching!

What To Do Before Your Spray Tan

The right preparation before a spray tan is essential in ensuring it lasts as long as it should.

Unprepared skin will not hold a spray tan for long, and by not ensuring your skin is ready to receive a spray tan, it will appear patchy, uneven, and fade faster, wasting both your time and money.

Here is what you should do the days before to make the most of your spray tan:

Exfoliate the day before

Exfoliation is possibly the most important step to ensure your spray tan lasts. Make sure to exfoliate within 24 hours leading up to your spray tan.

Using a body scrub, dry brush, or loofah helps to remove dead skin cells from the skin.

Having a build-up of dead skin cells during a spray tan can cause blotches, streaks, and dark patches.

If these are older, dead skin cells left on the skin, they will naturally slough away, causing your tan to fade quickly.

Don’t use chemicals or oil-based lotions

You should avoid using chemical exfoliants or oil-based products on your skin. These should be avoided up to 24 hours before your spray tan.

Chemical exfoliants may cause the skin to become too sensitive, and oil-based products can create a barrier between the skin and the spray tan, which could lead to patches and streaks again.

With that said, you will still want to make sure that your skin is adequately hydrated. So how do you maintain supple skin without using an oil-based lotion?

A chemical-free, water-based moisturizer like this one is your best bet.

Wax, but not the day before

It is a good idea to wax two days before your spray tan appointment, but it is best to avoid waxing the day before.

Waxing temporarily opens up the pores, leaving them larger than normal, which means some areas may absorb more product than others, resulting in darker and patchier areas.

Wear loose-fitting clothing and shoes

The ideal spray tan should have no tan lines, so it’s best to avoid wearing tight bras, strappy shirts, or other constricting clothing and shoes. Wear a loose-fitting dress and slip-on shoes to minimise friction.

For more tips on what to wear to your spray tan appointment, read this article.

Avoid makeup and deodorant

You should try your best to avoid wearing makeup and deodorant on the day of your appointment.

If you can’t, take a pack of unscented wipes to remove all makeup and deodorant from your skin. Allow your skin to dry completely before applying the spray tan.

What To Do After Your Spray Tan

While your spray tan technician will provide you with specific instructions on how to maintain your spray tan over the next 24 hours, it’s also helpful to know some additional guidelines to further preserve your tan.

The baby powder trick

Baby powder is one of your best tools to help prevent streaking after your spray tan,

Sweating can cause streaks and spots to the skin while the spray tan product is still drying.

You can’t apply deodorant to your skin, as it may contain ingredients that can interact with the tanning solution and cause a reaction to slow or stop.

Baby powder can be applied to the underarms, inner elbows, back of the knees and under the bum, to prevent sweating and therefore streaks and patches.

Don’t shower for six hours

Showering too soon after your spray tan might wash off the product and prevent the solution from reaching its darkest potential.

showering after spray tan — Wait some time before showering

Waiting for 6 hours before showering allows your skin enough time to absorb the product, ensuring an even, complete tone.

Lightly exfoliate

While you should exfoliate every two to three days after your tan, do so gently. Exfoliating will still scuff away the surface of your skin, so make sure it is gentle.

Not exfoliating can lead to a build-up of dead skin cells, which will make the tan appear uneven as it fades away.

Find Your Schedule

Every person’s skin will react differently to a spray tan, so you will need to find the schedule that suits you best, whether it is spray tanning two or three times a month. Never overdo it; allow the tan to fade naturally before your next appointment.

The best way to ensure your tan lasts longer is to practice proper preparation and maintenance.

Not doing so will be a waste of a spray tan, and instead of walking around with golden glowing skin, you will have blotches, streaks, and dark patches.

Give your skin a healthy glow, without having to step foot into the sun. Avoid going through bad self-tanning experiences at home, and instead, start a healthy spray tanning schedule at your favourite salon.

Your colour will be even and long-lasting, and you can leave it to a professional to do all the work for you!

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