How To Make Fake Tan Dry Quicker
Have you ever been using self-tanner, standing there like a robot waiting for it to dry, and wondered to yourself, “How can I make fake tan dry quicker?
In this brief article, we’ll discuss a few simple ways to achieve a perfect summer glow, all in quick and easy steps.
In short, though, you can make fake tan dry quicker by using a Mousse self-tanner, like St. Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Mousse, which has a higher alcohol content and dries faster than lotions or gels. You can also use a blow dryer on the cool setting to speed up the drying and tanning process.
Now, let’s discuss these and other concepts in a bit more detail.
Tricks To Make Fake Tan Dry Quicker
There are two main strategies that I briefly mentioned above to help your fake tan dry faster: the first is using the right kind of self-tanner, and the second is using a blow dryer or fan to speed up the process.
However, when using a fan or blow dryer, be cautious, which I’ll discuss further in a moment.
Let me know when you’re ready to send the next one.
Different Types Of Self-Tanners
First, let’s discuss the various types of self-tanner so you understand why some dry faster than others.
Lotions
Lotions are great for people who are fairly new to fake tanning.
This is primarily because they take longer to dry and absorb into the skin, which gives you more time to achieve good coverage and even out the application.
My favourite example of tanning lotion is the Beauty By Earth Organic Self Tanner, which can be purchased on Amazon. Alternatively, you can read my full review here.
Mousses
Mousses are by far my favourite self-tanning product, and probably will be yours as well after a while.
They have a higher alcohol content than lotions or gels, which allows them to dry faster.
They also tend to last a long time because a small amount can provide a significant amount of coverage.
If you’re looking for a way to make your fake tan dry faster, the best thing you can probably do is get a self-tanner mousse.
My absolute favourite Self-tanning mousse (and favourite self-tanner overall) has to be the St. Tropez Bronzing Mousse that you can pick up for fairly cheap on Amazon.
Gels
Gels are ideally suited for people with normal or slightly oily skin. They tend to spread extremely well, allowing you to use less self-tanner and achieve more coverage.
However, like lotions, gels tend to dry a bit slower than a mousse sunless tanner.
Sunless tanning gels are far less common than lotions or mousses, but you will still see them occasionally. A good example of a self-tanning gel would be Clarins Instant Self-Tanning Gel.
Glow Pads
Finally, there are pre-soaked pads available. These are ideal for travel or when you’re on the go.
Think of them sort of like make-up pads that have been pre-loaded with self-tanner.
There is typically enough on the pad for a full-body application.
You want to ensure that you are thorough with these pads, as it can be easy to rub them in too lightly and end up with a streaky tan.
Okay, now that we understand that a Mousse self-tanner can really help speed up the drying process through its higher alcohol content, let’s discuss other ways to make our fake tan dry quicker.
Other Ways To Make Self-Tanner Dry Quickly
Alright, next is using a bit of airflow to help speed up the drying process. You can typically do this in a few ways, with some methods being slightly better than others.
Blow Dryer
Using a blow dryer can help speed up the process and actually accelerate the chemical reaction that forms the tan.
However, be sure to use only a blow dryer with a cool or fan setting, and avoid using any heat.
Heat can cause the skin to sweat, which can spread out the self-tanner and cause streaking or blotching.
Set your blow dryer to cool or fan, and use a low-flow setting to avoid excessive airflow.
Then hold it a foot or so away and gently pass air over your body to speed up the drying process.
For this, I really like the BabyBliss Pro Titanium Hair Dryer because it has a cool shot button that works great for drying self-tanner.
You want to be careful not to cause too much skin-to-skin contact during this time, as that can also lead to some splotching or streaking.
This is for the same reason you want to be careful when wearing fake tan overnight.
If you experience any mishaps that cause uneven colouring, refer to my guide on how to wash off self-tanner.
Using A Fan
Essentially, the concept is similar to that of a blow dryer, where you allow air to pass over the skin to speed up the drying process.
Be sure not to have the fan setting too high, and stand a few feet back.
Try to have the air hit your entire body as you rotate around so the drying happens evenly.
Walking Around
It can also help quite a bit to just briskly walk around your home; the gentle airflow that occurs as you walk around (albeit probably naked, you go girl/boy!) can help speed up the fake tan drying process.
Related Articles
Should You Moisturise Before Fake Tanning?
