Preparation for a spray tan starts quite a while before your appointment, and there are certain things that you need to do to prepare your skin for the beautiful tan you are going to get.
Exfoliating and moisturizing are two crucial steps to get your skin ready before a spray tan, but you also need to be conscious of when you shave!
Is shaving before a spray tan important? Shaving before a spray tan is important, but you need to be careful of when you actually shave, as shaving too close to the spray tan appointment can leave your tan looking patchy, and it can lead to skin irritation too.
Make sure to plan when you are going to shave leading up to your spray tan appointment, to ensure your skin is properly prepped for a bronzed glow. Read on to find out more about shaving before a spray tan, and why it is so important!
Why Should You Shave Before A Spray Tan?
Shaving your legs before a spray tan really does help the resultant tan turn out more even and natural-looking. Almost all beauticians will recommend that you shave your legs before a spray tan appointment, as there are so many benefits that it brings to your spray tan.
Firstly, shaving your legs before a spray tan removes the hair, and leaves your skin smooth. If there is hair on your legs when the spray tan is applied, it could cause the tan to appear patchy, as the hairs might get in the way of the spray tan reaching your skin evenly.
Secondly, shaving also acts as another form of exfoliating, which is such an important step before having a spray tan done. It helps to remove the dead skin cells from the top of your skin, further preparing your skin. However, you should still exfoliate your skin using a mitt or body scrub.
Another reason why shaving before spray tanning is a good idea is that it means you can wait for longer before shaving after your spray tan, which helps preserve your tan.
Shaving will leave your skin clean and free from any obstruction, so the spray tan can adhere directly to your skin to react and turn into a beautiful tan.
When Should You Shave Before A Spray Tan?
You need to take note of when you shave before your spray tan, as you cannot do it too soon before the spray tan, but you should also not do it with too much time to spare either.
The ideal time recommended is to shave 24 hours before the spray tan appointment. This gives your skin enough time to regenerate before the spray tan appointment but also is not too long so the hair begins to grow back.
When shaving, the razors create small micro-cuts along your skin (so small that you won’t ever feel them), and they cause your pores to open up. If you do not give your skin enough time for the pores to close, it can affect how the spray tan settles.
If the spray tan is applied on skin where pores are still open, it can result in small, dark spots along your skin. Shaving 24 hours before the spray tan gives your pores and skin enough time to settle!
What Areas Of The Body Need To Be Shaved For A Spray Tan?
At the end of the day, you can decide whether you want to shave before a spray tan, and what areas you want to shave before the tan application, although it is recommended that you do so.
Beauticians will advise that you at least shave your legs and your underarms, before the spray tan appointment. These two areas are where the hair would get in the way of the spray tan solution the most, and possibly cause a problem with how the spray tan develops.
You can shave any area of your body that you want, and it is up to you what areas you shave and which areas you leave. However, if you are going to shave any areas, make sure to shave your legs and underarms.
Which Razor Is Best For Shaving Before A Spray Tan?
It does help to choose the right razor when shaving before a spray tan. The best razor to use would be a new, sharp razor, and preferably a 4-blade razor (like this amazing one from Gillette Venus that can even be used on your pubic area).
Either a 3-4 blade razor would be good to help give you a closer shave, and irritate skin less. This means that you will not need to shave as soon after as you would if using a 1-2 blade razor, and your skin will not be as irritated.
Using a dull, older blade is not advised, and this could create nicks on your legs and cause more cuts than usual. Small nicks and cuts on your legs before shaving are not great, as the spray tan solution might irritate these areas more.
Will Shaving Remove My Spray Tan?
One of the reasons why you should shave before a spray tan is that shaving after a spray tan can remove color and cause your tan to fade. Spray tan solution reacts with the outer layer of your skin, and shaving removes some of this, therefore removing some of the tan.
If you really have to shave after a spray tan, try to wait as long as possible. The soonest that you would be able to shave is 24 hours after the spray tan, but there is a chance that this could result in your tan fading somewhat.
While shaving will cause your tan to fade slightly, it shouldn’t cause streaks and patches, and the effect won’t be too noticeable, so it isn’t the end of the world if you do need to shave your legs.
When you do decide to shave after a spray tan, do not use shaving cream, as it can contain alcohol or chemicals that can strip your tan more. Use an oil-free body wash instead.
Can You Wax Before A Spray Tan?
If you do not usually shave, and prefer to wax, you can still do so before a spray tan. It is recommended to wax your legs 24-48 hours before a spray tan.
Waxing can irritate the skin quite a bit, and it does remove some of the outer layers of your skin. Like shaving, this acts as a partial exfoliant, which can help with the preparation for a spray tan, but it cannot be done too soon before your spray tan appointment.
Waxing does allow you to wait a little bit longer before your next hair removal, so it is a preferred choice for many!
Why Can Shaving Cause Irritation With A Spray Tan?
If you shave too soon before a spray tan, you could experience some discomfort and irritation. The main ingredient in spray tan is DHA, and this is what turns your skin cells darker, creating a tan.
However, DHA can cause some irritation, and if your skin is still left sensitive after shaving, the DHA could cause more of a reaction, and this can lead to redness, inflammation, and discomfort.
To avoid this, make sure to wait 24 hours after shaving to apply a self-tan, to reduce the chances of irritation. This is enough time for the newly exposed skin to be less sensitive, and for pores to close up.
Final Thoughts
Shaving before a spray tan is important, especially if you shave your legs and underarms often. It removes the hair from your skin, and this means that the spray tan product can reach the skin without any obstruction, giving your tan an even glow.
You should shave 24 hours before your spray tan appointment, as this gives your skin enough time to recover from shaving, to not become irritated further from the spray tan solution, and it gives enough time for your pores to close, so you don’t land up with dark spots.
Shaving can help your tan appear more even and more natural, and it can give you a little more time before having to shave after the spray tan, which helps it last longer!
If you want to know more about how to prepare for a spray tan, check out this video from Vacay Beauty below.
Related Questions
Do you have to shave everywhere before spray tanning?
You do not have to shave everywhere before spray tanning, especially if you do not usually shave all areas of your body. The two most important areas to shave before a spray tan would be your legs and underarms.
Should I moisturize before a spray tan?
You should moisturize before a spray tan, to give your skin extra hydration to hold onto the spray tan evenly. It is a good idea to moisturize after shaving before the spray tan, to help your skin recover quickly after being shaved.
How many days before a special event should you get your spray tan?
You should spray tan 2-3 days before an event, to give your tan time to develop properly, and to ensure it is still glowing when you attend.
