You would understandably want to show off your new bronzed glow from a spray tan, and to help with this, you might want to hit the gym!
As eager as you might be to get to the gym once you have had a new spray tan done, you need to proceed with caution, and heading over to the gym too soon could ruin your new sun-kissed glow.
When can you work out after a spray tan? You need to wait at least 8 hours before working out after a spray tan, and to be safe, you should wait up to twelve hours. Your skin needs to be free from sweat and moisture as the spray tan develops, and a workout can interfere with how the spray tan settles.
Instead of having to miss out on your training session for the day, rather plan the spray tan for the morning, and then head over to the gym later in the evening. Working out too soon is a sure way to ruin your tan, so read on to find out about when to work out after a spray tan.
Can You Work Out After A Spray Tan?
You are able to work out after a spray tan, but you need to make sure to wait the right amount of time before doing so.
Spray tans do not develop on your skin straight away. You might see an instant bronze, but this would be from the temporary bronzer if the solution contains any. Spray tans contain DHA, which is an active ingredient that reacts with your skin to develop a darker color.
This process can happen over 8 hours, with some people noticing their skin darkening the next day too. While the spray tan formula is developing on your skin, you need to protect it from any moisture, including sweat.
If any sweat or moisture appears on your skin as the tan is developing, it could interfere with how the tan develops, and you could be left with patches and streaks.
Another reason you need to avoid working out straight after a spray tan is that gym clothes are generally tight, and if the clothes rub against your skin, they pose a risk of it disrupting how evenly the spray tan solution develops.
You are definitely able to hit the gym or go for a run once your spray tan has developed fully, but in order not to waste the appointment and your money, you should give it long enough to develop to an even, bronzed glow first.
How Long Do You Need To Wait To Work Out After A Spray Tan?
How long you need to wait to work out after a spray tan will depend on the type of spray tan formula used. Some express formulas develop fully in four hours, while others can take up to twelve hours to darken completely.
It will also depend on how dark you want your tan to be, as the sooner you shower after the spray tan, the lighter your tan would be.
Generally, you should wait at least eight hours before working out after a spray tan, and express formulas around four hours.
It is so important to chat to your spray tan technician about this, so they can give you advice based on the spray tan formula they have used, as well as the tone you want your tan to be.
If you are not sure, then rather be safe and wait between 8 and 12 hours before working out.
What Should You Do Before You Work Out After A Spray Tan?
Once you have waited the right amount of time before working out after a spray tan, there are a few things that you need to do just before working out.
Here are some tips on how to keep your spray tan in the best condition possible when working out for the first time:
Take A Shower
Make sure to take a shower before you go to the gym. The shower should be more of a rinse than a thorough cleaning, as you still do not want to expose your skin to too much moisture.
Hop into the shower for one minute, under lukewarm water. This is enough to remove any excess tan from your skin, and it also helps to ensure that the tan develops evenly further.
If the spray tan formula contains bronzer, then the shower will wash the bronzer away. Your spray tan would have developed by now, so washing the bronzer away will not lighten your tan at all. It just makes sure that the bronzer does not transfer to your clothes or any workout equipment.
Use Baby Powder
If you are still nervous that sweat might interfere with your spray tan, then you can use baby powder to absorb any excess sweat or moisture. The most important areas to apply baby powder include your armpits, behind your knees, your ankles, and other areas where you often sweat.
The baby powder will not affect your spray tan, but it does help to absorb excess sweat, and scented baby powders also hide that spray tan odor if there is any!
Apply Moisturizer
Before working out, apply an oil-free moisturizer to your skin. You should do this after you have had a shower and washed any bronzer and the spray tan formula off.
The moisturizer will just help keep your skin hydrated, and it will further help your tan to develop evenly, and not darken in any dry areas.
Wear Loose Clothing
Try to avoid tight gym clothes when working out after a spray tan. These can rub against the skin, and along with sweat, they can affect how even your spray tan is.
Wearing clothes that are too tight, sweating, and moving around during the workout, can cause streaks and light patches, especially when your spray tan is fairly new.
Change Your Clothes Once You Are Done
Once you have finished working out, you should change out of your workout clothes as soon as you can. The clothes will likely be sweaty, and having sweaty clothes on your skin for too long can affect your tan.
Bring a spare set of loose-fitting cotton clothes to change into once you have finished working out
What Will Happen To A Spray Tan If You Work Out Too Soon?
If you work out too soon after a spray tan, you will likely land up with a tan that is riddled with patches and streaks.
It is just as important as not showering or getting caught in the rain too soon after the spray tan is applied – the water will disrupt the spray tan formula and cause patches.
The sweat and the tight clothes rubbing against your skin all spell disaster for an even tan, and it really is worth waiting for the recommended amount of time needed for the spray tan to set before thinking of working out.
Can You Work Out Before A Spray Tan?
There is absolutely no reason you cannot work out before a spray tan, as long as you have left enough time to shower off your sweat before heading to the spray tan salon.
You should also have exfoliated, shaved, and moisturized your skin before the spray tan, and if a workout means you do not have time for this, then rather put the workout on hold.
You can prepare your skin before heading to the gym, and then have a rinse off before heading to the tanning salon, to make sure your skin is cleansed and clear, and ready to hold the spray tan evenly!
Working out just before the spray tan appointment also means you can wait a little bit longer to work out once the spray tan is done.
When Can You Work Out After A Spray Tan?
You need to wait for your spray tan to develop fully before working out. The excess sweat on your skin, as well as your workout clothes rubbing against your skin, can cause the spray tan to not develop evenly if it has not been allowed to develop fully, and you would be left with patches and streaks.
To be safe, you should wait 8 hours before working out after a spray tan, but it is best to talk to your spray tan technician about this, as the wait time might vary depending on the spray tan formula used, and the shade you want your tan to develop to.
Related Questions
How long should you wait to swim after a spray tan?
You should not swim for at least 24 hours after having a spray tan. The water, along with the chemicals in the pool, can affect your spray tan, and even strip some of the color away.
Can you go for a run after a spray tan?
Running is not advised after a spray tan. It will create sweat on your skin, and the friction of running will rub the spray tan off your skin in certain areas.
Wait around 12 hours before going for a run after a spray tan.
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