Note: after rinsing, your skin will continue to deepen over the next 24 hours, so if your skin does not seem that dark, give it time!
As the day or night goes on, your spray tan gets darker and darker. The reason it gets darker, is because the DHA is reacting to the skins amino acids. Once the DHA hits those, it starts turning brown and starts to develop. DHA starts to develop on the skin within 4 hours.
A gradual tan is a self-tanning method that involves the application of a product that subtly darkens the skin over time, providing a gradual and buildable tan.
Yes. Getting a spray tan 1-2 days before a photoshoot will enhance your skin color, smooth your complexion and make your eyes and teeth sparkle.
Airbrush spray tans continue to develop for 24 hours, even after you shower so your darkest point is actually hours 24-48 post spray.
If you wait 24 hours you will see the optimal results. Showering sooner may diminish the intensity of the tan. If you tan using an instant cosmetic bronzer like a bronzing lotion, the instant cosmetic color will wash off in the shower, but the color produced by the DHA will remain.
If a dark tan is what you're looking for, we do recommend waiting a few hours before rinsing it off so that the product has longer to develop with your skin. Note: after rinsing, your skin will continue to deepen over the next 24 hours, so if your skin does not seem that dark, give it time!
Once you have showered, you will notice the bronzer washing away, leaving you looking tanned and glowing underneath. From this point on hydration is the key! Please note: the tan will continue to develop even after the shower, so do not be alarmed if you're not as tanned as you expect to be.
If possible, leave 8 hours to ensure that your tan has had enough time to fully develop. With all your questions on how to prep for a spray tan answered, there's only one thing left to do – glow!
Avoid shaving immediately before your spray tan session. Ideally, shave 24 hours prior to allow your skin to recover and avoid any potential irritation. Exfoliate gently: If you're shaving before tanning, gently exfoliate your skin using a mild scrub or exfoliating glove.
Applying at night gives your self-tanner time to develop a natural tan look. Things like showering, rain, or tight clothes can mess up your tan when it's trying to settle. And some tanning products will also stain! As the self-tanner process can take up to eight hours, applying right before bed is super convenient.
Step 2: Reach for your gradual tan
Apply your chosen gradual tanning moisturiser with your hand or a mitt, smoothing carefully from the legs upwards. We recommend using circular motions to ensure all areas are evenly covered.
In summary, while sitting down right after a spray tan is not ideal due to potential transfer and smudging, 360 Tans offers practical solutions to help you maintain your perfect glow.
After applying a Dove gradual self-tanning product to your skin, you will begin to notice a gradual darkening after 2–4 hours. Your tan will continue to develop over the next 24–48 hours. This process is temporary and reversible, and the tan will fade evenly and subtly over the course of the next several days.
Don't fret! Your colour will continue to develop and darken for a few hours (and a spray tan takes up to 24 hours to develop fully).
Nail appointments ideally should be done 24 hours before your spray tan. Nails and pedicures CAN be done the day of your spray tan, but please exfoliate any lotion or residue off. Nail appointments CANNOT be done immediately after your spray tan. Nail appointments CAN be done the day AFTER your spray tan.
Never pee in the shower after your initial rinse.
After giving your spray tan several hours (or overnight) to develop, the initial water rinse is crucial. During this time, you'll see the brown color being rinsed off and what will remain on the skin is the faux tan.
Shower in lukewarm water
When it comes to washing off your spray tan, shower under lukewarm water and avoid using scrubs or soaps, as these can fade your tan. Simply rinse until the water runs clear.
The longer you leave the product on your skin, the deeper your result will be. For a light to medium tan, rinse off after 30 minutes. For a deep tan, rinse off after 1 hour. For the deepest tan, rinse off after 2-3 hours.
Once you have washed off your fake tan moisturise your skin daily to increase the longevity of your tan. Dry, dehydrated skin will cause your dead skin cells to shed quicker, taking the fake tan you worked so hard for with it. Use an oil-free moisturiser as oil can break down the product [2].
Compared to the rest of the body, skin on the legs does not produce the same amount of melanin, which results in legs getting less tan. Skin on the legs is thicker and harder and the UV light from the sun or sunbeds cannot easily penetrate it.
What you have washed off in the shower are the bronzers which your spray tan technician used as a guide to ensure that they sprayed every part of your body the same gorgeous shade of brown. It's a common misconception with rapid tans that your tan develops by the time you have rinsed.
Poor Application. One of the main reasons for a patchy tan is bad application, as rushing the process or using the wrong technique can leave you with uneven colour distribution. Remember, fake tanning requires a gentle touch and precision, so take your time to apply it evenly on the skin.