After 8 hours, you should be fine to get in the shower or take a soak in the tub without worrying about your tan getting streaky or washing off prematurely. Self tanner tends to fade naturally on its own after a few days but shouldn't be affected by washing assuming you've allowed those initial 8 hours to pass.
Will a shower wash off a suntan even from a tanning bed? A. No. Your tan is made in cells inside your body (called melanocytes) as an attempt to try to protect you from the UV damage.
Take a bath and soak for 30 minutes with organic oils, then exfoliate and rub with a towel. This will break down the DHA, what makes you tan, and will help your fake tan come off.
After sunbathing or using a tanning bed showering will not impact on the formation of the tan. Showering after applying a tanning lotion certainly will. The lotion needs a few hours to generate the tan and showering will remove the tanning agents.
In short, yes you can. However, swimming can cause your spray tan to fade, so it's best to take precautions. Interestingly, chlorine, salt, or chemicals in the water don't really affect your spray tan. However, your skin naturally exfoliates when you're in the water.
If you showered after just a few hours, you might notice your skin is not as tanned as you'd expected. 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).
As sweat is acidic, it can cause self tan to break down when left to sit on the skin.
3. Hot Showers & Baths. Hot showers/baths feel great, especially after a long day, but they are not the best choice for maintaining your self-tan. Hot water can open up the pores and promote skin cell turnover, which in turn, can cause your tan to fade quicker.
You'll want to avoid showering for at least 4 hours after your spray tan.
Before we dive into tips on how to extend your sunless tan, you're probably wondering, “Just how long does a fake tan last?” On average, your skin retains self tanner for 5-7 days, but this period of longevity can vary based on many factors. Expired self tanning products, sensitive skin, and skin types are a few.
Soak in oil and buff with an exfoliating mitt
Oils, on the other hand, break down DHA and can fade fake tan faster. It does, so lather up or soak yourself in oil. You can also use coconut or olive oil, which should be left on the skin for 10 minutes before washing off.
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].
While this won't completely rid your skin of tan, hot water and steam will certainly help. The heat and humidity will work to soften the tan further. Step out and rub your skin gently with a wet towel in circular motions to loosen the tan and deeply exfoliate.
After 8 hours, you should be fine to get in the shower or take a soak in the tub without worrying about your tan getting streaky or washing off prematurely. Self tanner tends to fade naturally on its own after a few days but shouldn't be affected by washing assuming you've allowed those initial 8 hours to pass.
Skip Hot Baths and Prolonged Showers
Hot water can be detrimental to your tan's lifespan. It can strip your skin of essential oils, causing your tan to fade more quickly. Opt for lukewarm showers and keep them brief. Additionally, avoid long soaks in hot baths or hot tubs, as they can also accelerate tan fading.
If you opt for a wash-off tan, allow it to develop for 4 to 8 hours. Then, wash it off with slightly cooler water than normal, and don't use scrubs or soaps as these can fade your tan. Simply rinse until the water runs clear.
You can leave your self tan on for as long as you like, with each product having a different recommended timeframe. Some people prefer to sleep with it overnight to get a deeper glow.
Once your self-tanner has developed, a nice cool shower in your favourite fruit or flower-scented body wash will help wash away the smell. Hot tip: Citrus seems to be extra effective at combating the self-tan or spray tan smell!
Shaving after a spray tan can remove some of the tan, leading to uneven or patchy results. Waiting 8-12 hours after the session and using gentle shaving techniques is important to maintain the tan.
Why won't my tan go away? When the cells become damaged with pigment, discoloration that doesn't fade occurs, leading to a tan that doesn't fade. In fact, it tends to stay dark unless you choose to have this hyperpigmentation treated professionally.
Dhesthetics has 2 recommended body washes to use in the shower to help preserve your tan. Aveevo Daily Moisturizing body wash or Cetaphil Daily Nourishing body wash. All of these body washes have great ingredients in them that will help to preserve not only your tan, but keep your skin healthy.
Although steaming your face and body is excellent for cleansing your skin, opening up your pores and removing blackheads, it can also make your tan fade a little quicker. This is because treating yourself to a steam actually encourages your older skin layers to flake away to reveal fresh, smooth skin.
AFTER THE TAN
Shower lightly in cold – lukewarm water for 45 seconds ONLY after your desired development time. Use plain water, don't use shower gels, scrubs, shampoos or loofah during the first 24 hours after your treatment. Pat your skin dry. Do not rub or scrub your skin.
Can I go swimming with fake tan on or after a spray tan? The short answer is yes! Spray tanning has become a go-to beauty ritual for many of us who crave that sun-kissed glow without the exposure to UV, especially to beat the day one pool side fear on holiday.