You'll want to shower, shave and exfoliate at least a day before your tan (preferably two!).
Dirt and Oils: Showering removes sweat, dirt, and oils that can accumulate on the skin, which can also dull the appearance of a tan. After showering, the skin looks cleaner and can better reflect light, making the tan appear more pronounced.
We know, we know — this seems totally obvious. But after showering, towel off and wait 10 minutes until you're 100 percent dry. "Your skin has to be completely dry," Evans tells Allure. "Water left on the skin will cause a big problem as water will erase and dilute the tan resulting into dreaded streaks and patches."
Cleansing the Skin: Showering before tanning helps remove sweat, dirt, and oils from your skin. This ensures a more even tan and helps the tanning product (whether it's a spray tan or self-tanner) adhere better.
For outdoor tanning like sunbathing, showering will never hamper your tan For tanning beds, you can shower right after the tanning session. Still, I would recommend you to wait for a couple of hours more if you're using any bronzers. Please note that there few bronzers which can work even after the tanning session.
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. The tan will continue to develop over the next 12-24 hours.
Fair skin can tan under the sun, but only with care. Start with short, consistent exposure, about 10-15 minutes a day during safer times like early morning or late afternoon. Always wear sunscreen (yes, even when aiming for a tan) and reapply it as directed.
We highly recommend that you do not have wet hair for your appointment. Wet hair can drip and cause damage to your developing tan. Have dark loose fitting clothes ready for you to wear after your appointment. We recommend long loose pants, oversized shirts, sweatshirts, and long sundresses in 100% cotton if possible.
It all depends on what you've been doing, how hot the weather is, and your own personal body chemistry and microbiome. Other than people who live in hot climates, and/or work up a sweat with physical activity, most of us don't need a daily shower or bath. Every 2 to 3 days is sufficient for most.
It's important to exfoliate 24 hours prior to tanning. This will remove any dead skin and create the perfect base for your tan application. We'd recommend using our Tan Enhancing Body Polish and Exfoliator.
By shaving a day before applying self-tanner, you ensure that your skin is smooth and free of any dead cells. This smooth surface allows the self-tanner to go on evenly and helps it adhere better to your skin. Avoid Irritation: Shaving can sometimes cause minor irritation, particularly if you have sensitive skin.
If the tan is exposed to oxygen or to too much heat, the guide colour can turn green. Another reason that your tan could turn green is if it reacts with other ingredients e.g. deodorant, alcohol or perfumes which is why it's important to follow our preparation instructions in our top tips blog.
Apply Moisturizer Before Tanner
After exfoliating your body, continue the prepping process by applying a moisturizer. You shouldn't apply self-tanner without moisturizing first, because skipping out on this prep step could potentially leave you with patchy color — this goes for your face and the rest of your body.
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.
Pores do not literally open or close but may appear larger after a warm shower due to softening of the skin. As the skin cools, which takes a few minutes to an hour, pores generally appear smaller again. Proper skin cleansing post-shower is essential to prevent acne.
The majority of respondents have fewer than 8 showers per week - perhaps one per day is the norm? Anecdotal evidence suggests this is because sport and the gym are very important to this age group. The average Gen Z is taking between 4 and 8 minutes in the shower.
"There really is no difference in regards to skin benefits whether you shower in the morning or the evening," Castilla says. "The difference may be if you are too rushed to apply a moisturizer after your shower in the morning or too tired to do so at night—skipping this step for some can lead to dry, itchy skin.
Many doctors say a daily shower is fine for most people. (More than that could start to cause skin problems.) But for many people, two to three times a week is enough and may be even better to maintain good health. It depends in part on your lifestyle.
Should I shower before fake tan? Shower at least half an hour before you plan on self-tanning to cleanse your body and remove any deodorant, make-up or moisturiser that will cause your tan to become patchy or streaky.
Longer hairs will prevent the tan from reaching to skin and can often lead to a patchy or uneven tan. Making sure that your beard or chest hair is evenly trimmed will help leave an even and glowing finish to your tan.
Moist skin will tan better and more evenly than dry skin. Your skin knows that moisture is important and uses a variety of methods to retain moisture in its surface. Your skin retains water within its natural oils to help them maintain an ordered structure around each skin cell.
For the longest time it was believed that people with fair skin and red hair were only capable of turning tomato red under sun. According to ScienceDaily, however, there is a new study that shows fairer complexions are just as capable of tanning as their olive counterparts.