How long to wait before rinsing fake tan?

Author: Aryanna Medhurst  |  Last update: Friday, October 24, 2025

Optimal Time to Shower After a Fake Tan Timing your first rinse is key to achieving a flawless, streak-free glow. Wait 4-8 hours before showering to let your tan fully develop, but avoid leaving it on for more than 24 hours.

How long before you can shower after fake tan?

Optimal Tan Development: Understanding the Timeframes

For a Light Tan: Leave the tan on for 2-4 hours, then shower. For a Medium Tan: Leave the tan on for 4-6 hours, then shower. For a Dark Tan: Leave the tan on for 6-8 hours, then shower.

Can I wash fake tan off after 30 minutes?

Once applied, you can wash skin after just 1 hour, but for a deeper, longer lasting tan, leave on for up to 8 hours. As it really is a personal choice, you may need to test it out a few times before knowing what suits you best. After washing off, you can always re-apply if you're after a deeper tan.

How long should you wait to rinse after a spray tan?

Rinse Instructions

If you have chosen the Regular developing solution, it is recommended that you wait 8-12 hours to rinse off depending on desired result. This will allow your tan to fully develop. It is fine to leave the Airbrush Spray Tanning solution on overnight and rinse in the morning.

Can I shower 30 minutes after tanning?

The general rule of thumb is to wait at least 2 to 3 hours before showering to give your skin cells enough time to complete the tanning process. This waiting time allows your skin to retain its oils and helps lock in your tan, giving you a deeper, longer-lasting color.

It took me 50 years to realise what I’ll tell you in 30 minutes...

Does fake tan still develop after a shower?

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).

Should you moisturize after rinsing off self-tanner?

Regardless of when you wash the colour guide off, we highly recommend you don't moisturise until the 8 hour mark. Why you might ask? Even rinsing your initial colour guide off, the product still continues to develop on your skim, resulting in the most perfect fake tan.

Does fake tan stop developing after 8 hours?

Tanning Tip: 1 Hour Express will continue to develop on the skin for 6-8 hours, even after the color guide has been washed off.

Will my spray tan look better after I shower?

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.

How soon can I wash my hair after self tanning?

As a rule of thumb, you should wait for at least four to eight hours before showering so your tan can develop to its true color. Beyond that, it's best to wait 24 hours before washing your hair. This will give your tan time to set fully.

Does fake tan get darker the longer you leave it on?

what happens if i forget to shower off the tan? the longer you keep the tan on, the darker it will get. however, some skin types may experience discoloration (looking a bit orange or yellow) if left on too long past around 8 hours. you may also get a streaky tan as you're more likely to rub or wash off some sections.

How to make fake tan develop faster?

Use a hairdryer. Once you have the perfect coverage, grab your hairdryer to help it set. Be sure it's blowing cool air and move it along your body. Not only will this help the solution dry faster, but it'll also help to kick the tanning development process into overdrive.

Do you wash fake tan off with soap or just water?

Your tan will continue to develop to up to till 8 hours, which you can then wash off with water only (no soaps or sponges etc.) 24 hours after your appointment, you can start using body products, but you need to make sure that you are selecting the correct products for your skin.

What not to do after self-tanning?

It is important not to wear tight clothing after applying fake tan as this can cause your tan to rub off or cause marks. This can make self-tanning in the morning more difficult as you must wear dark, loose clothing to avoid any transfer and you can't use deodorant or perfume.

Can I shave 2 hours before spray tan?

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.

How to get the best fake tan results?

10 fake tan tips for beginners
  1. Exfoliate 24 hours before. ...
  2. Remove hair 24 hours before. ...
  3. Avoid deodorants and perfume. ...
  4. Choose the right tan for you. ...
  5. Moisturize just before tanning. ...
  6. Always Use A Tanning Mitt. ...
  7. Allow Your Tan To Dry Before Dressing. ...
  8. Wash Off Your Tan In Cool Water.

Does fake tan continue to develop after a shower?

Yes – fake tan does continue to develop on the skin after it has been washed off. The colour that fake tan instantly adds to the skin is often just a 'guide colour', which gives you an idea of the shade and where you are applying it.

What body wash is best for fake tan?

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.

How to make fake tan last longer?

How to make fake tan last longer
  1. Exfoliate and moisturise before applying fake tan. How well you prep the skin before applying your fake tan can make or break your glow. ...
  2. Avoid bathing in hot water. ...
  3. Moisturise daily. ...
  4. Exfoliate every 3 days. ...
  5. Always remove tan before reapplying.

Do you moisturize after fake tan?

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].

Is B tan supposed to be green?

Self-tanners contain DHA (dihydroxyacetone), which reacts with the amino acids in the dead layer of your skin to turn you a temporary bronzed color. The base of many of these tanners is green to prevent your tan from looking too orange.

How long do you leave a self-tanner on before showering?

Once applied, you can wash the tan off after just 1 hour, but for a deeper long-lasting tan leave on your skin for up 8 hours. It really is personal choice. You might have to test it out a few times to work out what suits you the best! For a deeper glow, we recommend letting your tan develop for 6-8 hours.

How long does a Bali body take to develop?

The longer you leave our self tan on your skin, the darker it will develop. An example using our Dark Self Tanning Mousse would be 1-3 hours for a light tan, 3-6 hours for a medium tan and 6-8 hours (or overnight) for a dark tan.

Can I put another layer of fake tan on the next day?

It's generally safe to apply more self-tanner after washing it off, especially since you let it develop for several hours. Just make sure your skin is clean and dry before applying another layer. Keep in mind that it might deepen the color, so be cautious with the amount you use!

Why does fake tan make me feel better?

Similarly, having beautiful skin can make you feel happier and more self-confident. Using a tanning product that not only gives you a healthy, bronzed glow but one that is infused with skincare actives to improve the texture and appearance of your skin, can have such a positive impact on your mood.

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