How to wash off a bad spray tan?

Author: Prof. Shaun Kuhn III  |  Last update: Saturday, September 20, 2025

“Mix lemon juice with a little baking soda or baby oil. Saturate the skin with the mixture, then let it sit for about five minutes before removing with a cleansing wipe—this will erase the tan entirely,” she says. Her other favorite method: “A hair removal cream like Veet.

How to remove a bad spray tan fast?

You can use a number of products with natural ingredients, aloe vera, or coconut oil, wait for 30 minutes, then take a soak in a hot bath. In the bath take the tan eraser removal mitt and buff your body all over to remove the oil. Baby oil to remove the tan also works brilliantly.

What to do if you got a bad spray tan?

I would definitely try to blend it out a bit. You can use a tanning mitt (or rubber gloves or even socks if you don't have one) and try to blend it in a bit better. If you have good moisturizing/hydrating lotion, try spreading a tiny tiny bit around lightly in the area where the splatters are and blending the tan in.

How to remove bad fake tan?

It may be difficult to instantly remove all of your fake tan, especially if you have applied it recently. However, you can try applying a hydrating body oil or baby oil onto the tanned areas. Let it sit for a few minutes, then use a damp cloth or exfoliating mitt to gently wipe away the tan.

How to fix a spray tan that is too dark?

``If you do get too dark, slather on coconut oil or baby oil and sit for 10 minutes then jump in the shower and exfoliate,'' Hilliard tells me. ``Oil lifts the top layer of color and makes skin easier to exfoliate so it will lighten your tan. You can also soak in a baking soda bath.

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How to fix a bad fake tan?

How to fix patchy fake tan
  1. Gently buff away excess tan. Excess product often settles onto dry areas, like the elbows, knees, ankles, hands, and feet, causing an uneven, patchy tan. ...
  2. Exfoliate the skin. ...
  3. Fill in the gaps. ...
  4. Always use a tanning mitt. ...
  5. Opt for a gradual tan moisturiser.

Can you wash off a spray tan that is too dark?

“The guide colour of your fake tan will always look darker than the finished result once washed off, but if during its development your tan seems way too dark, trust your instinct and wash it off a little earlier, such as five hours in, instead of the six-to-eight hours normally advised.

Does Dawn dish soap remove fake tan?

Use Dish Soap

Dish soap can not only cut through grime and grease but can also get rid of your spray tan.

What removes fake tan ASAP?

The quickest steps are the basic (olive, coconut or baby) oil, soak in the tub, then use an exfoliating body mitt and body scrub or the specialist products designed to remove fake tan efficiently.

How to fix bad spray tan on hands?

You can use a chemical exfoliate or even an at-home ingredient. Some mitts act as skin exfoliators that can help scrub away the unwanted tan. If you're using a scrub, exfoliate the area for up to five minutes, getting between the fingers and into the creases of the palms. This should help fade your tan significantly.

How to get rid of a really bad tan?

How to get rid of a tan on brown skin
  1. Gently exfoliate 1 or 2 times weekly.
  2. Try aloe vera gel, potato juice, yogurt, or papaya to calm and lighten.
  3. Use products with niacinamide, kojic acid, or licorice extract.
  4. Consider professional peels or microdermabrasion for stubborn tan.

Can spray tans be washed off?

Approximately 40% of the colour change happens in the first 2 hours. This is what enables tanners to say you can wash your tan off in 2 hours. What so many of them forget to tell you is that even though you wash the bronzer off, the colour will continue to develop for up to 18-24 hours.

What does a bad spray tan look like?

A strange and unnatural color: The point of a spray tan is to look like you've been kissed gently by the sun, and if your skin has taken on a dark or orange color all over, something has gone horribly wrong.

What to do if you mess up your spray tan?

The Solution: If a tan is patchy all over, pro spray tan therapists recommended trying to remove the whole spray tan and starting over. Oil, heat and steam are all spray tan enemies so using body oils, sitting in a steam room or having a hot bath should help.

How can I make my spray tan fade faster?

Getting rid of an old spray tan If you're trying to get rid of an old spray tan, the best tip is to sit in a hot bath with coconut oil added to it. Ensure this is at least a day prior to a fresh spray tan as the oil will disagree with your new tan. After about twenty minutes of soaking, rub off with an abrasive cloth.

What takes spray tan off immediately?

To get rid of fake tan quickly, try soaking in a warm bath with baby oil, followed by exfoliating with an exfoliating mitt.

How to remove a bad spray tan?

Additional Tips for Removing Spray Tan
  1. Soak in Warm Water. ...
  2. Use Micellar Water or Makeup Remover. ...
  3. Spray Tan Remover Products. ...
  4. Exfoliate Before Your Spray Tan. ...
  5. Moisturize Regularly. ...
  6. Avoid Sweat or Water Right After Tanning.

Does baby oil remove fake tan?

Yep! Oil in all its forms — think baby oil, coconut oil and olive oil — loosens dead skin cells, which can help break down tan build-up. Grab the oil and apply a generous amount to your palms before massaging it into the skin. Let it soak for at least half an hour (the longer you keep it on, the better).

What actually removes fake tan?

Fake Tan Removal Hacks
  • Go for a swim and steam. Even if you haven't made a mess of your fake tan, a swim and a steam is always a good idea. ...
  • Exfoliate gently and shave. As tempting as it may be to scrub your skin furiously after a fake-tan disaster, DON'T. ...
  • Reach for a lemon. ...
  • Use toothpaste. ...
  • Soak in bath oils.

Will micellar water remove spray tan?

The Micellar water latches onto dirt, oils and your old self tan, gently removing them from the skin and leaving your skin with a glowing hydrated skin finish.

What to do if my fake tan is too dark?

Hop in the shower and use an exfoliating mitt to help lighten those too-dark patches. While regular exfoliating (like with a scrub) can also help fade your tan, Evans recommends using a mitt in small, circular motions for added precision.

What washes off spray tan?

How can I remove my spray tan effectively? You can use various methods like exfoliation, taking a warm bath or shower, using Epsom salts in your bath, shaving, and using Dove soaps or body washes.

How do I lighten a spray tan?

Take a long hot bath and allow the warmth of the water to lighten your fake tan. In fact, you can speed up this process by applying olive oil to your skin 15 minutes beforehand and then soaking in the tub.

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