What do you need to do before self tanning?

Author: Marty Block  |  Last update: Wednesday, August 13, 2025

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.

What should you do before you self-tan?

How to Properly Prep your Skin for Self-Tanning
  • Shower with plain water (no less than four hours prior to your tan), shave and exfoliate.
  • You want to make sure that you schedule any waxing, facial, nail appointments, etc.
  • Come to your spray tan session or prior to self-tanning with clean, dry skin.

How do you prep your skin for fake tan?

How to Prepare Your Skin for a Fake Tan
  1. Exfoliate.
  2. Cleanse skin.
  3. Moisturise.
  4. Vaseline or barrier cream to the hairline and eyebrows.

Is it better to put self-tanner on clean or dirty skin?

Before applying self-tanner, it's important to prep your skin adequately. A key step to an excellent faux tan (that lasts!) is exfoliation. "Before applying faux tanner, your skin should be completely clean, dry, and exfoliated to remove any dead, dry skin," says Samantha Magill of Tournesol Beauty.

How do I prepare my body for tanning?

Preparing for your tanning bed
  1. Shower, exfoliate, and shave before your session. Use our Exfoliating Mitt for smooth, soft skin.
  2. Follow with an oil-free moisturizer, like our Moisturizing Body Lotion right after showering to lock in moisture.
  3. Come to your session with a fresh face and no makeup.

BEGINNERS GUIDE TO SELF TANNING : Step By Step How To Fake Tan For Beginners Kassin Marie

What should you not do before tanning?

Avoid wearing make-up, perfume or deodorant on the day of the tanning bed session. That's because these chemicals can negatively impact the even result of the final tan. For the same reason, please don't wear watches or jewellery.

Should I shower before I self 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.

How to fake tan for beginners?

Fake Tan Tips: A Beginner's Guide On How To Fake Tan
  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.

Can I shave right before self-tanning?

One crucial step in this preparation is timing your shaving routine just right. If you're wondering when the optimal time is to shave before applying self-tanner, we suggest aiming for approximately 24 hours before.

What is the best fake tan for pale skin?

Best fake tans for pale skin
  • Kiko Milano Self Tan Mousse. ...
  • ICONIC London Prep Set Tan Mousse. ...
  • Loving Tan 2 HR Express Tanning Mousse. ...
  • Tan-Luxe The Future Airbrush 360 Self-Tan Mist. ...
  • Isle of Paradise Self Tanning Water. ...
  • Dove DermaSpa Summer Revived. ...
  • St Moriz Illuminating Gradual Tanning Lotion.

What is the best tanning routine?

10 Top Tips For A Gorgeous Long-Lasting Sun Tan
  1. Moisturise. Hydrated skin will not only tan better but will also keep its colour for longer. ...
  2. Avoid dry skin. ...
  3. Exfoliate. ...
  4. Sun cream. ...
  5. And more sun cream! ...
  6. Prior application. ...
  7. Shady times. ...
  8. An early start.

What to use to exfoliate before self tanning?

Before applying self-tan, it's important to exfoliate your skin to remove any dead skin cells and create a smooth, even canvas for the self-tanner. You can use a body scrub or a loofah to exfoliate your skin in the shower.

Is it better to fake tan at night or morning?

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.

What to avoid when 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.

How long after self tanning can I sit down?

Now that your self-tanner is on, it's time to take care of it. Be patient and let it dry fully before you put on clothes, jump into bed, sit on the couch, etc. Essentially, leave it alone until it sinks in. This could take around 20 minutes.

Do you put lotion on before self-tanner?

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.

Can I fake tan with hairy legs?

Tanning lotions are fantastic for gliding across smooth skin but can be trickier to blend into a hairy chest, legs and arms. We recommend you opt for a tanning spray or mousse instead because the lighter texture is easier to buff into the skin even when applied over hairy areas.

How to prevent dark spots when fake tanning?

Not protecting extra-dry areas

These spots are notorious for soaking up too much tanner and going too dark or muddy looking. So it's generally a good idea to apply some body moisture cream or lotion here as a barrier before you get your bronze on.

How to prep for self tanning?

Here's the ultimate five-step skin prep routine that will majorly improve your fake tan game.
  1. STEP ONE: EXFOLIATE. We all want our fake tan to look believable, but the most tell-tale sign of an at-home job is patchiness. ...
  2. STEP TWO: MOISTURISE. ...
  3. STEP THREE: CLEANSE. ...
  4. STEP FOUR: MOISTURISE AGAIN. ...
  5. STEP FIVE: REFRESH.

What is the easiest self-tanner for beginners?

1. Dolce Glow Self-Tanning Mist. From the color to the ease of application, this is the winner in my book. The aerosol dispenses the product easily, which has a liquid texture that's simple to blend.

Should a tanning mitt be wet or dry?

A gentle soap and some warm water will help to clean away any tanning product; something as mild as baby soap is ideal. Allow the tanning mitt to air dry before use.

How to prep skin for fake tan?

Exfoliate everywhere you want to tan

One of our first (and probably most important) fake tan tips is to exfoliate and then exfoliate some more! Sloughing away dead skin cells with body scrubs and exfoliating mitts will create a super smooth base for your fake tan to glide on to.

Does a hair dryer speed up fake tan?

After You've Tanned

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.

How to tan quickly in the sun?

Changing position frequently, every 30 minutes, such as lying on your stomach, back or side, is important to ensure your skin tans evenly. In addition, it is important to position yourself correctly in the sunlight, moving the towel or lounger towards the sun, so that you are always in direct sunlight.

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