Spray tans, just like natural tans don’t last forever. But you can stretch out that bronzed glow by a few days if you take care of it properly.
Here are some of our golden rules for making your spray tan last as long as possible:
Exfoliate Beforehand
Sloughing away all the dead skin prior to a spray tan will mean that a new, fresher layer of skin will be tanned and will therefore last a few days longer than if you hadn’t exfoliated.
Skin regenerates every few days with the old, dead skin cells falling off. Speeding up this process the day before a spray tan will also ensure that the tan is even and you don’t get any patches. Pay particular attention to any areas of your skin that are prone to dry patches such as knees and elbows.
Take Your Time Getting Dressed and Wear as Little as Possible
It is important that your spray tan has fully dried before you get dressed, because any damp or wet patches will simply rub off or wear away.
In addition, try to wear loose fitting natural fibre clothes that won’t make you sweat or dig into your spray tan whilst it’s setting.
Keep Dry
Don’t shower or bathe for the first eight hours after a spray tan. Also, if you’re a keen gym attendee then you may need to miss out for an evening so you don’t sweat off your spray tan before it has fully set, otherwise your tan could streak and become patchy.
Moisturise
Invest in some decent body lotion and apply it liberally the next morning and every day after showering or bathing.
Ensuring your skin stays hydrated will slow down the skin’s regeneration giving you an extra day or two from your spray tan, as well as making your skin feel baby soft and smelling lovely.
Don’t Exfoliate Afterwards
The only time you should exfoliate again is when you’re due your next spray tan. Exfoliating in between will scrape off the layers of skin that have been tanned and result in fading.
Make sure you pat yourself dry after a shower or bath with a soft, fluffy towel rather than rub away at the skin.
