This is how you prepare for a spray tan (and ensure it lasts)!

Since I used the tanning bed regularly throughout my high school years (almost every day at the tanning salon), as I get older I try to “get the sun” as much as possible to try to limit some of that damage.

Big sun hats, rash guards, etc. are my best friends. BUT I miss the glow and even skin tone that a tan can provide.

I remember getting my first spray tan in 2002? Wow, things have come a long way since then. The orange-tinted nightmare has now become a very convincing substitute for the real thing in some cases! So grateful for that.

My favorite type of tan is an airbrush tan where someone has the spray machine and does it manually.

Related: Check out our skincare archive for more!

It’s usually not cheap, but proper preparation can have a big effect on the longevity of your spray tan investment. Here is the timeline I follow that produces the best results:

Five days to 8 hours before your spray tan:

I start my exfoliating/moisturizing routine about 3-5 days before my spray tan and continue it until the night before – this way your skin really gets optimally exfoliated and hydrated instead of a “last ditch effort” the night before.

I absolutely love it this scrub from First Aid Beauty. I have keratosis pilaris and this really helps with that and is a great physical exfoliant too.

My favorite ‘scrub’ tip is to exfoliate in gentle circles – this works just as well as a firm touch. Scrubbing harshly will only inflame your skin, so be gentle with it.

My custom lotion by Function of beauty (use that link for 20% off your first order) is my favorite for quick and easy hydration.

I recently started installing dry brushing brought it back into my routine after years of not doing it, and I feel like dry brushing before showering, it really helps to exfoliate even further.

Twenty-four to twelve hours before your appointment:

If you wax, wax at least 24 hours before your appointment. I shave, so I normally do that the night before my spray tan, at least 12 hours in advance.

Day spray tan:

Take a shower so that your skin is clean (remember: no shaving or waxing!), and then don’t put oil or lotion on your skin. Anything on your skin can cause the tan to not develop properly or to become streaky/patchy.

If you’re concerned about certain areas being too dry and taking in too much of the tanning fluid, your salon should have a special oil-free lotion that you can apply to areas like your nail beds and knuckles.

Make sure you wear loose clothing! Anything that rubs against your skin immediately after the spray tan will disrupt the development of the tan. I even go so far as to not wear a bra because I know it leaves marks.

Avoid sweating after your appointment. I usually wait until I’ve washed off the tan for the first time before exercising or doing something that I know will really make me sweat.

Make sure you wait enough time before showering. Depending on the type of spray tan you get, you will need to wait a while for the tan to fully develop. Your esthetician/tech will tell you this information!

After your spray tan:

Moisturizing is key to prolonging the life of your tan: the drier your skin, the more it will flake and disrupt your tan. This gradual tanning lotion from Vita Liberata made a spray tan that I lasted for 12 days – it was incredible and I swear by it!

Of course you have to shower, but the more often you shower or are in the pool, the shorter your tan. I find that using a gradual tanning lotion like the one above helps tremendously if you’re on a beach vacation or anywhere else where you’ll be in the water a lot.

I hope this was helpful, and if you have any favorite spray tan prep/maintenance tips, please share them below! xo Keely