Common Mistakes After a Spray Tan (and Before It)

Before your appointment

• Shaving the same day → shave at least 24 hours prior to prevent irritation and speckled color.
• Moisturizing on tan day → arrive with clean, product-free skin; lotion blocks the solution.
• Skipping exfoliation → dead skin grabs color unevenly, especially on elbows, knees, and ankles.
• Wearing deodorant or perfume → both create barriers to the solution.

After your appointment

• Tight clothing right after → wear loose, dark clothing to prevent streaking or transfer.
• Working out before the first rinse → sweat streaks developing color; wait until after your rinse.
• Showering too early (or way too late) → rinse at the time your technician recommends.
• Long hot showers and rubbing dry → short, lukewarm showers and patting dry keep color longer.

The mindset mistake

Judging your tan too early. The color walking out of the studio is the cosmetic bronzer — your true result develops over the following hours and settles after the first rinse. Give it its full development window before assessing.