Prep & aftercare
Great tans start before the appointment
Smooth, clean skin takes color more evenly and holds it longer. Use this guide in the days before your tan and the week after.
The timeline
Five steps to a flawless tan
48 hours before
Smooth the canvas
- Exfoliate your whole body with a mitt or scrub. Focus on knees, elbows, ankles, and hands.
- Book any waxing now, so your skin has time to calm down.
- Skip oil-based scrubs. Oil can leave a film that blocks color.
24 hours before
Shave and finish prep
- Shave or do your last hair removal. Shaving right before a tan can leave dots in your pores.
- Do a final light exfoliation if you need it.
- Moisturize dry areas the night before, but keep it light.
The day of
Arrive clean and bare
- Shower before you come, without lotion, oil, deodorant, perfume, or makeup.
- Remove jewelry and tie back long hair.
- Wear loose, dark clothing and slip-on shoes. Bring a hair tie.
During your appointment
Consult, then color
- Tell us about your plans, your skin, and how deep you want to go.
- Your color is mixed for your tone and undertone, then applied evenly from head to toe.
- Choose your rinse option before you leave.
After your tan
Rinse and protect
- Avoid water, sweat, and tight clothes until your rinse time.
- Classic rinse: 8 to 12 hours. Rapid rinse: 2 to 6 hours. Glow Now has no rinse time and washes off in the shower.
- First rinse with lukewarm water only. No soap, no scrubbing. Pat dry.
Aftercare
The week after
A spray tan fades as your skin naturally sheds. Slow that down and keep it even with these habits.
Do
- Moisturize morning and night with a tan-friendly lotion or oil
- Take short, lukewarm showers and pat dry
- Use a pH balanced, sulfate-free body wash
- Use a tan extender to keep color even as it fades
- Wear SPF outdoors. A spray tan does not protect you from the sun
Avoid
- Water, sweat, and workouts before your rinse time
- Long hot showers, baths, saunas, and hot tubs
- Chlorine pools and salt water for long stretches
- Scrubs, exfoliating mitts, retinol, and AHA or BHA products
- Shaving with a dull blade or pressing hard
Make it last
How long will my tan last?
A DHA spray tan usually lasts about a week. Dry skin, hot showers, and exfoliating products shorten that. Hydration and gentle cleansing stretch it.
Your tan keeps developing after your first rinse, so give it a day before you judge the final color.
- Book Platinum for prep, extender, and hydration built in
- Add Gloss to extend tan life by 30 to 40%
- Use Tan Extender at home between sessions