How to Prepare for Your

Airbrush Spray Tanning Session

IT'S IMPORTANT TO PREPARE YOUR SKIN

Preparing your skin before an airbrush spray tan is the most important part of the spray-tanning process. In fact, if you have not been told what to do before a spray tan, the chances are that your spray tanning experience will not be a happy one.  To ensure you have the best experience, we recommend that you follow the tips below.

BOOK YOUR AIRBRUSH SPRAY TAN ABOUT 48 HOURS BEFORE ANY SPECIAL OCCASIONS  

Timing is important, because sometimes a fresh spray tan can have a slightly orange hue which settles next day. Additionally, having a day between getting a spray tan and getting ready for a function will give you enough time to take care of any unlikely problems that might arise.

BEGIN SKIN PREPARATION THE DAY BEFORE YOUR AIRBRUSH SPRAY TAN APPOINTMENT  

• This includes shaving, waxing, and exfoliating. If you are going to shave or wax (recommended) before spray tanning, do it a day before, since you need the pores to close properly after hair removal. If they don’t, excess spray tan solution can lodge in those pores and that will give you a spotty look – not very attractive.
• The most crucial step – exfoliate! If you skip this step or do not exfoliate well, you might not get a good tan and when it starts to fade it is likely to come off in patches. The best time to do it is also a day before your spray tan so that the skin has a chance to recover. Be very, very thorough in places where there is a buildup of dead skin like elbows, knees and ankles.

ON THE DAY OF YOUR AIRBRUSH SPRAY TAN APPOINTMENT:

• Take a shower using a soap or body wash that does not contain a lot of moisturizers.
• Do not apply anything to your skin, such as lotion, body butters or even deodorant or make up. Those things have a tendency to block spray tanning solution from reaching your skin and can cause you to have lighter patches in those areas.
• Some deodorants can also react with a spray tanning solution and turn your underarms green! If you need to, carry some wet towelettes and wipe your underarms if you feel you are perspiring. 
• If you absolutely must wear make-up before you come in, wet towelettes also work well for a quick make-up removal.
• Bring a thong and any other undergarments you wish to wear during your airbrush session.  These garments may become stained by the active ingredient in the tanning mist (DHA), so plan accordingly.

When you get to the salon, you will need to change into your airbrush undergarment(s), put on a shower cap (provided by us), lightly apply some moisturizer to your knees, elbows and ankles and a lot of moisturizer to your nails and palms of your hands to keep them white.  TIP:  We also carry Sticky Feet^TM to protect the soles of your feet and prevent them from being tanned.

If you have any more questions about what to do before an airbrush spray tan, please be sure to ask them when you book your appointment, as your airbrush technician might have some more suggestions.

For more information about spray tanning, check out our experts' articles below!

Spray Tanning 101:  Frequently Asked Questions

Extending the Life of Your Tan: Proper Post-Spray-Tan Care