What to Do Before a Spray Tan Appointment
A spray tan is only as good as the skin it lands on. Do nothing to prep and you can end up patchy at the elbows and faded by day four. Spend twenty minutes the night before and you get smooth, even color that actually lasts.
Here is the whole prep list, in order.
The night before
Exfoliate everywhere
This is the big one. Spray tan color develops in the top layer of your skin, so any dead or flaky skin sitting there takes the color with it when it sloughs off. Scrub the whole body, and pay extra attention to the places that always go dark: elbows, knees, ankles, wrists, knuckles, and the sides of your feet.
Use a plain scrub or an exfoliating mitt. Skip anything oily.
Shave or wax
Shave the night before, not the morning of. Shaving opens the pores, and a freshly shaved pore can grab color and leave you speckled. Give your skin a solid twelve hours to settle.
If you wax, aim for at least 24 hours ahead.
Skip the lotion, oil, and makeup after that
Once you have exfoliated, leave your skin bare. Lotions, body oils, and heavy moisturizers all sit between the solution and your skin and block color from developing evenly.
The morning of your appointment
- No deodorant. It can react with the solution and turn green on you. You can put it back on the next day.
- No makeup, no perfume, no sunscreen, no body spray.
- No lotion.
- Clean, dry skin only.
If you forgot and put something on, just say so when you get to the studio. It is much easier to fix before the tan than after.
What to wear
Wear something dark, loose, and old. Then wear it home.
The solution has a cosmetic bronzer in it so you can see where it is going, and that bronzer will rub off on anything tight or light colored before you rinse. Skip the tight jeans, the bra straps that dig in, and the brand new white tee.
Loose sweats, a dark oversized shirt, and flip flops or slides are the standard uniform. Real shoes and socks will leave lines on your feet.
Also worth knowing: tight straps and waistbands press the solution into your skin unevenly while it develops. Loose is not just about protecting your clothes.
What to bring, or not bring
Nothing, really. The studio has what you need.
If you have an event, tell us when it is. A tan needs a little runway, and the timing changes depending on whether you are going to a wedding, a shoot, or a beach day. Text or call Kat at (480) 238-3564 and she will help you pick the date.
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Signature or contour?
Two options at Kat Eye Studios.
Signature airbrush spray tan is your all over glow. Even color, natural finish, about fifteen minutes.
Contour spray tan adds definition. Color is layered to bring out muscle tone and shape, which is why people book it before events, photos, and competitions. About thirty minutes.
If you are not sure, book signature. You can always go contour next time.
Right after your appointment
Prep is half the job. What you do in the next few hours decides the rest.
Stay dry. No sweating, no workout, no swimming, no long walk in the sun. Do not let water touch your skin until your rinse time. Sleep in something loose if your rinse is the next morning.
We walk you through your specific rinse window at the studio, because it depends on which service you got and how deep you are going. After that it comes down to moisturizing daily and keeping showers short and cool.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I get a spray tan on my period or while pregnant? Plenty of people do. If you are pregnant, check with your doctor first, and know that hormonal changes can make color develop a little differently than you are used to.
What if I have a lash appointment the same day? Do lashes first, then the tan. Lash appointments involve lying down for a couple of hours, and you do not want to develop a tan pressed against a bed.
Will it look orange? Not when the shade is matched to your skin and your prep is done. Tell Kat what you are going for and she will build it from there.
Book your glow
The studio is at 4141 Jutland Dr., Suite #130, San Diego, CA 92117, in Bay Park just off Morena and minutes from Mission Bay, Clairemont, and Pacific Beach.
Book your spray tan or read more on the spray tans page. Questions? Text or call Kat at (480) 238-3564.
READY FOR YOUR BEST LASHES?
Text or call Kat at (480) 238-3564, or book online.