How to Shower After a Spray Tan
Spray tanning is a quick and easy way to get a golden glowing look, but it can be tricky to shower after. When you start your shower, turn the temperature up as hot as possible so that the water helps remove any excess color from your skin. Be sure not to scrub too hard since this will only cause more damage to your skin than necessary!
If you need help getting clean with all that leftover spray tan, try using an exfoliating glove or loofah for an extra boost of cleaning power. Once you’re showered and towel-dried, remember to apply sunscreen on areas where no sun exposure occurred during the day because these are most susceptible to UV rays! Read on to know more about how to shower after a spray tan.
Can You Shower After a Spray Tan?
After getting a spray tan, you can shower but there are some things to consider. If it’s been less than four hours, you should be fine to shower. However, if it’s been more than four hours, avoid adding water until an hour before you shower.
If you’re planning on wearing any dark clothing after your spray tan, it’s best to wait until an hour before your shower to take off the plastic. If you want to wear light-colored clothes, make sure to put them on right away so they don’t get stained by deodorant marks or perspiration.
10 Ways on How to Shower After a Spray Tan:
Below we have discussed the ten ways on how to shower after a spray tan.
1. Use a Shower Head With a Detachable Wand:
If you have a detachable showerhead, use it to rinse off. If you can remove the head, spray water at an angle on your body. This will help prevent streaking and allow for easy washing of your hands after lathering up soap.
2. Use A Brush or Sponge:
A back brush, loofah, or washcloth with a body wash will all do the trick in keeping your tan streaks free. First, soap up then scrub your back like you would when using a physical exfoliant for the face (avoid the beginning!). Alternatively, use a bristle brush similar to cleaning pots and pans if you don’t have a brush or sponge.
3. Clean Your Body First:
Clean your body first before getting into shampooing or conditioning your hair. The excess oils left on the skin from washing will cause staining of the spray tan, unlike when you rinse off oils during a regular shower routine.
Instead, start by using a loofah to scrub all over, then rinse off. Next, shampoo and condition, as usual, leaning forward to keep the tan from dripping onto your face. If your hair gets wet while standing up, it will also cause streaks on the body.
4. Exfoliate Exposed Areas:
Exfoliating exposed areas is crucial before reapplying a spray tan if the color has begun to fade or if you have noticed fading in specific areas. Otherwise, exfoliation is still helpful before re-spraying an even layer of color.
5. Customize Your Tan:
If you constantly blot off the wetness throughout your body during a shower, it’s time to reapply your tan! This will be especially useful for spray tan novices that need to get comfortable with the drying time and how much to blot. Use a sponge or exfoliating gloves (can be purchased online) and water to control the color intensity in areas where you still have some color vs where you want more color.
6. Moisture is Key:
After you’ve showered and exfoliated, seal in all the moisture with a top-notch moisturizer like Korres Body Butter. This will prevent your tan from washing off and help to maintain color (if there is any left!). Next, select a body butter with a high content of Vitamin E and Shea Butter to keep the skin hydrated for up to 48 hours.
7. Save Your Tan:
Shower in cloudy or cold weather if your color begins to fade after you’ve showered. If it’s dirty, there will be less direct sun exposure, so there is no need to apply more tanning lotion to your skin. If it’s cold, your skin will retain the moisture to lose less color in the shower.
8. Use Sulfate-Free Products:
Using sulfate-free products will ensure that your color is locked into the skin and won’t fade as much after a shower. Sulfates are fatty acids, salts, or sulfuric acid esters added to increase lather in many beauty products such as shampoos and body wash. They’re also used in degreasing products and cleaning supplies.
9. Use a Shower Filter:
If you have more challenging water, consider buying a shower filter to soften up your shower. Hard water contains minerals like calcium and magnesium, which can give the color spray tan an unwanted green hue. A filter will help preserve the original color by blocking these minerals from mixing with your spray tan color.
10. Use the Right Toner:
If you’re looking for an extra boost of color, use a quick-drying tanning toner like St. Tropez Gradual Tan Everyday Toner after your shower to keep your tan color longer and darker! Using this product before you walk outside will also help protect against UV rays, so your tan can last as long as possible.
Spray Tan After Care Tips:
1. Never use harsh or gritty soaps on your spray tan.
2. Avoid water if possible when touching the body for about 4-6 hours after application.
3. Towel off with a soft towel, pat rather than rub dry.
4. Moisturise daily to keep skin hydrated and extend the life of your glow!
5. Avoid saunas, jacuzzis, strenuous exercise, or wet environments for 6 hours.
6. Wear loose-fitting dark-colored clothing after treatment until your next shower.
7. Keep yourself hydrated with water after treatment!
8. Use a loofah to exfoliate when you are in the shower after your spray tan!
How Long to Wait For Shower After a Spray Tan?
Before you take a shower, check the label on your tan solution. It will tell you how long to wait before the solution is completely absorbed and safe for a shower. If there is no wait time stated on the can, ask yourself if your skin looks shiny or not. Shiny skin means it’s not dry yet, and you should still avoid showering. If your skin is not shiny, you can take a shower after 10-20 minutes. If it’s still not dry, wait another five minutes and check again.
The water in the shower should be lukewarm, no warmer than 90°F (32°C). The hotter the water, the faster the DHA reacts, and its melanin production increases, resulting in a darker tan. Turn your shower onto the massage setting and let warm water run over your skin for 5-10 minutes to help open pores and relax muscles.
Avoid any contact with the places you’ve sprayed with self-tanner. You can wash these areas using a body scrub or loofah. Keep reading this full blog post on how to shower after a spray tan to know more.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Will My Spray Tan Look Better After I Shower?
A: Many people shower after a spray tan, but the fact is that it does very little for your tan. At most, you might see a slight improvement in how “even” your skin tone is if you do take a post-tan shower.
However, if you think taking a post-tan shower will make your tan last longer or look darker, you’re mistaken on both accounts. People shower after a spray tan because it feels as though their skin is tacky, sticky, and slimy. Showering to remove the residue will only ensure that you don’t look like a tacky mess!
Q: Should I Put Lotion on After I Shower With a Spray Tan?
A: Many people ask if they should apply lotion to their newly tanned skin. The answer is yes. Apply your regular body moisturizer after showering with a spray tan. Your skin may feel dry, but the moisturizer will help seal in color. If you are wearing an oil-based moisturizer or tanning accelerator, don’t put it on before your spray tan application. It could cause streaking and uneven color development.
Q: When Should I Shower After Having a Spray Tan?
A: Showering after a spray tan is not an exact science. Some people shower immediately after their spray tan application, while others wait for several hours before getting in the shower. After having a spray tan applied until you should shower, the duration of time varies depending on the quality of your lotion, how much you sweat during the day, and what type of shower you have at home.
If your bathroom has a bathtub, it’s best to wait until the day after to bathe so that the water in the tub doesn’t stain the tan before it has time to set on your skin.
Conclusion:
The key to looking good after a spray tan understands how the body reacts to the chemicals. Avoiding excessive sweating, eating certain foods and drinks, and wearing light clothing can help you maintain your new look for longer. However, there are some things you should know before and after your spray tanning session and during it to keep your skin healthy. One of these is how to shower after a spray tan!
If you have any questions about what it takes to shower appropriately after getting a spray tan or need advice on what products will work best with your skin type, then feel to let us know! We want you to look as natural-looking as possible so that when people see you, they know it’s just because of your great appearance, not anything artificial!
Angela Ervin
Angela is the executive editor of DIY quickly. She began her career as an interior designer before applying her strategic and creative passion to lifestyle and home. She has close to 15 years of experience in creative writing and online content strategy for housekeeping, home decorations as well as other niche efforts. She loves her job and has the privilege of working with an extraordinary team. She lives with her husband, two sons, and daughter in Petersburg. When she's not busy working she spent time with her family.
