How To Avoid “Spray Tan Hands” & Other Helpful Tips

How To Avoid “Spray Tan Hands” & Other Helpful Tips

About to get a spray tan for New Year’s? If you are, then you’re like me and need to exfoliate and shave tonight (more on when to get your tan later)
Worried about “orange hands”?

Well, fear not, I’ve been using self-tanners since middle school and worked as a spray tan technician for 2 years so I’m here to share with you my key tip to avoid ever getting orangey, i-can-tell your-tan-is-fake hands when you self-tan or spray tan.

Now there are two parts to this, here we go:

If you are self-tanning, always slather your hands & feet in plain lotion before applying self-tan.
The spray tan version of lotion is called Barrier Cream, they should have it in your tanning salon, but it doesn’t hurt to bring your own lotion.

Do tan your hands. Otherwise, they will look significantly lighter than the rest of your body. The other tell-tale sign your tan is fake lol.

BUT the trick is you need to CAREFULLY clean up your hands after.

Here’s how:
For Self-tan, you need to wash (with cold water) just the palms of your hands with soap and be careful not to go too far past the first wrist line. Carefully pat dry your hands and re-apply plain lotion.

For spray tan, you take a baby wipe and rub the wipe between your palms and then dab around the edges of the wrist and tops of hands. Then when you get home you can wash your hands like above.

Always reapply the lotion on your hands after so it’s an even natural tan.

Now, avoid water for 8 hrs (unless your tan is a rapid one that has you rinse after 2-3 hrs).

How to prep for your tan:

• 24 hrs before your tan application do the following
• I personally like to take a bath so my skin can soften & get hydrated and ensures any dry patches won’t ruin my tan
• Exfoliate. You need to use a body scrub or an exfoliating mitt to remove dead skin cells and/or old tan.
• You need to closely shave your entire body (or not, it’s your choice). But don’t think you can fully shave after your tan, you’ll risk streaking it.
• Apply lotion all over the body and wear loose clothing to bed (and the next day for that matter).
• The Day Of Your Tan you need to do the following
• Take a rinse, and wash everything real good but no exfoliating or shaving.
• Do NOT apply deodorant or lotion and no sweating. If you do have to take a shower close to your tan appointment make sure there’s at least 1 hr of dry time.
• Wear dark, loose clothing that makes you look homeless or bohemian (think sweats & over-sized shirt or a long flowy dress).

Aftercare for your tan:

• Rinse your tan with cold to lukewarm, low-moderate pressure water until water runs clear (get everywhere!)
• No soap (except armpits and bottoms of feet)
• Pat dry gently with towel
• No lotion today except hands
• Avoid sweating, perfume, and any water activities
• 24 hrs after your tan application you can take a real shower
• Avoid exfoliating, shaving, and any products containing alcohol, coconut oil, mineral oil, and any aerosol sunscreens.

I hope this helps you avoid any tan mishaps and has you looking perfect for New Year’s & any special events!!

If you’re a bride-to-be or have a super special event in your life that you are gearing up for, get on my mailing list today so you can be informed when I release my Beauty & Bliss Guides!