After your tan
Spray tan aftercare: how to make it last
What you do in the first few days decides how long your tan lasts and how evenly it fades. Here is everything to know, from the first rinse to booking your next visit.
How do I make my spray tan last longer?
Rinse with lukewarm water only at your rinse time, moisturize every day, keep showers short and warm, and avoid exfoliating, long baths, hot tubs, and heavy sweating. Most spray tans look their best for about 5 to 7 days.
Aftercare topics
Your first rinse
Rinse at the time your technician gives you, using lukewarm water only. No soap, scrubbing, or shampoo on your body.
The bronzer you see right after your appointment is a guide color. It washes away in the first rinse, and the developed tan stays. Pat dry gently with a dark towel.
Moisturizing
Moisturize every day after your first rinse with a gentle, oil-free lotion. Dry skin flakes faster and takes the tan with it.
In Denver’s dry air this matters more than usual. Pay extra attention to hands, elbows, knees, and feet, where tans tend to fade unevenly first.
Showering
Keep showers short and warm, not hot, and use a mild, sulfate-free body wash.
Long hot showers and baths soften the top layer of skin and speed up fading. Pat dry instead of rubbing.
Exercise and sweating
No workouts until after your first rinse. For the best result, wait another day or two before heavy sweating, hot yoga, or saunas.
Sweat can streak a tan that is still developing and lifts color faster afterward. Rinse off soon after a workout.
Swimming and hot tubs
Chlorine, salt water, and hot tubs all speed up fading. Wait at least a day after your first rinse, then rinse and moisturize after swimming.
If you’re tanning for a beach trip, book a couple of days before you leave so the tan has time to settle.
Exfoliating
Don’t exfoliate while you want your tan to last. Save scrubs, mitts, retinol, and acids on the body for when you’re ready to remove it.
Facial skincare with exfoliating acids will fade the tan on your face sooner than elsewhere. Apply it carefully, or pause it for a few days if your event matters most.
Shaving
Wait until after your first rinse to shave, then use a fresh razor and shaving gel and go gently.
Each pass of a razor lifts a little color, so shave as infrequently as you comfortably can while the tan is fresh.
Fading evenly
Most spray tans look their best for about 5 to 7 days. When it starts to fade, a gentle exfoliation evens things out.
Patchy fading usually comes from dry skin, friction (bag straps, waistbands), or exfoliating products. A warm bath followed by a soft mitt removes what’s left before your next tan.
Sun protection
A spray tan is not sunscreen. It gives no protection from UV rays, so keep wearing sunscreen as usual.
At Denver’s altitude, UV exposure is stronger than at sea level. Choose a sunscreen that isn’t oil-heavy to help your tan last.
Your next visit
People who keep a steady tan often rebook every 1 to 2 weeks. For an event, book 1 to 2 days before.
Exfoliate away the old tan first so the new one goes on evenly, then follow the prep guide as usual.
Until your first rinse
- Loose, dark clothing
- No water, sweat, or workouts
- No lotion, deodorant, or makeup on tanned skin
- Dark sheets if you’re sleeping in it
For the rest of the week
- Moisturize daily, oil-free
- Short, warm showers; pat dry
- Go easy on shaving and skip exfoliants
- Sunscreen every time you’re outside
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