Spray Tan Prep and Aftercare | Spray Tans By Laura

Reschedule / Cancelation / Late / No Shows.

Appointments that need to be cancelled or rescheduled must give at least 2hrs notice. Most nights are fully booked, so unfortunately if you are 5 minutes or more late, your appointment will need to be cancelled and you will need to rebook another night, so please take this into consideration when booking a time. No shows will not be rebooked.

Spray Tan Prep.

On the day of you Spray Tan wear no makeup, deodorant, jewelry, moisturizer or perfume to your appointment, make sure you have had a good shower and have no body wash, soap left or product left on your skin, be sure to give your underarms a good scrub with a mitt to make sure there is no deodorant, any product of any kind leftover as will turn bright green within a few minutes of spraying. If you are someone who feels your tan doesn't take as well or you don't get as dark as you like, try avoiding showering for several hours prior to your appointment to make sure your skin isn't holding moisture and also gives your skin a chance for your natural PH levels to build back up. If you have had a spray tan in the last few weeks, please make sure the old tan is 100% removed, as old tan will make your fresh tan go patchy and fade much quicker in those areas. Please do all exfoliating, waxing, shaving, pedicures and nails 24hrs before. Avoid bar soap or body washes with oils or moisturizers in them prior to your tan as this can create a barrier on the skin and prevent the tan from absorbing. If you have areas where your skin is really dry, exfoliating and moisturizing those areas the days leading up to your appointment will help give a much better result. If you have any allergies, please be sure to check the ingredients page, and let me know if you have an allergy to anything you think may be an issue. If you have any recent sunburn which you suspect will peel, or were sunburnt in the last 8 weeks which resulted in peeling, I recommend you cancel your appointment. IMPORTANT! Please make sure you have eaten close to your appointment, are well hydrated and have a cold drink of water packed.

What to wear ?

On the day of your spray tan, it is best to wear clothes that are not too tight. Clothes that are too tight can leave indents in your skin and occasionally cause those areas to go darker or lighter depending on your skin. After your spray tan, it is best to wear loose cotton clothing such as t-shirt, loose cotton pants or a light dress. T-shirt style shirts and dresses only as it helps prevent your underarms from doubling up in colour (PLEASE NO strappy dresses, strappy singlets, silky, satin or polyester items as they will mark the tan). If the weather is colder, don't be afraid to bring warm clothing to wear such as loose trackies and a hoodie, flannelette or cotton pjs or some ladies even come in their fluffy bathrobe. Whilst getting your Spray Tan you can wear as little or as much as you feel comfortable with.

What if it is raining for my appointment?

If it is raining for your appointment or looks like it might rain, please remember to bring a Thick Oversized Hoodie, Thick Loose Trackies, Loose Uggs and a Fluffy Bathrobe for extra protection. These clothes will help protect your Spray Tan from watermarks. Please be sure to check the weather on the day of your appointment and pack these items if you will not return home before your appointment and rain is predicted. If it is hot, you do not need to wear them here, just have them packed with your normal tanning clothes in case it is raining when you need to leave. I will walk you to the car with my large umbrella, so you don’t have to worry about trying to fold up a wet umbrella. Please park to the front or back of the car space at the front of my house to allow the next client to also park close to the house in bad weather.

Aftercare.

- About an hour after your spray tan the bronzer will look very dark, don't stress you will not stay this dark lol.

- Before your first rinse avoid accidentally getting wet or washing your hands.

- You will leave the solution on for 2 - 4 hours (3-4 hours if you want it a little darker). This rinse time will depend on how dark you want to be and how you feel your skin absorbs Spray Tan. You will rinse of with just water (no soap, body wash or product for this first shower). Gently rub your hands all over your body and make sure the water is clear as any tan left on after this first shower will result in darker streaks or patches. If you notice any patches or streaks after your first shower have another rinse off, as there is still bronzer left on, that will help even it out. If you still have any darker patches, it normally just means that it has grabbed darker to dry skin or old Spray Tan and will normally even out once you have your bodywash shower the following day.

- You will notice after your first shower you will look like you don't have a spray tan anymore, this is completely normal, your tan colour will develop and come back over the next 24 hours. The first 12 hours after your first rinse do not use any products such as moisturizer, deodorant, makeup or perfume as this will prevent it from fully developing to its maximum colour, or it could cause it to strip the colour completely off in those areas.

- 12 hours after your first rinse you can go back to your normal routine, using body wash, deodorant and give it a good moisturize. (Not too heavy on the deodorant the first day, some can strip the colour and prevent it from fully developing)

- The first 24 hours after your spray tan try to avoid tight clothing, excessive exercise, being too hot and sweaty, pools, spas, saunas and massages. As your tan is still developing its colour the first 24 hours, these can prevent your tan from reaching its maximum colour, or can cause marks in the tan for example from tight clothing.

Tips for making your Spray Tan last longer.

- Quick necessary showers and pat dry with the towel.

- Moisturize daily gently, do not use any other brand tanning moisturizers or mousse over your tan (as they can react with each other and turn your tan orange). Moisturiser creams are best, not lotions.

- Gentle Body washes and moisturizers are best, the less chemicals the better. Look for Sodium Lauryl Sulphate free, also avoid any products with oils such as Mineral Oils or Coconut oil, these will strip the tan.

- Spas, saunas, swimming pools, the beach, excessive exercise, facewashes and massages will make your tan fade or go patchy in areas a lot more quickly or could even alter the colour of your Spray Tan.

- Spray all perfume and colognes on your clothes not your chest, the alcohol in them will strip the tan.

- Avoid using any exfoliators or harsh chemicals whilst you have your spray tan.

- When you need to shave use a fresh blade lots of body wash, be very gentle when shaving while you have your tan to prevent shaving off your tan. Avoid the shavers with the large moisture strips around the blades, they leave a residue.

- Avoid any Dove brand products such as soap, body wash and moisturizer. These can create a barrier on your skin.

- If you wash your hair, when you rinse the shampoo/conditioner off, try to rinse by flipping your hair over and rinsing it forward or to the side to prevent the shampoo from running down your back.

- No urinating in the shower, it is very acidic and can result in white streaks down your legs which are hard to fix.

- If on the way home your seatbelt smudges your Spray Tan, your dog sniffs you and wipes their wet nose on you, or you get a random patch of water on you, do not stress, it is just the bronzer that is smudged, the tan is still in your skin working away and will disappear when you have your first rinse.

- Certain medications, medicated lotions and ointments, facewashes and face creams, pregnancy, your menstrual cycle at certain times and skin conditions can affect the outcome of your Spray Tan.

Common Questions.

I have really dry skin: If you have dry skin the days leading up to your appointment it helps to exfoliate any dry areas and moisturize daily. As your spray tan does not just wash off, it comes off with any dead skin cells. Any dry areas or patches will be the first areas that your Spray Tan will come off, but also those areas the spray tan will not go on as evenly or the colour can grab and those areas will be darker.

How long does a Spray Tan last?: Every person is different. It depends on your skin and how well you prepare and look after it. But it will generally last between 5-10 days.

Which day is best to get a Spray Tan?: It is personal preference which day is best for you. Most prefer 2 days prior, so it has time to settle in and fully develop your colour before an event. However some do like to tan the day before. Just a reminder though, if you get your tan the day before an event it will still be developing the day of, so if you get your makeup done earlier in the day, by the evening your tan would have finished developing and your makeup may no longer match your tan. Also in you are going on holidays, and you get it the day before you leave you have to wait a full 24hrs after you rinse to do any water activities.

How long does a Spray Tan take?: Your Spray Tan appointment will take approximately 20 minutes. It is important to arrive on time, prepped, with all deodorant, makeup and jewelry removed, know what colour you would like and have read all the prep and aftercare info so I can answer any questions you might have.

Should I get a Trial Spray Tan if I have a Special Event?: Yes if you are the Bride, a Bridesmaid, it's your School Formal, a Special Event or you have never had a Spray Tan before, it is always best to do a Trial. As everyone's skin is different, everyone's Spray Tan will develop differently. For example, I can spray an entire Wedding party with the exact same colour and everyone's tan will develop differently. Some can be darker, some can be lighter, some the colour doesn't grab as dark on their legs or chest or can grab darker in areas. You may find you want it darker or lighter next time so we can then adjust the colour or the development time. A Trial is always best at least 3 weeks prior or several months prior if you can if you want to try different colours and brands. If the last trial is at least 3 weeks prior that is best as that way you can be certain the older tan is 100% removed for your fresh tan for your big event.

Will a Spray Tan cover my natural tan lines?: A Spray Tan can help reduce tan lines in some cases, it really depends on each individuals skin. When you have tan lines, normally the darker areas are drier areas and they tend to absorb more colour. I try my best to spray more solution to the naturally lighter areas, but can not guarantee that this will blend any tan lines. If you have a big event coming up, I always suggest getting a trial Spray Tan so you can see how your tan lines will look with a Tan.

Can I get a Spray Tan with Sun Burn: If you have been sunburnt or are peeling, I recommend cancelling the appointment. When you are sunburnt, those areas are much dryer and will go darker. Then the following day you will get patches that peel, and it will be very noticeable. Once it has peeled it is very hard to fix, as you will blend one area then another section will peel. I recommend not getting Spray Tan for at least 6-8 weeks after any sunburn as that is how long you can still be peeling for. Even if it is just a small amount of peeling left it will leave you with a tan that will go patchy quickly.

If I have sensitive skin can I get sprayed?: If you have eczema, dermatitis, or psoriasis it is best to patch test your skin before deciding whether to be spray tanned. If you find that you have not had an irritating reaction, it is fine to have a spray tan. It is important to make sure the skin is thoroughly moisturized 12 hours after the application of a Spray Tan. This will stop the skin from drying out to help make the tan last longer. However you should be aware that any of the areas with eczema, dermatitis, or psoriasis will generally grab darker as they are drier.

I accidentally got some water on my Spray Tan before my first rinse: Don't Panic! Once your tan is dry after leaving me it should be fine. It is best to avoid getting it wet to be safe but accidents happen. If you get a little splash on your tan, just pat it dry gently with a clean, soft cloth, if you have a clean makeup brush or tanning mitt you can try to give it a little blend. But generally, once you have had your first rinse it will be fine. It is just the bronzer on your skin that has been smudged by the water and can look a little scary, but the Spray Tan that has soaked into your skin is still working away and it should be fine. In most cases, everyone who has gotten a little water on their Spray Tan has said it developed completely fine and there was no mark the following day.

My underarms have turned green: If your underarms have turned green, it usually means that there was deodorant still left on. Usually your underarms will be green while the tan is on and after the first rinse. Once you have your second shower 12 hours later and use body wash the green tinge will be gone. Occasionally this area may be a bit lighter after as the deodorant stopped it from developing to its maximum colour.

Is it safe to get a Spray Tan while pregnant?: There is no evidence to suggest that Spray Tanning women when they are pregnant is unsafe. However as every pregnancy is different you should always check with your doctor and get the all clear before getting a Spray Tan. It is important to understand that when a women’s body is experiencing hormonal changes, their sense of smell can be heightened, and the smell of spray tan solution can be undesirable. Furthermore, the hormonal changes can impact your skin in terms of its dryness and oiliness; meaning that skin preparation and maintenance should be thoroughly managed. Being pregnant can make a woman’s body more sensitive which means that skin may be more irritable to the tanning solution. Hormonal changes can even sometime affect the final result of the colour of your Spray Tan. It is also recommended as an extra precaution to wear a mask for your spray tan, then remove it at the end for your face to be sprayed last. We suggest having a patch test before getting the full tan.