How to Prepare for a Sunless Spray Tan
Your Skin Is the Canvas
A beautiful spray tan starts with the skin underneath it.
Proper preparation helps create a smooth, even surface for your tan to develop on and can make a noticeable difference in how your color looks, wears, and fades. That is why preparation is not an afterthought at Southern Glow. It is part of the experience.
our Spray Tan Preparation Checklist
How should I prepare for a Spray Tan?
THE NIGHT BEFORE YOUR APPOINTMENT
Exfoliate. Gently exfoliate with our Exfoliating Mitt over your entire body, paying special attention to dry areas such as elbows, knees, ankles, and wrists. An exfoliating mitt can help create a smooth surface for an even application.
Shave or wax. Complete waxing at least 24 to 48 hours before your appointment. If shaving, do so the night before whenever possible.
Complete other beauty services. Manicures, pedicures, facials, lashes, and other spa treatments are best completed before your spray tan.
Hydrate your skin. Follow your normal skincare routine the night before, but arrive for your appointment with clean, completely dry skin. Our Body Butter is rich and creamy and highly moisturizing for the days leading up to your appointment.
THE DAY OF YOUR APPOINTMENT
Arrive with clean skin and skip lotion, body oils, deodorant, perfume, and makeup before your appointment. These products can create a barrier between your skin and the tanning solution.
Remove jewelry before your appointment and plan to wear loose, dark, comfortable clothing afterward. Avoid tight clothing, shoes, or anything that can rub against developing color.
AFTER YOUR TAN
Keep your tan dry while it develops according to Brie's instructions. Avoid water, sweating, swimming, and other activities that can interfere with development.
When it is time to rinse, take a gentle shower. Avoid scrubbing or exfoliating your skin during the initial rinse.
How to Get the Best Spray Tan
A beautiful tan starts long before the color—and lasts long after it.
Whether your glow comes from a professional airbrush tan, a self-tanning mousse, or a week in the sun, beautiful color begins with well-cared-for skin.
At Southern Glow, we believe getting a beautiful tan is about more than applying color. It is about understanding your skin, preparing it properly, choosing the right color, and knowing how to care for your glow once you leave the studio.
Brie shares her professional guidance for spray tan preparation, aftercare, longevity, and product selection, so you can get the most beautiful, natural-looking result possible. If you have any questions, you can open our live chat.
What makes an Airbrush tan look natural?
A beautiful spray tan should never look like a spray tan.
At Southern Glow, every tan is customized to you. Brie considers your natural skin tone, undertones, desired depth of color, and the occasion you're tanning for before selecting and applying your solution.
The goal isn't simply to make you darker. It's to create a glow that looks natural, healthy, and completely your own.
Spray tanning is an art. The formula matters, but so do the application, development time, and attention to the details that make a finished tan look seamless.
How to care for your Spray Tan
Once your tan is applied, how you care for your skin will help determine how beautifully your color develops and fades.
Keep your tan dry while it develops.
When it's time to rinse, keep your shower gentle.
Moisturize every day. Our body butter is perfect!
Avoid excessive soaking, chlorine, and harsh exfoliation.
Brie recommends using our gentle Body Wash as part of your daily routine, followed by a Tan Extender Lotion to help maintain your color. When your skin needs extra hydration, a rich Body Butter can help keep your skin soft and your glow looking smooth and even.
How to make your spray tan last
The secret to a long-lasting tan isn't adding more color. It's taking care of the skin underneath it.
Keep your skin hydrated, use gentle products, avoid unnecessary exfoliation, and be mindful of activities that can accelerate fading, such as long hot baths, swimming, and excessive sweating.
One of the easiest ways to extend your glow is consistent hydration, using the Self Tanning Mousse That's why Brie recommends a Tan Extender Lotion or the Tanning Water as part of your aftercare routine.
Southern Glow Tan Care Favorites
The products you use between appointments matter. Brie has selected her favorite essentials for preparing your skin, maintaining your color, and keeping your skin beautifully hydrated.
BEFORE YOUR TAN
Tan Remover
Exfoliating Mitt
Body Wash
AFTER YOUR TAN
Body Wash
Tan Extender Lotion
Body Butter
Self Tanning Mousse