Before Your Sunless Tan:
If you need to shave or remove hair with a depilatory cream, you should do it at least 24 hours before your sunless tan in order to reduce irritation. The real key to a great sunless tan is proper exfoliation. You will get much more even color results if your skin is well-exfoliated and free of body oils, deodorants, etc. You should exfoliate both your body and your face prior to your sunless tan. Your skin is better able to absorb the DHA if there are no barriers in the way and the pH balance of your skin is correct, which is why it is important to use a pre-tan prep spray or wipe to remove any oils or lotions from your skin just prior to your sunless tan. Pull your hair up to avoid any discoloration, and cover your hair with a hair cap. Lastly, you should put a barrier cream on your hands, feet, knees, ankles, and elbows to reduce the amount of DHA which is absorbed by these typically drier areas of skin.
During Your Sunless Tan:
You should wear dark-colored undergarments, a bikini, or disposables so that the clothing that you are wearing is not stained by the color guard (or bronzer) that is present during the first stage of the tan. You will be instructed to move through a series of poses so that the technician is able to spray the tanning solution evenly on your body.
After Your Sunless Tan: It is very important to avoid showering, coming into contact with water, or excessive sweating during the first 8 hours after your sunless tan. This will allow your skin to fully absorb the DHA and develop ideal color results.
We always recommend that the client wears loose-fitting, dark-colored clothing after the sunless tan to minimize color guard rub-off onto lighter fabrics, and reduce the possibility of sweating in tighter clothing. Ideally, you would also wear dark flip flops home after the sunless tan. The tan color that is immediately displayed on your skin is only a color guard, which is added to the sunless tanning solution so that the technician or client can see where the product is being applied and guarantee that the color is applied evenly. This color guard will wash off with your first post-tan shower - which is completely normal - leaving behind the color results from the fully-absorbed DHA into your skin.
The sunless tanning process does not end with your first shower. If you want the best color results than you should use the products that are known to increase the life of your sunless tan. We sell organic products in store. Avoid alcohol-based products and hard exfoliants, as these will reduce the duration of your sunless tan. Remember: Sunless tanners do not offer adequate protection from the sun, so be skin smart and use a sunscreen every day. Traditional sunscreens are known to reduce the length of a sunless tan, so we always advise the following combination for our clients:
• After your morning shower, always apply a moisturizer.
• In the evening, apply our tan extender lotion that is created to extend the life of your sunless tan.
These lotions will always have some kind of a DHA-base so that your skin can reabsorb DHA gradually over the life of your sunless tan.
