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Does Spray Tan Wash off Easily


No!

Yeah, you heard it right.

It’s hard for a spray tan to wash off. You might be asking yourselves the reason behind it. We’ll know today.

Tanning or whatever business we talk about in this world, all of us have regard for things that come with time. Hard earned results and royalties are valued more than other things.

Likewise, people always wonder: is it easy for a tan to wash off?

Just because people spend good hours and busy days of their life trying to get the perfect chocolaty look, their concerns are genuine.

A Temporary Solution

We should never forget that spray tanning is a temporary solution and has nothing to do with the original melanin production over your skin.

During a spray tan, the spray tanning solution is sprayed over to the desired parts of your body and kept to soak for a while. During that, an active ingredient inside these tanning solutions called the dihydroxyacetone (DHA) is what does the job.

The DHA reacts with dead cells above your skin to give them a dark color. Consequently, this layer of dark dead skin over your original skin is what gives it it’s color.

Now, after all, it’s just dead cells, right? They can wash off, peel off and wear off in a beat.

This is why a tan can wash off easily.

But there are certain implications when it does have to wash off. We’ll look at those.

When does a Tan Wash off Very Easily?

If the spray tan washes off very easily every time, nobody would care to give it a try.

If maintained properly, you can increase the longevity of the spray tan. But there are certain pitfalls. If you are new to the world of spray tanning, you should take care of the following things to prevent early wash off of the tan:

1. Not moisturizing the skin properly before applying it

Sometimes it’s not just something wrong that you’re currently doing but something you’ve already done that messes with your tan.

I’m sure you’ve come across people who tell you to properly moisturize your skin before applying any self-tanner. Why is that so?

Well, moisturizers prevent flaking of the skin for one thing. Dead skin cells normally tend to flake and release into the atmosphere, creating uneven dead skin patterns on your skin.

When you moisturize the skin, you are actually making the dead cells get even and stick to their place for longer. Thereafter, the tanner will turn them into chocolate and you get your desired tan.

Therefore, it is possible that your tan may easily wash off if you haven’t already moisturized your skin before applying it.

But don’t worry.

We have already found out the top moisturizers to use after spray tanning.

2. Showering right after a tan application

I know most of you are aware of the fact that you cannot take a shower right after a spray tan application. All kinds of literature and experienced professionals will tell you the same otherwise. If you still don’t know about this, read it here.

Just when you’ve applied the spray tan solution, the dead skin layer is wet and susceptible to wear because of the solution. Moreover, the spray tan solution is also making its place among the layer, darkening every cell separately.

The spray tan is being held in place due to the dead skin layer and as soon as water flows over it, it’s over. The dead skin layer along with the spray tan solution will go down the drain and so will your chances of getting another tan soon.

Why? Because you just washed off the dead skin layer that was to be darkened.

3. Shaving immediately before or after tanning

Just like showering, shaving is also an arch enemy to your fabulous tan. However, unlike showering, you shouldn’t do it before a spray tan application either. Yes, neither before not after.

Shaving involves peeling and scraping at your skin. Does it make any sense?

When you shave, you are taking off your hair but also a great deal of skin along with it. If you don’t believe this, look closely at your blade after you have shaved and you will see a white residue. That’s your dead skin.

Now you cannot afford to lose any dead skin, can you?

Tanning Girl’s shaving after spray tan is a very good read if you are eager to get that perfect glowing tan.

4. Sweating

As good as sweating is for your skin, it’s as bad for your spray tan. If you have recently put on a spray tanning solution and are planning to get tanned, I suggest you minimize any fatiguing activities.

Sweating is just like cold water and it might not go to the drain but it will for sure smear and ruin your tan.

Also because sweat is salty in nature, it will not go well along with some ingredients inside the spray tanning solution and create a byproduct that is toxic for your skin. This will sometimes also result in an allergic reaction but will always result in an uneven and streaked tan.

5. Using local and unreliable spray tan solutions

Yes, sometimes branded is reliable.

People sometimes go for local and untrustworthy spray tanning solutions from over the counters just because they have a cute price tag. This sometimes results in big disappointments.

These spray tanning solutions aren’t manufactured keeping in view the precise needs of every skin. Your skin will get streaked, acquire tan lines and a lot of other problems too.

Most of all, your tan might wash away within a day or two and leave you wondering if it was your fault. No, maybe it wasn’t.

You just have to use a product that is relied and trusted upon.

How to Prevent the Tan from Washing Off

You can easily prevent the tan washing off from your skin by following a few simple spray tan aftercare rules and tricks.

The first and most important of them is to never do any of the stuff mentioned above. Read and learn what is destroying your precious tan and if it is easily getting washed away, identify the reason behind it.

Moreover, always consult a professional when you think it’s not working for you. Online or in your neighborhood, you’ll always find someone who has enough knowledge and is ready to identify your issue out.

I also have another blog post over how a tan washes away. Make sure to read that for your educational purposes too.

Conclusion

Something as temporary and finite as a spray tan is bound to wash away.

Our skin is the most used organ of our body. It is in contact with the atmosphere all the time. Unless you prefer washing off spray tan too early, these two factors make it really easy for it to lose the spray tan if not maintained well.

This is not done deliberately but as the skin’s defense mechanism to the external factors.

Read, educate yourself and learn what’s ruining your precious tan. You can start with Tanning Girl’s spray tan rules.

Happy tanning!

Stella Cristin

I'm Stella. I have always been drawn to beauty and health products that make a change in our life. I have been working in various tanning salons in my neighborhood to help people like me to get a beautiful and healthy tan. My passion is to help people learn about safe tanning.

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