Shaving after & before Spray Tan: Can You Shave with a Spray Tan?

If anyone can relate to going through struggles of shaving after tanning, it’s me. It can be a really gruesome task at first, and an apparent waste after. Many people have asked me “Can you shave after a spray tan?”

The answer is yes- and no.

It all depends on the situation and your skin.

I don’t have to tell you that spray tanning is one of the easiest and delicate ways to get an awesome tan. But most of these sunless tanners are confused about shaving with a spray tan.

Although shaving before a spray tan is recommended by most of the authentic salons, there are a lot of confusions about shaving after spray tan sessions.

Let’s talk about it in a scientific and logical manner.

How are Shaving and Tanning related?

While tanning, you expose the upper layer of your skin to harsh UV rays in order to trigger melanin production. On the other hand, shaving is removing your hair and also a little sheet of the upper layer of your skin. Both of them are like total opposites of a process, and you need to fully understand the process before taking any steps.

The Basics:

Before we talk any further, understand that:

• When fake tanning, UV rays penetrate deep into the skin and do nothing but activate the melanocytes.
• These melanocytes are responsible for overloading melanin, the pigment that gives your skin it’s tan.
• The melanocytes are situated in the deeper layer of the skin and have nothing to do with the uppermost layer.

This being said, let’s talk about shaving:

• Shaving means peeling off your hair from the uppermost layer of your skin. This also scratches away a thin sheet of your skin.
• The upper layer of your skin (obviously) is responsible for the visible color of your skin.
• While shaving removes hair, it also exfoliates the skin

Shaving and tanning, although have little to do with each other but are also related because both involve the skin. We’ll talk about how they affect each other.

NB: This is the same reason why showering after tanning is also one of the most debated topics in the tanning industry.

Tips to Shaving after Spray Tan

Although, I would not recommend shaving right after tanning there can be exceptions. If you really want to shave just after tanning, because there’s an event to attend or for any other reason, here’s the how-to guide.

1. Wait for a Bit: The Waiting Game

You need to shave fast, I get it but shaving right after stepping out of the tanning booth is inadvisable and totally not needed.

1. During fake tans especially, your skin meet DHA. This chemical is what causes redness and brings the blood to your surface to allow more UV absorption. During all this time, your skin remains extremely blushed and sensitive.
2. When you wait for some time (12 hours at least), the skin gets ample time for its repair which then disallows any irritation for the shave. During this waiting time, try to apply to spray tan extender lotions to increase the life of the sunless tan. You can find some of the best ones here: https://tanninggirl.com/lotion-after-spray-tan/

2. Never use an alrady Used Razor

   1. Ensure that you are using a new razor for your shave after a spray tan. No, I’m less concerned about the hygiene here and more concerned about the razor’s efficiency. Used razor blades are worn off and tend to pull off more skin as compared to the new sharp razors. You won’t like the artificial treatment go in vain, would you?

3. Never Use Shaving Foam

   1. If you haven’t read already, I mentioned some tips for removing a fake tan (for any reason). One of the steps involved rubbing alcohol to let it fade faster. Shaving foams contain alcohol too. You see where this is going?
   2. However, if you cannot possibly shave without one, there are shaving foams available for artificial tanning which might as well help you in the shave and not remove your tan sooner than you want it.

• If you cannot lay your hands on those shaving foams, you may use any gel or conditioners that do not contain Sulfates.

4. Stroke it Gently

   1. Keep the razor blade on your skin lightly as harder pressing of the razor may grate your tanning solution.
   2. Pushing it gently over your skin will get your job done and the tan remaining!

5. Don’t Shave Regularly

   1. If you’re planning on shaving every morning, you might as well not get the tan. Shaving regularly will just eat and scrape your skin, making the tan uneven (and sometimes invisible!).
   2. Shaving regularly will just exfoliate and shed your skin faster than it normally would. The dead cells leave your skin faster, making way for more dead cells.

Shaving with Different Hair Types

You’d be surprised to know that shaving is different with different hair types. For example, coarse hair requires more effort to come off as compared to lighter hair. Here we’ll talk about how different hair types require different measures.

Dark haired:

If you have dark hair, it might take you a little bit of trouble shaving them off. You will obviously have to apply a little bit of pressure, which is not good (like we talked before). This struggle will not only lead to taking a little bit of your skin along but will also open your pores. When the tanning solution reaches your skin and finds open pores, it settles inside. The settled tanning solution will then cause boosted melanin, causing ‘polka dot’ like texture.

To avoid this, shave a day before the tanning to allow the pores to close and avoid the polka dots.

Light haired:

People with lighter hair are lucky (as I see it). You don’t really have to worry about shaving closer to the spray tan. You can shave the very day of your tan appointment or whenever it suits you. It doesn’t really make a difference.

Why is Shaving before Spray Tan a Good Idea?

What I’m about to tell you is not in context with when it is the right time to shave but this is about why shaving before the tanning is a good idea altogether.

• Like we talked before, shaving not only takes off the hair but the dead skin too. In a sense, it exfoliates your skin to a great extent. If you ever get a chance to talk to a tanning specialist about this, they’ll always suggest you exfoliate your skin before the tanning to get maximum results. What a good way to exfoliate by shaving, no?
• The shaved skin will provide a smooth surface for the tanning specialist (or yourself) to work with. The solution will spread evenly; you will not have to deal with dry patches and will not have to face blistering because of the reactions.

The Best Time?

We have seen everything related to spray tanning and shaving. I will be very happy to hear that you have learned quite a lot about these two things.

Still, I would like to summarize our find outs here:

• Shaving 24 hours before spray tanning is the best you can do.
• If you’re planning to shave after a spray tan session, wait for 12 hours at the least.
• More the time you wait to shave with a spray tan, better is the tan.
• Always use good quality products for shaving after tanning.

Some Recommended Products

We have seen how important it is to use good quality products for shaving with or before a spray tan session. I think it will be very helpful for you if I add some of those excellent products here:

1. Shaving Cream: Cremo Cooling Shave Cream is a very good and smooth cream you can use. It is designed to give you a comfortable shaving experience. With this cream, you will never have a nick or razor burn. Yeah, it’s cooling effect is phenomenal.
2. Razor: Gillette Fusion5 is an amazing razor with 5 Anti-Friction blades. The brand says you will never feel the shave. The razor works smoothly and the blades are designed to last long.
3. Gel/Conditioners:

Although you can use these products, we don’t recommend you to apply other products like deodorants, perfumes etc just after a tanning session.

So, Can You Shave with a Spray Tan?

Our lives would be a lot easier if our body didn’t have to grow all this unwanted hair, but who cares when we can shave?

Shaving right after a spray tan might not be a good idea but it isn’t a taboo either. You have to take a little precaution as it doesn’t involve any other risk than reducing the time span of your tan. Shaving doesn’t just strip off your tan but exfoliates your skin in a way that it normally would take days for. If you immediately shave, the time you spent in those spray tan tents will be a waste of time.

So, wait for a little while, use good products and be gentle on your skin. That’s all shaving after tanning asks. Happy shaving!