Left your salon glowing like a goddess and forgot to follow the instructions?
Been there, done that.
There are many mistakes most of us make if we forget those valuable guidelines from the technicians.
One such mistake is washing off your spray tan too early. The first few hours post the tanning session is solely for the color to develop. This is why most salons advise taking a shower a few hours after tanning. The duration typically varies based on the products used.
Read on to find out how to reverse this tanning mistake.
Table of Contents
What exactly is “Too Early”?
Ever wondered most of the newbies make this common mistake? They don’t have any idea about the “too early” part.
Don’t get disheartened. We are going to help you understand this.
We all know that the tan is sprayed on with a bronzing liquid. So when you shower, the brown water is the bronzer washing off. The tan does not develop because of the bronzer. Instead, it develops due to a chemical reaction with the skin.
How long before you wash off spray tan is an important question. It usually takes about 2 hours for this chemical reaction to occur. This means you can wash it just 2 hours after the tanning session. The more you leave it on, the darker it turns out to be.
Washing your tan before 4 hours may also be too early. It all depends on the richness you desire to achieve.
You might ask me, what do I recommend. If you’re in a hurry to go out, then I will advocate you to wait for at least four hours before taking a bath. It won’t be “too early”! There will be enough time for the bronzers to settle and act.
What Happens If One Washes Off Spray Tan Too Early?
Tan newbies are typically unaware of what the consequences could be. Something as simple as a shower can help make or break it.
- If you washed off the tan after 2 hours, don’t worry. You just wait for around 15-20 hours. The DHA will start developing on your skin and you will still get a beautiful tan.
- Waited 18 hours, and the tan still hasn’t developed? Let me tell you that this is where you need to start worrying.
- For a darker result, you are required to leave the spray tan on overnight. Even washing off after six hours may leave you disappointed.
- Washing off spray tan too early may also decrease the longevity. This means that your tan may not last too long.
- Showering using harsh products like a body wash or foam is a bad idea. They will result in your tan not developing fully. This means you will not get the desired dark, bronze look.
- You will also increase your chances of streaking. These ugly-looking stripes occur due to soapy washes.
- Not washing the tan correctly may leave you with some darker spots.
What Should You Do If You Washed off Spray Tan in the Shower?
This is the most important part of this article. It’s very common that we fail to give the spray tan enough time.
But here are a few steps you can take to fix this tanning disaster:
Call Your Tan Specialist for Help ASAP
Left your tan on for the prescribed time? And, prepped your skin before the session? Something must be definitely wrong.
There is a possibility that the chemical reaction did not occur. Or, your tanning specialist did not use the right colors. Or, washing it early didn’t allow the color to grow on you. Getting in touch with a professional can help you get the answers. Your tanning salon may even call you in for some touching-up.
Use Self-tanning Products for an Instant Glow
Got absolutely no time to make it into your tanning salon? Use tinted moisturizes or self-tanning products at home. These can help by highlighting all the right places. Most bronzing lotions can help darken your spray tan temporarily.
The best part is that self-tanning products are super easy to use!
Sun Laboratories Instant Ultra Dark self tanner (Amazon) is one of the best in the market. Formulated with a natural blend of ingredients, you are destined to get a tan in an overnight. I am sure that you will love using this best selling fake tanner.
Get a touch-up
Call your tanning salon for a compensatory touch-up. If you are seriously unhappy with the results, get it fixed. The professional may spray over your existing tan to uplift it.
Get another Round of Spray Tan
Touch-ups and self-tanning are always an option. However, they don’t necessarily always work. To perfect your look, go for another round of spray tan. This time, make sure to leave it on for the prescribed time.
Here is an important piece of advice!
Wait until the previous tan washes off completely. Without this, you may end up with an uneven result.
Exfoliate during Shower to Wash it off completely
To renew your tan, it is essential to get rid of the previous tan. However, removing a tan is not so easy. Showering multiple times and exfoliating can surely help. ArtNaturals Himalayan Scrub is one of our top picks. You can find more exfoliators here.
You can also try using baby oil. All these tips can help you prepare for your next tan.
I hope by now you might have understood why your post-spray tan shower is extremely important. It could either make your tan look flawless or a complete disaster. Make sure to research well before getting a spray tan.
Remember, different products vary in their duration of action. This means the time you need to wait before the first shower after spray tan will vary.
But the bottom line should always be to remember to follow these tips next time to end up with the perfect tan.
