Taking care of a spray tan is crucial to getting an overall flawless glow! We know that in order for our clients to get a beautiful, long-lasting bronze, we have to rely on their aftercare. As you know, spray tanning is a 50/50 game! I’m sure we have all had moments in our sunless careers when we’ve clearly provided aftercare instructions, but still end up getting a text from a client complaining about their tan fading too quickly or getting smudged. It happens! However, the majority of your clients will listen to their instructions, but it’s our job to provide the education and knowledge on how to best care for a spray tan for the most optimal results!

It can be frustrating as a service provider to not be in control of what a client does once they leave an appointment. We put so much time, effort and energy into providing a service that sets our clients up for the most amazing sunless glow, but when something happens after an appointment, there’s only so much we can do! This is why post tan care is SO important to your client’s overall results, long after the tan has fully developed. Properly caring for a spray tan can really affect the longevity and quality of the tan in terms of the fading process. Nobody likes lookin’ cray cray' when their tan starts to come off, but with the right aftercare, this can be avoided!

The first step to making sure your client has the best results when they leave their appointment, is providing them with the information they need to care for their tan! We’ve broken down post-tan care for you so that you can effectively and accurately pass on this information to your clients and provide an even better client experience. Below are the aftercare steps we recommend for creating a high quality service that allows your clients to get the most out of their investment with you!

First Rinse

The first rinse should be with JUST warm water. Soap, shampoo, conditioner and any other shower products should not be applied to the body during this initial rinse. This rinse is done after the recommended time for the spray tan solution and will vary depending on the type of solution that’s used. Rapid tans generally require a first rinse after 2-4 hours, while classic solutions will require a client to wait 8-12 hours to rinse. Since it takes 24 hours for a spray tan to fully develop, the client is to do the first rinse to only remove the bronzer from the body. Once the bronzer is rinsed off, the tan will continue to develop to its full depth of color.

First Shower

The first full shower should be done after the tan has fully developed. This will take place 24 hours after the spray tan was applied. 

Fully Developed Tan

After the tan has fully developed, the client should do the following steps throughout the life of the tan in order to keep their color glowing for longer!

• Tap dry after showers instead of rubbing dry to decrease the amount of exfoliation to the skin.

• Avoid using exfoliating products on the skin until it’s time to fully remove the spray tan (loofas, body scrubs, chemical exfoliants, etc.).

• Moisturize 1-2 times a day (Pro-Tip: Offering a tan extender as a retail product allows the client to stay moisturized while extending the life of their tan).

• Stay hydrated! Drink plenty of water to keep the body hydrated from the inside out.

• Use products that are made with natural and organic ingredients that won’t strip the tan. Products that have ingredients such as alcohol and mineral oil cause the tan to fade more quickly.

• Spray perfume on clothing instead of directly onto skin. The alcohol in perfumes can strip the tan, causing it to fade more quickly.

• Shave less frequently! If a client has to shave, they should use a new razor and apply gentle pressure.

Your clients will come to you to gain the knowledge on how they can get the most out of their investment. As the sunless expert, you have the opportunity to provide them with services and products that will increase the life of their tan and provide a more high quality experience over all. Remember, the clients you spray tan are essentially walking advertisements for your business! You want to make sure that you’re providing the most top notch service that urges your clients to spread the word about the work that you provide! In order to create the 5 star service your clients will love, you must have high quality professional products and retail items that deliver the most premier level of results. To stock up your sunless kit with the best of the best sunless items, head over to the X-Tan Sunless Pro Shop!

Xoxo,

Kelly