Sun tanning has lost its charm owing to the various health risks associated with sunlight exposure and tanning beds. So, if you have decided to head out to a salon to get that perfect tan, you must know that faux colors are vulnerable to damage even from touching. Therefore, you need to follow the below-mentioned tips to ensure that the tan lasts for as long as it’s expected or maybe even longer!

Avoid Water Immediately Post Tanning

Once you step out of the salon, do not plan on taking a shower immediately. You must wait for up to 8 hours or more post the tan-application. This is essential because a newly applied tan is more likely to need some time for drying out. A typical spray tan takes approximately 8 hours to fully set on the body. Sweat or shower before completing an 8-hour cycle is most likely to lead to fading of the faux color that you have paid so much to apply.

A stripped tan will also look bad on the body, as there will be patches all over the body. You will be asked to moisturize your skin prior to a tanning session. This is the perfect time to shower to avoid a shower immediately after the spray tan.  Wear loose clothes to avoid contact between your clothes and the color, as it will rub off and cause patches all over the body.

Exfoliate Regularly

The next most important step is to exfoliate the skin thoroughly. A gentle scrub or cleanser may be used to achieve this exfoliation which will get you a deeper and long-lasting tan. Exfoliating is great for ensuring an even coverage of the color, while also removing dead skin cells and other impurities from the skin surface. Exfoliation is necessary prior to a tanning session and this will make sure that the color stays longer on the skin.

Exfoliation lightly once you have achieved the tan to allow for even fading, making sure no color residues are built-up under the skin or in pores. Avoid using a salt scrub and oatmeal scrub to avoid irritation and rashes.

Moisturize Prior To & Post Tanning

Moisturizing is yet another essential tip before and after a tanning session. You may use a moisturizer on a daily basis, just as you do with your daily skincare routine. This will ensure perfectly primed skin for even coverage and will also prevent fading. Applying a lotion daily on the body post a shower will help to create a protective seal that effectively locks-in skin moisture and the faux tan color.

Adequate moisturization is necessary to keep the glow for long. Avoid using oil-based moisturizer for optimal results.

Shower Properly

Post a tanning session, shower using lukewarm water, but not until you have completed the 8-hour wait cycle. Avoid using cold or hot water as it might lead to fading. Shower gels may also be avoided for the time being as these will keep the color from spreading evenly onto the skin.

If you use heavy products while showering, the tan is likely to go lighter, so a basic shower is all that you need for the first couple of days. Try and shower as directed, and use organic and basic products to ensure the longevity of the tan color.

Use Self-Toning Lotions & Bronzers

Self-tanning lotions and bronzers are recommended post a tanning session to cover areas or patches that may have been formed if you have been careless with the previously mentioned tips. Once you have your next tanning session planned, just have the salon personnel fill in these spaces using a tan spray. This may even save you money that a tanning session would otherwise cost. But worry no more, as the following few options have you covered:

1. Banana Boat Self-Tanning Sunless Spray
2. Miami Gorgeous Self-Tanning Lotion
3. Australian Gold Accelerator Lotion With Bronzer

So, if you have recently got a spray tan, use the aforementioned tips to make sure the money that you have spent yields sufficient value and the tan lasts longer than it was intended. If you haven’t got one yet, well then plan accordingly and make sure you follow each one of these steps.