6 steps to a lasting tan

Airbrush tanning is taking over by storm, as the cancer is hitting the younger generation each year. Since learning about airbrush tanning, I have never gone back to sun bathing! I love to spray tan, so when I do, I want it to last. Here are the top 10 tips to making your tan last!

1. Come clean, and freshly exfoliated to your appointment.
The tan is only applied and soaks into your outermost layers of skin. As we shed our skin daily, you are likely to shed your tan with it. The tan will fade with your skin shedding, so the better you have exfoliated upon your appointment the better application you will receive.

2. Shower the day before, or the day after. If you shower the day of, you will have your pores soaking up the tanning solution as well. This will leave you with a lot of tiny little brown dots all over your legs, (not pretty).

3. DO NOT Shower or apply water to your tanned skin for up to 12 hours.  the tan will take a total of 9-12 hours to completely dry, and develop. It is very important to not get any splatters of water or liquid on your tan. it will leave spots, streaks, etc.

4. Apply moisturizer daily, several times a day. The more moist you keep your skin, the longer the tan will last. If you allow your skin to get really dry, you will notice the tan will disappear very rapidly.

5. Avoid lotion, moisturizer and deodorant before tanning. I mentioned the lotion before, but I will say it again. These products can not only block the tan from getting to your skin, but it could also have a counter reaction and cause the tan solution to change colors. I have seen deodorant turn the tan GREEN! Yikes! within the first 30 minutes of the tan, you will be able to apply some deodorant if you care to. Otherwise just head home for a quite night in, and look forward to showering in the AM. 

6. When you do shower, be sure to use non-detergent based soaps/moisturizers. Cleanser with Vitamin E will also help condition the tan.