So, you are about to go out to ‘that’ party you have been waiting for for months, in ‘that’ killer dress with ‘those’ killer heels. You know you are going to look fab, but a bit of a spray tan might just give you that extra boost to help you look and feel amazing – everyone loves having a tan, right?
So you’ve paid to have your tan done, you look like you’ve just come back from the Costa-del-amazing – and what’s a few quid to have that feeling of luscious bronze legs? Well it’s actually not that expensive at all – but why paid more for less? Wait! Don’t switch off yet, this isn’t a sales pitch ‘we are cheaper than our competitors’ blah, blah, blah. There is nothing worse than a blog that may as well be coming to you from someone who couldn’t care less about helping you feel great, and only really cares about the lining of your purse.
No, this blog is about helping you make the most of your investment in your super hot tan, how to make it last longer and look better.
So the reason for this being our first blog is two-fold. Firstly, we are the Tanning and Beauty clinic, so what better place to start, but secondly, because I wanted to share my first tanning experience with you, to help you NOT make the same mistakes I did.
Now I am somewhat of a tanning addict, having been addicted to sunbeds for years. I just love the feeling of having a great tan, especially in the summer. I’d avoided spray tans because I was convinced that I would come out looking like a patchy pumpkin to be perfectly honest. But now, I am a total convert. You can have what ever type of tan you want – hey, bright orange might be your thing and I’m not one to judge. But you can also have a really natural look just to give you a bit of a glow. The only thing to bear in mind is that your tan will only give as good as it gets, and if you don’t look after it, it won’t stick around.
So, with that in mind, here are some of my tips for getting a great tan and keeping it (ok, not like forever, but for long enough to make it worth spending your pocket money on):
- Preparation is key:
There are two parts to this tip:
Firstly, If you need to wax/shave, do it the day before. Doing it after you have had your tan will simply bring your tan off, probably unevenly.
Secondly, exfoliate. This is so important. Again, I didn’t listen and I didn’t do it. But everything makes your skin dry…the weather, the products you use air pollution etc. You need to make your skin as even as possible, without exfoliating, your tan is likely to flake off as your skin naturally does on a daily basis. So make sure you make it as smooth as possible the night before your appointment.
- On the Day
DO NOT wear deodorant! Everyone will tell you this, and, like me, you will probably ignore them. I mean what’s the worst that could happen, right? Well mine went green. That’s right, I had green underarms for 4 DAYS! And when the green faded it just went white. So don’t do it. Just get your tan done in the morning on your day off. Or, if like me, you don’t really care, because your tan is more important, just don’t wear any that day at work. Your friends will understand…or they will just avoid you!
Also, remember to bring the right type of clothes with you. You will be given time in the tanning booth for your tan to dry, but these tans develop over night. If you wear tight clothes after, your tan will rub off. Make sure you bring baggy clothes and flip flops. OK, you won’t look incredible when you leave your appointment but trust me, it will be so worth it!
Be prepared that you are going to have to take your make up off. Please refer to my deodorant point above! If you are like me and can’t even as much as put the rubbish in the outdoor bin without my slap on, I realise that this might not be the easiest of things to do – no make up for 8. Whole. Hours!? And feel for me, ok? I have to get a train home and then walk 20 minutes at the other side! But trust me, your face will already look incredible from your tan, and the likelihood is, no one will even notice!
Don’t panic that your tan is uneven and wash it all off immediately. The tan is likely to look dirty and uneven until it has had a chance to develop and you wash off the excess in the morning. Note, in the morning. Avoid water at all costs for at least 8 hours!
- After care
Don’t shower for at least 8 hours. I know I just said this above, but it’s super important, so I’m saying it again! The tan will wash off. Now, even after 8 hours, the tan will actually wash off, so don’t be alarmed when the water turns brown, its perfectly natural and you aren’t going to go back to your natural colour. However, the way you shower is important for keeping that tan looking great. So here are a couple of tips:
- It is always best to use lukewarm water rather than really hot water
- Avoid using moisturising shower gels and stick to natural products if you can
Moisturising is so important! Again, this is to ensure that your skin doesn’t flake and peel your tan off. However, avoid oil based moisturisers, your tan will literally fall right off!
Be careful about exercising and avoid chlorine at all costs. Sweating and chlorine are really bad for the tan and will strip it off much quicker. I appreciate that if you are having a tan for your holiday that avoiding chlorine might be unlikely, but just be warned, and try not to spend ALL day lounging in the pool.
Exfoliation after having the tan done is ok, and I would actually recommend it to make sure that your skin stays smooth and your tan stays even. Make sure you moisturise lightly though to avoid bringing the tan off.
So there you have it, you’re all set. Don’t worry, it isn’t all as complicated as it seems and most of it is common sense to be fair (so you wouldn’t think, I pretty much managed to do the opposite to all of these on my first go). My advice would be to have a practice run with your tan anyway, especially if you haven’t had one before. This will give you the chance to test how your skin responds to the tan and practice look after it. Tans aren’t for everyone and it is so important that you try it out before your big night out/big day/big holiday so you can be sure it is what you want. And if…IF anything goes wrong…lemon juice and a loofer will get it right off.
Enjoy!
