For athletes and performers · In training · By appointment
Chlorine, sweat, compression, ice baths: your training calendar is full of things that end a tan early. Bring the schedule and Jana will plan the days around it with you.
What this guide is
Every guide on this site is a short, plain page for one kind of client. This one is for people who train, race, compete or perform: it explains what shortens a tan, how to time one around your calendar and what a stage tan needs, term by term.
Athletes tend to know their skin well because they watch it closely. Sweat and friction are the main challenges, and every appointment is timed around your calendar.
Game days involve hours under stadium lights and heavy physical activity. The tan looks natural up close and holds through an entire game.
Why the plan adapts
Heavy sweating during development can carry formula across the skin and leave streaks. The first 24 hours should be free of hard training, and Unity NR, which its maker describes as sweat-resistant, is often a good choice.
Pools and the ocean wait for the first 24 hours; after that, swim as much as you like. Lots of time in the water can fade a tan a little sooner, since sand and salt are abrasive, salt pools are drying and chlorine fades color. Rinse promptly after swimming and moisturize.
Many athletes find that a lighter, more frequent approach, keeping a steady base rather than going deep, suits the way they train.
What shortens a tan
Listed from the biggest risk to the smallest, so you know where to take the most care in your training week.
Can carry formula across the skin and leave streaks or patches, particularly where sweat collects and clothing rubs.
First 24 hoursHeat speeds development, so keep it out of the development window.
First 24 hoursClients often notice a tan fading faster here. Rinse promptly afterward and moisturize.
All weekGentler than chlorine, but long exposure still speeds fading, and sand is abrasive.
All weekTight fabric during development can leave pale lines, so give it a day off until your first rinse.
First 24 hoursLoofahs, rough towels, foam rolling and climbing out of ice baths all work like exfoliation. Pat dry.
All weekCan lift a little color as it peels. Remove it gently.
All weekResidue causes uneven color under the arms. Arrive without it and apply it after your appointment.
Appointment dayRapid Development and Unity NR rinse within hours, which keeps a tan out of the way of an evening session. Ultra Dark, applied in two coats, is the deep competition tan for seasoned tanners, discussed at your appointment and never for a first tan.
Rinse at 2, 4 or 6 hoursFully developed in about 24 hours
Rinse at 2, 4 or 6 hoursFully developed in about 24 hours
Rinse at 8 to 12 hoursFully developed in about 24 hours
For the stage
Stage lighting and competition floors wash out color, so performers often need more depth than everyday life calls for.
Preferences about undertone vary between photographers, directors and judges, so discuss yours with Jana before the appointment.
Gentle exfoliation with exfoliating gloves every day and again on the morning of, regular moisturizing, water and sunscreen. Shave or wax at least a day before your tan.
Two coats in one appointment, timed one to two days before so the tan has fully developed and the first rinse has evened out the bronzer. Rinse in 8 to 12 hours.
No hard training, heat, pools or ocean while the tan develops, and no compression gear until your first rinse.
When you are stepping on stage, you cannot afford uneven color around your posing suit. Jana is meticulous and makes sure every detail is covered. It held up through the whole weekend.
More from the stage and the field
Stage lighting washes out muscle definition instantly if your color depth is off. The tan held through multiple coats and workouts without breaking down.
Finding a reliable technician when you compete regularly is difficult... The color develops evenly, and deSoleil is a reliable part of my preparation routine now.
Pole dancing requires secure skin grip, and she gets it and knows how to modify your tan to suit your style. I love the result!
Aftercare
A short list either way: what keeps things easy, and what to save until the first day has passed.
Exfoliating glovesBack to them once the tan fadesFree checklist · yours to keep
The Spray Tan Checklist
First tan or fiftieth, a good tan becomes a beautiful one in the shower a few days before. This checklist keeps every step on one printable page, so nothing is left to memory before a trip, an event or an ordinary Thursday.
Six guides
A guide is a short, plain page about one kind of client and the tan that suits her, with every term explained. Choose the one that sounds like you, then read it before you book.
Plan ahead
Whether you are counting down to a show or logging early miles on West Cliff, book online or text Jana your training week or competition date, and she will plan the timing with you.
Your tan is doing its best on its own. A little help at home keeps it going well into week two, and Tan Me BB Cream, the shop's most-loved product, is a lovely place to start.
