Every guide on this site is a short, plain page for one kind of client. This one is for the man who wants to look rested and outdoorsy without anyone asking what he did. It covers hair, shaving and the gym, and every term is explained as it comes up.
How longAbout twenty minutes
A short conversation first, then the application, and you are back in your day soon after.
WherePrivate, by appointment
One client at a time, upstairs on Capitola Road, so the appointment is yours alone.
The lookSubtle, reads as healthy
A measured depth that looks like a good week outdoors rather than a tan anyone asks about.
TrainingBack at it on day two
Skip hard workouts for the first 24 hours, then train as usual and rinse promptly afterward.
“
I surf, chase kids, and work long hours, so I like that an appointment here is simple. The tan made me look healthier and more awake without looking like I'd done anything.
Brian M.
Why the plan adapts
A different canvas calls for a different plan.
The chemistry is identical for everyone. What differs is practical: your hair, your sweat, and the depth you actually want.
Hair
Working with body hair
Body hair means the formula needs to reach the skin rather than collect on the hair, so Jana works the application around its density across chest, arms and legs.
Training
Sweat and friction
Heavier sweating and friction from belts, collars and gym gear can shorten a tan. The first 24 hours should be free of hard training, so the timing is planned around your sessions.
The finish
A finish that reads as healthy
Most men want a result that reads as healthy rather than tanned, so a measured depth and a neutral or cooler bronzer usually work well. Unity NR is often a good fit.
The week, planned
From last shave to first gym day.
The ideal week, written down. Do what you can, and Jana works with the rest.
Scroll
The weeks before
Glove, moisturizer, sunscreen
Gentle exfoliation with exfoliating gloves at every shower, daily, with light pressure. Moisturize regularly and wear sunscreen. Skip body scrubs; many leave an oily residue.
Skincare
Mention it, do not stop it
You do not need to stop anything on your own. Retinoids and exfoliating acids speed fading, and benzoyl peroxide can lighten a tan where applied. Tell Jana what you use and she will plan around it.
At least a day before
Shave or trim
Shave or trim at least a day ahead, since a fresh shave can show at the follicle and needs time to settle.
The morning
Arrive clean and dry
Shower and exfoliate gently, then dry thoroughly. No deodorant, cologne, lotion or oil on areas being tanned.
2, 4 or 6 hours
The rinse
Rapid Development and Unity NR rinse at 2, 4 or 6 hours, set by depth, and Jana gives you your time before you leave. Lukewarm water only, no soap, then pat dry with a dark towel.
After 24 hours
Back to the gym
Heavy sweat during development can leave streaks, so save hard training for after the first day. Pools and the ocean wait 24 hours too. After that, swim as much as you like, and rinse and moisturize within 10 minutes of getting out, since long swims fade a tan a little sooner.
The final days
The fade
Moisturize regularly. As the tan reaches its final days, returning to your exfoliating gloves evens the fade and prepares your skin for the next appointment.
Matched to you
The formulas men often choose.
Unity NR is often a good fit: its neutral guide color reads as a natural, healthy tan, and its maker describes it as sweat-resistant. Rapid Development suits a full week, since your first rinse can come within hours. Jana confirms the choice with you at the appointment.
Sprayed on just before your tan, a blend of aloes that evens out drier spots like elbows, knees and the tops of your feet, so they tan at the same pace as everything else.
A fine, silky powder dusted on within minutes of your tan, in matte for a softer finish, so you leave dry and comfortable, which helps in warm weather and when you are heading straight back to work. How your tan develops stays the same.
Aftercare
Through the first week.
Short enough for a calendar reminder.
What helps
Rinse at your time with lukewarm water and no soap, then pat dry with a dark towel
Moisturize every day
Train as usual after the first day, and rinse promptly after workouts and swims
Go back to your exfoliating gloves as the tan fades
Save for later
Hard training in the first 24 hours
Pools and the ocean in the first 24 hours
Cologne, scrubs and exfoliating gloves on a fresh tan
Exfoliating glovesBack in the shower as the tan fades
“
I did not want anything rubbing off on my shirt or looking unattractive during flash photos. She walked me through how the tan develops. It looked natural and lasts a while.
Gilbert T.
deSoleil
The Spray Tan Checklist
One printable page
Free PDF
Free checklist · yours to keep
The Spray Tan Checklist
Every tan, prepared properly.
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.
Preparation, the appointment and aftercare in the order you need them
Boxes you can tick on screen or on paper
Printed with your name, for every tan after this one
Six guides
Each one is written for a different reader.
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.
“My daughter insisted I get color so I would not look washed out next to the family. She kept it simple. I just looked like I spent a weekend outside.”
Tony R.
✦
A private studio
Quietly booked, your way.
Tell Jana the date you need to look sharp, and she will work the days backward from there.
Free pickup at the studioUsually ready within one to three business days.
Nothing in here yet.
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.
Exfoliating glovesBack in the shower as the tan fades
