Spray Tan Aftercare: Rinse Times and Making It Last

The brown water circling your shower drain after the first rinse is the cosmetic bronzer leaving, not your tan, and I explain this to nearly every client at least once. The bronzer is a guide color that shows me where the solution has gone while I apply it; the tan itself is DHA reacting in the outermost layer of your skin, and it keeps deepening underneath all that rinse-off for about twenty-four hours.

When to rinse

How long you wait depends on the formula and on how deep you want your color, and I will give you your exact time before you leave the studio.

• Rapid Development and Unity NR: rinse at 2 hours for a lighter color, 4 hours for medium and 6 hours for deep.

• Bronze Organics, Classic Bronze and Ultra Dark: rinse at 8 to 12 hours, which is why so many clients book them for the evening and rinse the next morning.

• Shimmer Hydration: washes off with your first shower by design, so for an evening event we schedule a short visit closer to the time.

Washing off the bronzer does not stop anything. The tan keeps developing underneath for the full day.

Rinsing is separate from developing, and every formula goes on developing for the full twenty-four hours after you leave. Your first rinse is water only, lukewarm and brief, with no soap, no glove and no scrubbing, and a pat with the towel is kinder than a rub.

Your first 24 hours

Plan around heat

A sauna, a steam room or a hot yoga class during that first day speeds development along, so if you have a regular class, book your tan around it rather than hoping for the best.

Go easy on sweat and water

Hard workouts and a long swim can wait until the next day, and clients often notice that chlorine and salt water take color down sooner than anything else in their week.

Wear something loose and dark

The bronzer can transfer onto fabric, and straps and waistbands will rub against fresh skin, so loose, dark clothing is the kind choice for the drive home and the night after.

Making it last

A tan fades the way skin renews itself, so what you can do is keep the outer layer comfortable while that happens.

• Moisturize every day, twice if your skin runs dry. Clients tell me constantly that this is the habit that changed their results most, because hydrated skin fades gradually and evenly instead of in patches. The Extend Hydrating Serum is made for exactly this.

• Wash gently. The PHydra-Luxe body wash cleanses without stripping color, and ordinary bar soap is usually alkaline and best avoided around a tan.

• Keep wearing sunscreen. A spray tan is color, not protection.

• Save the glove for later. Leave exfoliating scrubs and the exfoliating mitt alone until your color has faded, then go back to the gentle daily glove that sets up your next appointment.

How long it lasts

Most tans last 7 to 14 days, depending on how your skin was prepared, how you cared for it and how active you are. If anything about your color bothers you, contact the studio within 24 hours of your appointment and I will look at it.

Keep reading

• How to prepare for a spray tan, for everything that happens before the appointment.

• Spray tan FAQ, the questions I answer most often.

• Normalize Treatment, the pre-tan elixir that balances your skin's pH, and the post that explains it.

• The Bronze Protocol, our full guide to how a tan develops, preparation and safety.

• Planning around a wedding? The bridal planner works out your trial and final dates.

When you are ready for the next one, book online any time more than 12 hours ahead, or call or text (831) 479-8266 for a same-day appointment.