10 Things You Must Know Before Getting a Spray Tan for a Wedding

tanned at wedding

For many women, their wedding day has to be absolutely perfect, and this includes a tanned complexion.

Spray tan is the best method when it comes to tanning, as it causes the least harm to your skin and is very convenient.

It is important to take into consideration a number of things though when it comes to getting a spray tan for a wedding.

There are so many things that need to be done before such a big event. Everything needs to be timed and executed correctly for the best result especially your spray tan!

In this article, you have 10 of the most important things you need to know about getting a spray tan before a wedding.

#1 Experiment and Customize for the Right Tone

It is advised to start trial sessions at least a month in advance to customize a color and find the best one for your skin tone.

If there already isn’t enough time to do this, do a patch test on your skin (stomach or legs) at the very least.

#2 Time it Right

Choosing when to get a spray tan before your wedding is obviously very important. Your final spray tan session needs to be timed very well in accordance with your wedding date as well as any other appointments.

Any kind of spa treatments, such as massages, mani-pedis, and sauna detoxes, have to be done before your final spray tan appointment as your tan will get smeared and ruined otherwise.

Skin naturally sheds its outer layer of dead skin cells about every week or so, hence a spray tan cannot last longer than this.

There are a lot of ways you can make sure that your tan looks its absolute best for as long as possible, which we will go into more detail in a little bit.

#3 Don’t Spray Over an Old Spray Tan

This one also coincides with good timing.

Your last trial should be several weeks before the big day so that you won’t be spraying over old spray tan. Compare it to getting your nails done – you wouldn’t paint over chipped nail polish, for best results you always need a clean slate.

#4 Exfoliate

You can help your skin out and boost the sloughing process by exfoliating. This should be done a day or two before your spray tan session using an organic scrub.

By getting rid of the dead skin cells from your epidermis, your smooth and soft skin will be able to hold the fake tan better so that it can last longer.

It’s extremely important that you do not exfoliate the day of your session. This is because any scrubs, oils, or lotions leave behind some residue that can act as a barrier against your tan, blocking it from being absorbed into your skin properly and thus ruining your tan.

#5 Know When to Shower

It would be a good idea to shower at least 8 hours before your appointment so that your skin has enough time to restore the pH balance after your shower and get the most out of your tanning session.

Your first shower after your spray tan shouldn’t be before a minimum of 4-8 hours have passed. This is to ensure your tan has had enough time to build up and hold.

The longer you stay in the shower, the more likely it is for your tan to fade so keep this in mind. If possible, avoid using a bath. Moreover, be careful of what type of body wash you use; go for salon-recommended soap to avoid fading or blotching and be gentle with your skin when it comes to washing.  

#6 Know When to Moisturize

If any part of your skin has some dry areas, the spray tan will not hold and blend correctly and will be streaky.

So, it’s important to always keep your skin moisturized and hydrated to avoid patches like those, especially on your drier areas on your knees, elbows, hands and feet.

It’s important not to moisturize right before or after your tanning appointment though or use any other kind of product for that matter. To ensure there’s nothing blocking the tanning solution from your skin, it needs to be bare for several hours before and after your session.

Once you’ve waited the appropriate amount of time to take your first shower post, it’s okay to moisturize. Dry skin cannot hold onto tan, so from here on out it becomes vital to keep it moisturized.

#7 Use the Right Tools

When applying fake tan, yourself and/or applying a booster for the tan, it is important to execute the right method.

If using a mitt, make sure to keep it clean to avoid any mistakes coming through in the result of your tan. Check out our own specially made tanning mitt here – blackout tanning mitt. Otherwise, there are 5 other methods you can check out.

#8 When to Remove Hair

Shaving or waxing should be done 24 hours prior to your tanning session. It is a good idea to remove hair from your body, so as to eliminate any potential barriers stopping the spray tan from being absorbed evenly. For more information on this check our article – can you tan or get a spray tan after waxing?

Doing it a day before gives your skin enough time to ‘recover’ and ensure that the solution won’t cause any irritation to your skin seeing as it is more sensitive after hair removal.

It’s important not to remove any hair after your tanning session though because doing so also removes the top layer of skin cells and tan along with it and will shorten the lifespan of your tan, which is already rather short as it is.

#9 Wear the Right Clothes

Loose clothing in dark colors is a must so that you won’t have any tan lines, streaks, patches, stains, and so on, that would occur from the friction.

Your only options are to either go nude or wear a bikini; make sure the bikini you choose has a strapless top for minimum tan lines.

It’s not just important to wear the right clothes for the appointment itself, but also for the first 24 hours afterward. While the tan is still being absorbed and developing, loose clothes need to be worn such as a baggy T-shirt dress and sandals.

What’s great is that your skin also gets enough circulation and air exposure which is great for your body and the tan.

#10 Stay Hydrated

Staying hydrated does not only refer to moisturized skin. It’s good to be hydrated both from the outside and the inside, so drink lots of water regularly before and after your tanning appointment to have hydrated skin that won’t shed the color sooner.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many days before a wedding should you get a spray tan?

It is recommended to get a spray tan at least two days before and no sooner; a few days more is fine too but no more than 4 days.

This is so that you have enough time to even out your tan should anything not turn out the way it should. With the use of exfoliation, you can create the perfect bronzed glow if it doesn’t appear the way you thought it would.

Although, this is the exact reason trial sessions are done several weeks before the big day. Hence why 2 days is usually good.

Should I fake tan before my wedding?

If you wish to appear more tanned than you already are, yes you absolutely should consider spray tanning. It’s a safe and effective way to achieve whatever kind of tan you’d like. Just make sure you do some test trials weeks before to ensure you have the perfect shade.

Will a spray tan ruin my wedding dress?

There is always a chance that spray tan will rub off on your wedding dress and undergarments, no matter how expensive the formula is.

Do brides get spray tans?

Yes, brides who wish to be tanned for their wedding pictures usually opt for spray tanning just a few days before their big day.

Don’t forget to check out our article – Spray tan for prom – important tips.

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