How to Prepare for a Spray Tan: The Ultimate BlushTan® Prep Guide

Good tans start with good prep. ✨

You've booked your BlushTan® appointment, picked out your favorite outfit for the occasion, and you're officially one step closer to your glowiest self. But before we get to the fun part, let's talk about something just as important as your custom color: spray tan prep!

Whether you're getting your very first spray tan or you're a seasoned sunless tanning pro, preparing your skin properly can make all the difference in how your tan develops, how evenly it fades, and how long your gorgeous glow lasts.

The good news? Preparing for a spray tan is pretty simple. Here's everything you need to know before your next BlushTan® appointment.

1. Exfoliate 6–12 Hours Before Your Spray Tan

If there's one thing we want you to remember, it's this: exfoliation is your spray tan's BFF.

Your spray tan develops on the outermost layer of your skin, which means dry, flaky skin and leftover self-tanner can interfere with your results. Exfoliating before your appointment helps create a smooth, even surface for your new color.

Our recommendation: Shower and exfoliate 6–12 hours before your appointment, paying extra attention to areas prone to dryness, like your elbows, knees, and ankles.

We love using the BlushTan® Exfoliating Mitt because it helps remove dead skin cells and leftover sunless tanning products without the need for harsh scrubs.

And don't forget: if you're coming in with an old spray tan, you'll want to remove as much of that leftover color as possible before your new application.

The goal? A fresh canvas for your fresh glow.

2. Shave or Wax Before Your Appointment

Hair removal and spray tanning can absolutely coexist. It's all about timing!

We recommend shaving or completing other hair removal treatments at least 12 hours before your spray tan appointment.

Shaving is a form of exfoliation, and doing it too close to your appointment can leave your skin sensitive or irritated.

Waxing and other hair removal treatments should also be completed in advance, allowing your skin time to recover before your spray tan.

Once your tan is applied, try to avoid shaving for at least 24 hours. Shaving can remove some of those beautifully bronzed skin cells, causing your color to fade more quickly.

3. Arrive With Clean, Product-Free Skin

When it comes to spray tan prep, less is definitely more.

On the day of your appointment, you'll want to arrive with clean skin, free of anything that might create a barrier between your skin and your spray tan solution.

That includes:

• Deodorant and antiperspirant

• Makeup and foundation

• Perfume and body sprays

• Body oils and heavy lotions

• Leftover self-tanning products

• Sweat and other skincare residue

Certain skincare products can prevent your spray tan from developing evenly, so we recommend showering before your appointment using a sunless-safe cleanser.

What about moisturizer?

If your skin is extremely dry, a little hydration may actually help! The key is choosing the right product.

We recommend BlushTan® Hydrating Moisturizer, which is formulated with sunless tanning in mind. If you don't have access to our products, simple alternatives like CeraVe or Cetaphil may work, depending on their ingredients.

Avoid heavy, oily, or barrier-forming products that could interfere with your tan.

4. Be Mindful of Your Skincare Ingredients

Not all skincare products play nicely with spray tans.

Certain active ingredients, particularly those designed to exfoliate the skin or treat acne, can cause your tan to develop unevenly or fade prematurely.

Products containing ingredients like salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, retinoids, and other exfoliating acids can affect your spray tan results.

If you regularly use acne treatments or prescription skincare products, be sure to let your blushpro® consultant know before your application.

We can help you determine whether certain areas should be avoided or whether adjustments to your application would be beneficial.

And if your skin is sunburned, peeling, or irritated, it's best to wait until it has fully healed before scheduling your spray tan.

Healthy, happy skin = a happier glow.

5. Schedule Your Other Beauty Appointments First

Getting ready for a wedding, vacation, or special event? Your spray tan should generally be one of the last beauty appointments on your calendar.

We recommend completing manicures, pedicures, waxing, facials, and other beauty treatments before your spray tan whenever possible.

Why? Many of these services involve exfoliation, oils, lotions, soaking, or products that can affect your color.

If you're heading to BlushTan® straight from your nail appointment, make sure to thoroughly remove any lotions or oils applied during your service.

If you absolutely must get your nails done after your spray tan, wait until after your first rinse and skip the lotion-heavy massage portion.

6. Wear Loose, Comfortable Clothing

Your outfit after your spray tan matters more than you might think!

Once your custom color has been applied, you'll want to avoid anything that rubs tightly against your skin while your tan is setting.

Our favorite post-spray tan outfit:

• Loose-fitting, dark clothing

• A relaxed T-shirt or oversized sweatshirt

• Loose pants or flowy bottoms

• Flip-flops or other nonrestrictive footwear

And yes, we're sorry to say that your favorite leggings will have to sit this one out.

Tight clothing, restrictive waistbands, and friction can interfere with how your spray tan sets.

If it's raining or snowing, bring an umbrella and protective footwear. Water and a developing spray tan are not friends!

7. Plan Your Rinse Time Before Your Appointment

One of the best things about BlushTan® is that your spray tan can be customized to fit your schedule, not the other way around.

We offer several solution options with different rinse times, including:

Original: Rinse after approximately 10–12 hours.

Express: Rinse in 4–6 hours.

Super Express: Rinse in 2–4 hours.

Clear: Our bronzer-free solution, with a customizable rinse time of approximately 2–6 hours.

Your blushpro® consultant will help you select the right solution and recommend a rinse time based on your skin tone, desired results, and daily schedule.

Until that first rinse, you'll need to avoid water, sweating, makeup, lotions, and anything else that could interfere with your developing tan.

Remember, your first rinse isn't necessarily when you'll see your final color! Your spray tan will continue developing afterward.

8. Give Your Spray Tan Time to Develop Before a Big Event

Planning a spray tan for a wedding, vacation, photoshoot, or special occasion?

A little planning goes a long way.

For most special events, we recommend scheduling your spray tan 24–48 hours beforehand. This allows your color time to fully develop and gives you an opportunity to complete your first rinse before getting dressed for the occasion.

Heading on vacation? Booking the day before or the day of departure can help you enjoy your glow for as much of your trip as possible.

And if you're new to spray tanning before a major event, we always recommend scheduling a trial appointment first.

Ready, Set, Glow!

At BlushTan®, we believe a great spray tan should look like your skin, just a little glowier.

Our certified blushpro® consultants specialize in customized, natural-looking spray tans designed to complement your individual skin tone and personal preferences.

And while we'll take care of the custom color and application, a little prep on your end helps us give you the best possible results.

Real people. Real ingredients. Fake tans.™

Ready for your next glow-up? Find your nearest BlushTan® studio and book your custom spray tan today!