Sunless Tanning: Tips for a Safe, Gorgeous Tan

Tanning in the sun is one of the previously preferred methods of self-tanning. However, there are fewer sun tan salons today because people choose sunless tanning instead.

This is a new way to get a sun-kissed glow without exposing your skin to harmful UV rays. As such, there is always something new to learn about sunless tanning. Below, we share tips for a safe and gorgeous tan.

Take a Cold Shower Before a Tanning Session

A cold shower may sound like an extreme session for those that do not like them. But, you need to hold your breath just for a minute to blast cold water on your skin. This will help shrink your pores to prevent tan products from blocking them.

Shave 24 Hours Before Your Scheduled Tanning Session

Ideally, it would be best to do your shaving and waxing at least 24 hours prior to the appointment.

Some people shave their body hair right before getting a tan. You increase the chances of irritation and are likely to get cuts and bumps on your skin.

When you apply tanning products on unhealed skin, you might irritate it more. Similarly, you should not shave immediately after tanning; otherwise, you whip off the tan and look like a striped zebra.

Remember to Exfoliate

Some areas do not need shaving but exfoliating. You can use an exfoliating scrubber or loofah to exfoliate your skin gently. Pay more attention to the elbows, ankles, and knees. This will prevent getting patchy and streaky tans on ankles, elbows, knees, or other parts that tend to be drier.

Ensure Your Skin Is Moisturized Days Leading to Tanning

If you have scheduled a tanning session in the week, ensure that your skin is moisturized on days leading to the session. Pay extra attention to drier parts such as elbows and knees. But, do not moisturize immediately before your tanning session.

Moisturizing several days before tanning prevents streaky and patchy tans. On the other hand, applying a moisturizer right before tanning will prevent the products from getting properly absorbed.

Shield Your Hairline and Eyebrows

One of the reasons you need to shave before tanning is to prevent the products from pooling. Yet, you cannot shave your eyebrows. The good thing is that you can cover them to avoid tan products from pooling on them, creating a darker patch than the rest of the body.

You also need to cover your hair starting from the hairline to prevent tanning it—this will prevent your hair from changing color.

You might need to protect your eyelashes too. Ask your beautician how you can prevent your eyelashes from tanning. Some apply mascara and remove it later, leaving lashes with the original desired color.

Do Not Wear Tight Clothes

You should also avoid wearing tight clothes after getting a tan. You should wear loose dark clothes after tanning.

Then, you can wear loose pajamas to prevent your skin from getting into contact. Also, this prevents you from sweating and transferring the tan to your sheets and clothes.