YOUR SPELLBOUND PREP GUIDE

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• Begin moisturizing as soon as you schedule your appointment. Well-hydrated skin generally develops and fades more evenly, so moisturize regularly in the days leading up to your tan and stay normally hydrated.
• Shower, shave and exfoliate thoroughly 12–24 hours BEFORE your appointment — not immediately before.Waxing, manicures and pedicures should also be completed before your spray tan whenever possible.
• Use a clear, residue-free body wash rather than traditional bar soap. Many traditional soaps are highly alkaline and may also leave ingredients or residue on the skin that can interfere with an even tan.
• Switching to a clear shower gel or spray-tan-safe body wash a few days before your appointment can help reduce product buildup and create a cleaner surface for your tan.
• Avoid oily sugar or salt scrubs. Many contain oils or emollients that can leave a barrier on the skin. Instead, use an exfoliation method that thoroughly removes dead skin without leaving behind residue.
• Avoid razors with heavy moisturizing strips whenever possible. The conditioning ingredients they leave behind may interfere with even application. A simple razor without added moisturizing strips is preferred.
• Do NOT use Dove soap or lotion products immediately before your tan. We have found that some of these products can leave a film on the skin that may interfere with application and development.
• Do NOT use NATIVE body wash or soap for spray tan prep or aftercare. Based on our experience at Spellbound Tans, these products can negatively affect how the tan develops and fades.
• If you still have color remaining from a previous spray tan or self-tanner, gently exfoliate away as much residual color as possible before your appointment. Avoid aggressive scrubbing that leaves the skin irritated, raw or overly dry.
• Moisturize well the night before your appointment. Any lotion, oil or other skincare products should be completely washed from the skin before your spray tan. At Spellbound Tans, we recommend washing off lotion at least 4 hours before your appointment.
• Arrive with clean, dry skin free from lotion, oils, deodorant, perfume, makeup and other products unless your artist has instructed you otherwise.

Questions before your appointment? Please contact us. We would much rather help you prepare correctly ahead of time than troubleshoot an avoidable issue afterward.

• Before your appointment, make sure your skin is clean, dry and free of all products, including makeup, deodorant, lotions, moisturizers, acne treatments, powders, essential oils, perfumes and body sprays. Many of these products can leave residue on the skin that may interfere with an even spray tan application or development.
• You may shower the day of your appointment as long as it is at least 4 hours before your tan application. Use a clear, residue-free shower gel or spray-tan-safe body wash and rinse thoroughly. Do not exfoliate or aggressively scrub your skin the day of your appointment.
• PRO TIP: Wash and condition your hair BEFORE cleansing your body. Finish your shower by washing your skin and giving yourself a nice long rinse. This helps remove shampoo, conditioner and other hair-product residue that may be left on the body.
• During your session, dress down to your own comfort level. You may wear your own undergarments, use the disposable options we provide, tan topless or tan nude. Your artist will always respect your comfort level and privacy.
• If you choose to wear a bathing suit or undergarments during your tan, dark colors are recommended, as cosmetic bronzer may transfer onto the fabric.
• Remove jewelry before being sprayed. Hair should be pulled completely away from the face, neck and shoulders. Hair ties and protective hair coverings are available if needed.
• Bring dark, loose-fitting clothing to wear after your appointment. Avoid tight clothing or anything that may rub against the skin while your tan is developing.
• If your solution contains cosmetic bronzer, consider covering your car seat with a towel, especially during warm weather. This can help protect your seat from transfer and reduce sticking or perspiration against the fresh tan.
• If you are wearing an overnight solution, you may want to sleep in dark-colored or older linens, as some cosmetic bronzer may transfer while you sleep. Most guide bronzers are water-soluble and typically wash out during normal laundering, but we recommend washing any transferred bronzer promptly.

REMEMBER - the color you see immediately after your appointment may include cosmetic guide bronzer. Your actual DHA tan will continue developing after your first rinse.

Do not be alarmed if you look lighter immediately after showering — especially with a rapid-rinse solution. Your developed color may continue to deepen for up to 24 hours after application.

• You will not be able to get wet or sweat until your first warm-water rinse, so plan your day accordingly.
• AVOID skin-on-skin contact, swimming, excessive sweating and vigorous physical activity while the tan is developing. Tight-fitting clothing may cause lines, rubbing or uneven development.
• Your first rinse is warm water only — no soap, shampoo or lotion. Rinse times vary depending on the solution used, so always follow the specific instructions given by your artist for your rapid or traditional/overnight solution. You may shower as usual with a spray-tan-safe body wash 24 hours after your tan application. After showering, gently pat your skin dry rather than rubbing with a towel.
• It is completely normal to see color washing away during the first rinse. This is primarily the cosmetic bronzer or guide color in the solution. Your DHA-developed tan is still developing and may continue to deepen for up to 24 hours after application. Use your hands and warm water to gently remove any remaining bronzer or finishing powder.
• Don’t panic or scrub your skin if you notice streaking or uneven-looking bronzer after the first rinse.Sometimes guide bronzer or finishing powder can cling to certain areas of the skin. This usually resolves during your next full shower with body wash after the 24-hour development period. Avoid trying to scrub or exfoliate the area immediately, as this can disrupt the developing tan.

REMEMBER - the first rinse is not the final result.

Especially with a rapid-rinse solution, you may look much lighter immediately after rinsing. Your developed color will continue to deepen over the following hours.

Follow the rinse time given by your artist, keep the skin hydrated once normal showering begins, and avoid unnecessary exfoliation if you want to get the best possible wear from your tan.

Here are a few tips that will help extend the life of your spray tan:

• Good prep and good aftercare go hand in hand. How you prepare your skin before your appointment and how you care for it afterward both affect the appearance and longevity of your tan.
• Wear loose-fitting clothing until your first rinse. Tight clothing, friction and skin-on-skin rubbing can interfere with development while the tan is fresh.
• Moisturize daily once your tan has fully developed. Keeping the skin well hydrated helps reduce dryness and can contribute to a smoother, more even-looking fade. Continue your normal water intake as part of overall healthy hydration.
• Use a gentle, spray-tan-friendly body wash and moisturizer that we know performs well with sunless color. Avoid harsh cleansers, aggressive exfoliants and products that leave your skin excessively dry.
• As your tan reaches the end of its life, gently exfoliate away remaining uneven or patchy color before your next application. Do not aggressively scrub the skin trying to remove every last trace of color.
• Always use sunscreen. A spray tan does not provide meaningful UV protection. If you become sunburned, especially if the skin is red, irritated or peeling, we may need to postpone your next spray tan until the skin has recovered.
• Hormonal changes may affect sunless tanning results for some clients. Pregnancy, menstruation, menopause and other hormonal changes can influence the skin, hydration, oil production and individual DHA response. Results can therefore occasionally vary even when the same solution is used.
• You can absolutely swim with a spray tan, but prolonged exposure to pools, hot tubs, saltwater and extended soaking can shorten the life of your color. Apply sunscreen as directed and gently rinse and moisturize the skin afterward when possible.
• Keep showers warm rather than very hot, and avoid prolonged soaking. Hot water and extended water exposure can contribute to faster exfoliation and fading.
• Avoid unnecessary friction and exfoliation. Scrubs, exfoliating mitts, loofahs, dry brushing and aggressive towel drying will remove surface skin cells — and your tan along with them.
• Oils and rich emollients are not automatically “tan removers.” However, some heavily oily products may affect how a tan looks or wears, and certain oil-based products can contribute to faster breakdown or uneven fading for some clients. Use the aftercare products recommended by your artist for the most predictable results.

REMEMBER - your spray tan lives in the outermost layer of your skin.

As those skin cells naturally shed, your tan will gradually fade with them. The goal of good aftercare is not to make a tan last forever — it is to help it wear beautifully and fade as evenly as possible.

Things that can affect your tan:

• To get the best wear from your sunless tan, avoid or limit products and activities that increase exfoliation, dry the skin, leave heavy residue or repeatedly expose the skin to friction and water.
• Dove soaps and lotions — based on our experience, some Dove products can leave residue that may interfere with spray tan preparation or development.
• NATIVE soaps and body washes — we have found that these products can negatively affect development and may contribute to premature fading.
• Curel lotions — we recommend using one of our known spray-tan-friendly moisturizers instead for more predictable results.
• Retinoids and strong skin-renewal products, including Retin-A/tretinoin and products marketed to renew, resurface or exfoliate the skin. These increase skin-cell turnover and can cause sunless color to fade more quickly.
• AHA/BHA exfoliating acids, such as glycolic, lactic and salicylic acid, on areas where you want to maintain your tan.
• Strong acne treatments and other products that dry or exfoliate the skin.
• Harsh or exfoliating makeup removers. Use a gentle cleanser whenever possible.
• Traditional alkaline bar soaps, particularly during prep and while maintaining your tan.
• Exfoliating mitts, scrubs, loofahs and dry brushing until you are ready to intentionally remove the tan.
• Facial peels, exfoliating masks and pore strips, which can remove color from the areas where they are used.
• Waxing, depilatory creams and other hair-removal treatments after your tan, as they can remove surface skin cells along with the color.
• Body-hair bleach, which may alter or remove sunless color in the area being treated.
• Aggressive shaving. Use a clean, sharp razor, light pressure and a tan-friendly shaving product to minimize exfoliation.
• Adhesives, including Band-Aids and tape, which may lift color when removed.
• Bug sprays, particularly those containing significant amounts of alcohol or solvents. When needed, apply carefully and expect that frequent use may affect the tan in those areas.
• Hot tubs, long baths, pools, saltwater and prolonged swimming. You can still enjoy the water, but repeated soaking, chlorine and extended water exposure will generally shorten the life of your tan.

A NOTE ABOUT SKINCARE - you do not have to stop your normal skincare routine indefinitely because you have a spray tan.

If you regularly use retinoids, exfoliating acids or acne products, continue to use them as directed — just understand that the tan on those areas may fade more quickly because those products are designed to increase exfoliation or skin-cell turnover.

Your skin health is more important than preserving a spray tan.

REMEMBER - anything that speeds up the removal of cells from the stratum corneum can also speed up the removal of your sunless tan.

Friction, exfoliation, shaving, strong skincare products and prolonged water exposure do not necessarily “damage” the DHA color — they help remove the skin cells in which that color developed.