8 Common Spray Tan Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Getting a spray tan can make you feel like a million bucks. After all, there are few beauty treatments you can get that A) work immediately and B) instantly make you look like a bronzed goddess. The process is quite simple, too. You walk in, remove your clothes save for a disposable panty, get sprayed, and leave. With that said, there are more than a handful of mistakes you could make that will leave you with streaks, patches, or a watered-down tan.

There's actually quite a lot to consider. Should you moisturize before a spray tan? Should you wear makeup on your face? What kind of clothes should you wear? Should you be bending over during your session? What happens if you forget to turn around and end up like Ross from "Friends"? (IYKYK)

The truth is, how you prep, what you do during your session, and what you do post-spray tan can all have an effect on your final look. So, we asked two celebrity spray tan artists to tell us what we may be doing wrong and what we should do instead. Read on to learn how to get your best spray tan ever—thank us later.

Mistake 1: Not Removing Old Spray Tan Before Getting a New One

This is the worst thing you can do. Layering a fresh spray tan over an old, patchy, and flaky tan will result in a mismatched mess. So, make sure to properly remove your spray tan or self-tan before getting a new one.

“For small areas, use a hair-removal cream like Veet Gel Hair Remover Cream. Apply with a Q-tip precisely onto the areas," says Evans. "For sensitive skin or for your face, cleanse first, lightly exfoliate with a facial scrub, then apply an astringent toner with a cotton ball and sweep over dark areas of self-tanner." Furthermore, soaking the area in oils or in a pool with chlorine will also do the trick.

Mistake #2: Applying Lotion Incorrectly Pre-Tan

“Before your appointment, make sure hands, feet, elbows, knees, and any other problem areas are well moisturized. But we never moisturize the whole body, as this will result in a lighter tan," says Evans. Instead, she suggests applying body lotion to the palms of your hands; creases in your wrists, elbows, feet, the back of your heels, and any other serious dry areas, like a patch of eczema. For this, we recommend a barrier cream, like Avène's Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream, as Pradas says these types of formulas will prevent those areas from developing too dark or patchy, for a more even finish..

Mistake #3: Skipping Pre-Tan Exfoliation

To ensure the smoothest, move even spray tan ever, you need to exfoliate the body to make sure your skin is in tip-top condition. Remember, it's the canvas for your tan. "For the smoothest application and a long lasting tan, exfoliate the skin two to three days in a row prior to application as this will ensure you remove as many dead skin cells as possible for a flawless self tan," says Pradas. Furthermore, she adds that you should exfoliate the entire body where you will be applying the self tanner and focus on the areas that are prone to dryness such as ankles, heels, knees, elbows, hands, knuckles and any other areas you experience dryness. We recommend Sol de Janeiro's Bom Dia Body Scrub as it combines both physical and chemical exfoliants to speed up your smoothing journey.

Mistake #4: Messing Up Your Hair Removal Schedule

Similar to why you should exfoliate pre-spray tan, you want to remove hair from the areas you will be treating to ensure the smoothest application. Pradas says the rules of thumb are shaving 24 hours prior to application, waxing at least 48 hours prior to application, and laser hair removal four to vie days prior to a spray tan. If you do it too close to your appointment, the pores may still be open which could result in your tan giving you the appearance of strawberry legs.

Mistake #5: Picking the Wrong Spray Tan Strength

Spray tans are customizable, meaning you get to pick your spray tan shade. If you go too low you may be unhappy with the results, but the same could happen if you go to high. For the best results, ask your spray tan artist what you're envisioning and bring reference photos to help them understand the tone you're going for. Furthermore, you can ask them to give you the illusion of defined muscles by darkening the spray tan where you want to see more definition.

Mistake #6: Forgetting to Bend Over

For a full 360 spray tan, you need to make sure your spray tan artist gets to those hard-to-reach areas, such as below the butt cheeks. If they spray you straight-forward without asking you to bend over, you could end up with two pale spots beneath each cheek. (Gravity, eh?)

Mistake #7: Forgetting Your Loose Clothing at Home

The last thing you want to do is to have your fresh spray tan rub off on a pair of constricting skinny jeans. Your best bet will be to wear loose-fitting clothing to prevent any friction from scraping off your tan as it develops. Plus, it's the perfect excuse to wear your comfy oversized hoodie and your favorite sweats.

Mistake #8: Using the Wrong Products Afterward

Look, it's important to keep your skin moisturized to extend the longevity of your spray tan, but some ingredients will actually strip your tan away instead of boosting it. Oils, for example, are a huge culprit. So, as much as you love your coconut oil for head-to-toe moisture, save it as a hair treatment instead.

There are many skincare products that are specifically formulated to care for your skin and extend your spray tan's life. In-shower, the Bondi Sands Coconut Body Wash cleanses the skin while maintaining its pH so as to extend your tan's life. Then, use St. Tropez's Tan Enhancing Body Moisturizer every day to help prolong your tan an extra three days. For your face, mix a few drops of COOLA's Sunless Tan Anti-Aging Serum with your favorite moisturizer for a subtle, gradual tan to extend your existing one.