These are a few common questions about showering from tanners, so we figured this might be a good time to give a little more explanation for what to do after your session. 

When should I rinse? 
Your artist will tell you at the end of your appointment what time you should rinse for your desired depth of tan. If you have selected an express rinse option, this is highly important since the longer you leave the solution on your skin, the more product absorbs, and the darker the results end up. Avoid ORANGE results by rinsing at the right time! *If you don't remember or have a question about when to rinse, send us a message or give us a call to confirm your rinse time.*

When can I use soap?
24 hours. While you can, and should RINSE at the determined time(see the above), waiting to use soap allows the tan to fully process and develop for the best results.

Can I shave after?
Just like soap, waiting as long as possible to shave is best. Use a new razor and gently shave when necessary. The goal is to get just the hair and not the skin, which will avoid removing the tan.

Any other tips?
After each shower, pat your skin dry with a towel and moisturize with a quality moisturizer. Choose oils like Jojoba, Grapeseed and Almond(if not allergic) to add richer moisturizing for extra dry skin. Check out our cleansing and hydration section at your next appointment!
See you soon and happy Bronzing!

Pictures are a great reason to get a Bronze and that's why we ask a variety of questions when you come in for your tan. We want your color to be perfect for you! So how do you get the BEST Bronze for your photo sesh??

1. Follow our prep and aftercare instructions, and schedule your tan 2 days prior to your photo session. Giving your tan its full development time is the key to a stunning look in every outfit and angle!

2. RINSE- at the right time! If you are using a quick rinse solution, waiting too long to rinse can result in too much tan and that dreaded ORANGE color! For that picture perfect look, set an alarm and rinse at the time your artist instructs you.

3. Tell your photographer that you'd like to see your tan in your pictures. This is a MUST! In the editing of the photos, a lot of photographers will edit out your tan, which is so sad (we know! *tear*). So, let them know you'd like to keep your glow in the photos.

One bonus point to consider is photos during the "golden hour". We highly recommend a slightly lighter tan for photo sessions during this time, since the sun adds golden hues and increases the risk of a brassy look. Don't worry though, a little less tan, doesn't mean NO tan and you will still have a beautiful glow we know you'll LOVE!

Beautiful, warm weather, spring breaks, destination weddings, vacation and so many wonderful reasons to travel! No matter where you go, keeping this travel guide handy will help keep your spray tan lasting and your skin glowing!

SUN EXPOSURE- This is a constant, however, when traveling to warmer areas, the UV rates are amplified. Making sure you have a quality, tan safe sun screen is essential. Lotion sunscreen is preferred since it adds some moisture as well as create a slight barrier- See the next point. 

POOL AND OCEAN EXPOSURE- Salt and chlorine from pools and the ocean can dry out your skin and fade your tan faster. Minimizing how long you soak as well as taking a rinse in fresh water after your swim time is recommended. After each rinse and shower, pat dry and moisturize!

SKIN DRYING ELEMENTS - Along with chlorine and salt, alcohol from drinks, sun exposure depleting lower levels of skin natural skin moisture and just usual exposure to free radicals can reek havoc on your tan. Use a quality moisturizer like shea or cocoa butter, or the Spray Studio Oh My Glow oil available at Body Bronzing, to replenish your skin's hydration.

EXTEND & TOUCH UP- A tan extending lotion and/or a self tanner is highly recommended to add color back that is lost with outdoor activities. Touch up areas that fade quickly like face and hands with a tanning water or mist and a make-up brush.

No matter where you travel, a fresh Bronze makes the memories glow a bit more!

When it comes to spray tanning, it's all in the planning for getting the best results. Here are some of our top tips for getting the most out of your tan.

Book Your Tan Last
Why is this first? Because it's most important to know that your tan should be the last beauty service on your list. This allows you to enjoy the other services and be ready for your beautiful Bronze!
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Nails, hair and other spa appointments should be scheduled before your tan. Keeping your tan for last is the best way to make sure it develops evenly and without any issues. Oils and lotions from nails, massages and facials can block the tan from absorbing properly. Scrubs and dyes from hair and skin treatments can remove the tan.

Bring dark, loose clothing
The post tan bronzers will come off on clothing, furniture and other objects until you rinse. Wearing clothing that covers you will keep the tan from getting rubbed off of your skin and on to car seats.

Keep Post Tan Errands Minimal
Plan ahead for the weather and be intentional about letting your tan have it's full time to absorb with minimal challenges. Rain, sweat, furbaby kisses, or getting a little too into your favorite espresso can all cause unwanted results for your Bronze.

Timing
Rinsing on time is important for a few reasons. First if you have selected an express solution, waiting too long means more solution is absorbed and the results may be too dark(or even ORANGE) than desires. Second, waiting more than 12 hours will dry your skin out which can lead to itchiness, the dreaded cracked "alligator" skin look, and potentially reduce how long your tan lasts. After your first rinse, we recommend moisturizing to seal in the hydration and promote the longest lasting tan results.

Getting the best results out of your Bronze means investing in top quality products. Not all moisturizers are created equal and this is especially true when it comes to oils. Baby and pure coconut oils are great for removing your spray tan, but are not recommended if you are wanting to keep your tan going. 

One of the key factors for our artists when selecting a custom color for our clients, is what skin type the client has. Oily, dry or normal skin types all play a part in the overall development of the tan. This can actually change throughout the month, since women have an approximate 28 day hormone cycle. If your hormones are balanced well, you may find that your tanning results stay essentially the same, however most women find that they have fluctuations and these undeniably affect the way the tan looks and lasts. 


Oily skin, typically has no issue with the tan longevity and fade, however this skin type may need to have a more intense tan or feel that they need to leave the tan on longer to get the level of tan that want. Dihydroxyacetone, the tanning agent in any spray tan, needs amino acids in the oils of your skin to react and create the tan appearance. This means you will typically be able to tan with darker shades and not look brassy.

Dry skin,  typically takes the tan quickly, but might see orange/brassy tones more easily as well as the cracked, alligator looking skin as the DHA is a drying agent. These clients often can achieve their desired results faster or even with a lighter tanning color. We encourage dry skinned clients to invest in quality moisturizers to prevent the tan from looking unnatural and fading patchy.

Of course, we all aim to keep our skin on the normal side and learning how to balance your hormones to help your over all health is very important. Each person is different, since we are just spray tanners, what we do offer at each session are some very helpful pH balancing wipes. These are great especially around your period when your body produces the least amount of oils. 

Stay Bronzed friends!

The feeling of a fresh bronze is one of the best modern luxuries of our lives! 
The instant boost in confidence and uplifting outlook on life is incredible with such a seemingly small change. So when the tan starts to fade, a slight angst sets in as we search for the best ways to keep that coveted glow lasting.
 
Our top recommended and most purchased products are our extenders. So what is an extender? Essentially these are lotions with just a small amount of DHA(the tanning agent), to add color back as your skin naturally loses cells. The result is a longer lasting tan, with a more even fade. 

Sometimes the skin will lose more cells in certain areas than others and or dry out and create what is often described as "an Alligator look". The cracked tan look is usually due to dry skin. Using a good quality moisturizer is helpful to avoid this happening, but we also love adding in an extender once a day to fill in any areas lacking color.
The life of the tan is typically between 5-10 days depending on preparation and aftercare routines as well as activities during that time. Using an extender lotion is a great maintenance item to keep in your tanning routine. It can be used on your face as well, to keep your glow going!
REMEMER- WASH YOUR HANDS! After each use we highly recommend washing your hands thoroughly. Micellar water is also a wonderful way to keep your palms from being orange after using a tanning product.

​Stay Bronzed friends!

Why do we say to shave, wax or sugar a day or two before your appointment?
We often hear clients say they "Just showered, exfoliated and shaved right before coming in." While it is best to come with clean skin, doing your shower too close to the appointment can keep the tan from being it's best. 

Shaving the night before or at least 12 hours prior to your appointment is best. Make sure to clean the area from any residue left by the moisturizing strips in the razor and any shaving gel/cream. Using shaving creams, just like soap, can alter the pH level in the skin and remove too many of your needed amino acids. Giving your skin this time to recover is essential to the tan.
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Also, shaving can create small cuts in the skin. Occasionally clients will ask us about being itchy after a tanning session, to which we ask when they shaved and prepped for their tan. Aside from allergies, shaving too close to the appointment can create a recipe for an itchy reaction with the ingredients in the solution. In the same vein, we avoid spraying in any open cuts, because this way of tanning is safe topically, but not meant for internal use.

Waxing and sugaring are also excellent options for hair removal and skin prep. Often these services also help to exfoliate the skin while removing the hair. We recommend scheduling waxing or sugaring 1-2 days prior to your appointment. Again, giving the skin time to recover its natural oils and remove any excess wax or sugar product, provides the best canvas for your new Bronze!

Stay smooth and Bronzed friends!

Let's start with the basics- Traditional rinse times are 8-12 hours, Express rinse times are 20 minutes to 4 hours. Full development of any spray tan is 24 hours post application. The tanning agent in any fake tanning product is called Dihydroxyacetone(DHA) and it is absorbed only by the upper layer of skin cells. The time it takes for this absorption to happen is based on the amount applied and the desired depth of color result. Your Body Bronzing tanning artist considers these factors when selecting a tan for you and your schedule.

Express rinse options are the "new" trend in spray tanning. An added ingredient makes being able to rinse off the tan and bronzers quickly a great fit for busy schedules, pet lovers, moms and more! The time left on the skin determines how much product is absorbed and how dark the tanning results are. So be sure to listen to your artist for the correct time to rinse and avoid overly processed(ORANGE) results!

Traditional rinse solutions are still a very popular option, especially when rinsing in the 4 hour time window doesn't work in the schedule. They do take longer to absorb and rinsing early can cause unevenness and lighter than desired results. Your skin absorbs the color over the 8-12 hours and once that time is reach, the skin has maxed out how much it can absorb. The solution then becomes a drying agent which works against the life and look of your tan. It is highly recommended to rinse once this time is reached to keep your skin from drying out and give the tan the best results.

Over the last 10 years that Body Bronzing has offered express solutions, we have learned a lot! One main thing we have learned is that absorption rates and chemical reactions vary between individuals. The added ingredient to increase absorption in the express rinse formula, can work counter to what most experience and actually block the tan from absorbing in some people. So, we now offer what we call an Evolution rinse option! These are technically traditional rinse solutions, but with higher amounts of DHA which allows for rinse times between 4-7 hours. If you are looking to be able to rinse sooner, but have had issues with express solutions, ask your artist about trying one of these at your next appointment!

We love having options for you that best fit your schedule and the tan you want to achieve! 

Stay Bronzed and beautiful and see you soon!