How Long Does a Spray Tan Last and 41 Secrets to Make it Last Longer

A spray tan is sunless tanning which involves spraying a smooth mist containing Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) on your body. This Dihydroxyacetone (DHA), gotten from sugar, helps to give your skin a bronze glow as it reacts with it.

While some people usually hit the salon for a professional to tan them, others apply spray tan by themselves through the help of spray tan bottles.

You might worry about how long a spray tan would last since a suntan typically lasts 7-10 days without costing a dime. A spray tan usually lasts between 3 to 10 days, although it has a lot to do with your skin type and other routines.

In this article, we’ll inform you about the secrets to make a spray tan last longer. Plus, provide answers to burning questions like; how long does a spray tan last on the beach, and will a spray tan come off in a pool.

How Long Will a Spray Tan Last

A spray tan may last between 7-10 days on your skin. The shade you choose largely influences how durable a spray tan may last on you. Dark skin shades may allow your glow to extend up to 10 days. In comparison, medium and light skin shades may extend up to 8 and 5 days, respectively.

How long for a spray to fade also has to do with the DHA (dihydroxyacetone) present in the shade. Low DHA percentage, say 6%, will create a light color on the skin causing it to fade faster. The higher the DHA percentage, the darker the shade thereby providing a long-lasting effect on the skin.

A lasting glow also comes from practicing some simple before and after-tan care tips that can prolong your bronzed appearance. They include but are not limited to:

1. Washing off hair conditioners on your hair before taking your bath to avoid collecting its residue on your skin.
2. Avoiding anti-acne and anti-aging treatments. This way, your skin doesn’t get dry and peel off quickly.
3. Watching out for activities that affect your skin PH balance and avoiding them so they don’t influence your spray tan outcome.
4. Studying if your period affects your spray tan results since hormonal fluctuations occur during periods and may tell on your skin. That way you can avoid tanning at this sensitive time.

Will a Spray Tan Come Off in a Pool?

A spray tan won’t come off in a pool but can fade. This is true because submerging yourself in a pool, especially a highly chlorinated one, for hours will quickly lighten your spray tan.

On the brighter side, some of the below tips can help you retain your sun-kissed glow after enjoying a swim in a pool. They include:

1. Endeavor to use an efficient waterproof sunscreen before swimming. This step will prevent water from soaking into your skin so you can retain your tan.
2. Spend a maximum of 15 minutes in the pool to avoid lightening your tan.
3. Since chlorine is present in pools, it’s best to immediately pour some fresh water on your body after exiting the pool. This way, you can slow down or reduce the effect of swimming in a chlorinated pool.
4. Gently use your towel to dry water from your skin. Avoid rubbing your body aggressively.
5. Subsequently, apply moisturizers and self-tanners immediately after swimming. This process will help hydrate your skin to keep its cells intact.

These tips may not retain your spray tan glow 100%, but they’ll hinder your glow from fading away quickly. Moreover, if you’d like to keep your glow radiant after swimming in a pool, ensure to get your skin tanned only recently cause the more recent it is, the slower it fades away.

How Long Does a Spray Tan Last in a Swimming Pool?

There’s no better place to show off a good bronze skin than beside a pool. However, it can leave you to wonder if enjoying a swim can be the end of your glow.

So if you’re asking yourself, your beautician, or even google how long do spray tans usually last in a swimming pool, the honest answer to that would be spray tan last in a swimming pool for less than 10 hours.

Nonetheless, you can maintain your bronze skin while swimming by using lotions and sunscreen on your tanned body before dipping yourself in the water. Other helpful tips include:

1. Scheduling your spray tan appointment closer to the day you use the pool so you don’t quickly lose your glow.
2. Be committed to taking care of your skin before you go swimming. Exfoliate your skin gently days before going for a spray tan.
3. Moisturizing yourself with good lotions that don’t contain harmful chemicals.
4. The best behavior to put on in a pool after getting a spray tan is to have a quick dip in the pool and going for relaxation. Water can dry off your skin and cause it to shed. So please minimize how much you enter the pool if you must maintain your spray tan.

Will A Spray Tan Last at the Beach?

While you go barefoot across the beach’s sand or even go fishing, you don’t want to drop your glow by the beachside at any point.

So we understand why answers to questions such as how long does it take for a tan to fade or how long do spray tans usually last don’t do justice to your curiosity about whether or not a spray tan will last at the beach.

The fact is a spray tan will last at the beach. However, it depends on the activities you do while on the beach. So keep the following tips in mind:

1. Don’t swim for long, say 20 minutes, because it can quicken your exfoliation rate or make your dead skin cells detach quickly.
2. Before tanning, ensure to exfoliate your skin carefully.
3. Endeavor to tan 24 to 48 hours before going to the beach. This measure gives your tan to fade less as you swim.

How Long Does a Spray Tan Last at the Beach?

You may have no reason to inquire about how long does a spray tan lasts or how long does it take for a spray tan to fade completely; however, an upcoming vacation at the beach might get you curious about how long a spray tan lasts at the beach. After all, what’s a stay by the beach without a glowing tan?

If you apply a spray tan and then immediately went ahead to swim at the beach, it is likely that the tan will come off because it’s not fully developed. It is advised that you wait at least 24 hours after getting a spray tan before going swimming at the beach. This way, you can give the solution time to set and fully develop on your skin. If you have to swim sooner than that, try to avoid getting your skin wet as much as possible and dry off quickly afterward.

A well-applied spray tan can last up to 10 days, even at the beach. All you have to do to keep your precious glow include:

1. Moisturizing
   Try to moisturize your skin at least twice a day with a moisturizer that’s tan-friendly. It must not contain mineral oil, essential oils, and toners. A good after-tan moisturizer would prevent your bronze from fading and help you hydrate your skin.
2. Avoiding hot water
   Try as much as possible to often use cold water for bathing rather than hot water.
3. Avoiding water with chlorine.
   Sure, you can swim while on your vacation; nonetheless, we advise that you avoid staying too long in chlorinated water like the swimming pool as much as you can because it can gradually fade your fake tan the longer you stay in it.
4. Apply waterproof sunscreen 
   A good rule of thumb is to always apply a waterproof sunscreen when going to the beach or even outdoors generally, regardless of whether or not you have a spray tan. This will help prevent your skin from becoming damaged by the sun’s harmful UV rays.

How to Make a Spray Tan Last Longer

Nobody wants a good tan to fade in the middle of a vacation or while they’re not ready to let loose the glow. That’s why questions like why do fake tans fade so quickly and how long does a fake tan lasts are common inquiries that get asked.

Even though a spray tan could last up to 7 days, you can ensure it lasts longer no matter your activities by following the 10 secrets we’ve outlined here:

1. Ensure to keep your skin clean and void of lotions and makeup before tanning. Also, avoid deodorants before having your spray tan, as it can prevent the spray tan from permeating your skin.
2. Get a shave or wax a day before your spray tanning session. However, don’t shave nor spray until you’re ready to let go of your glow.
3. Exfoliate 24 hours before undergoing a spray tan. This routine is essential because it helps you to achieve a uniform glow while eliminating dead skin cells plus other residues that may prevent the tanning solution from running its course.
4. Moisturize your skin before and after tanning. However, increase your concentration on your hands, feet, elbows, and other dry areas on your body while preparing for tanning. This tip will help prevent an accumulation in such dry areas. Also, it’s essential to constantly moisturize after tanning to prevent your glow from subsiding rapidly.
5. Avoid having a hot water bath after tanning, and don’t wipe yourself with a towel to get dry; instead, pat yourself.
6. Baby powders come in handy for sweat-prone areas such as the armpit, under your butt, and inner elbows.
7. Avoid tight-fitted clothes and shoes 24 hours after your spray tan session.
8. Chemicals such as chlorine are no good friends with your spray tan. Therefore, avoid alongside products containing acids as much as you can.
9. Don’t cross your legs or rub your hands on your body often, as that can tamper with your spray tan.
10. Use water-based sunscreen outdoors to protect your skin from ultraviolet rays.

How to Make Fake Tan Last Longer on Face

Understanding how to make fake tan last longer on the face helps you avoid tanning blunders that ridicule your facial beauty in exchange for an attention-calling and evenly-tanned look.

Things like beauty products, excessive time under the sun can tamper with the lasting quality of your glow. However, that’s not all.

The following tips will show you how to make fake tan last longer on the face:

1. Remove dirt and oil from your face. Use cold water to wipe off infirmities from your facial skin to keep your pores closed.
2. Clean your teeth before applying fake tan to your skin. This tip will ensure you don’t have leftover toothpaste on any side of your mouth that will require cleaning after you use your self-tan.
3. Apply Vaseline on some parts of your face, like your hairlines and brows, if you are light-skinned. This way, you can prevent the hairs in this area from being tanned (colored).
4. Get rid of the dead cells off your face by exfoliating days before tanning. As you do so, your pores will close on time to absorb the fake tan.
5. Your skin preparation and aftercare regime should include moisturizing. Apply moisturizer on your face before using or going for your spray tan appointment.
6. Subsequently, after taking your bath, ensure your skin gets moisturized with good lotions that help lock in your tan.
7. Get a gradual tan product to hydrate the skin on your face and create a long-lasting effect. Such a product makes your tan darker by the day.
8. Bath briefly in lukewarm water and avoid lotions, gel, and soap while doing so.
9. Stay in well-ventilated areas to reduce moistures on your skin.
10. Try to avoid swimming immediately after getting tanned.
11. Try to avoid sweating or doing activities that may cause you to sweat for a long period of time.
12. Keep your hands off your face. By continually touching your face, you may create spots on those parts.

Now that you know that a spray tan can last up to 10 days, use the above tips to make your glow last longer, irrespective of your skin color.