Spray tan aftercare comes down to three things: stay completely dry for the first 6 to 8 hours, moisturize twice a day after 24 hours, and keep anything abrasive away from your skin. Do those and your tan lasts up to 7-10+ days with good prep and aftercare. Here is the whole routine, day by day.
Day 0: The Day of Your Session
Stay dry for 6 to 8 hours after your session. No shower, no bath, no workout that makes you sweat, and no getting caught in the rain. Wear loose, dark clothing so nothing rubs or transfers, and skip lotion, deodorant and perfume until 24 hours after your spray tan appointment. Our prep and aftercare guide covers what to do before you arrive, which matters just as much.
Day 1: Your First Rinse
Rinse with lukewarm water only. No soap, no body wash, no scrubbing. If you chose Malibu, the cosmetic bronzer rinses away and your real colour is underneath. Clear has no bronzer, so there is nothing visible to rinse off and the colour simply keeps developing. Pat dry with a towel rather than rubbing, then apply a lightweight, alcohol-free moisturizer all over.
Day 2: Lock In the Moisture
This is the day that decides how long your tan lasts. Moisturize morning and night with a fragrance-free, oil-free lotion. Dry skin sheds faster, and every skin cell you shed takes colour with it. Hydrated skin holds colour longer, and that is the entire mechanism behind aftercare.
Days 3 to 5: Gentle Cleansing Only
You can use body wash again, but keep it mild. No exfoliating cleansers, no loofahs, no scrubs, nothing with beads. Long hot showers strip colour, so keep them short and warm. Keep moisturizing twice a day, and give a little extra to any area that starts looking dry.
Days 6 to 7: The Fade Begins
Colour goes first where skin is thickest and driest: hands, wrists, ankles, elbows and feet. That is normal and not a sign anything went wrong. Keep moisturizing and resist the urge to scrub the fading spots, because scrubbing unevenly is what turns a soft fade into a patchy one. If it has already gone patchy, our guide on fixing a patchy spray tan walks through it.
What Should You Not Do After a Spray Tan?
Avoid anything that exfoliates or strips: no waxing, no harsh scrubs, no loofahs, no oil-based products, and no long stretches in chlorinated pools or hot tubs. Skip long hot showers and heavy sweating on the first day. Every one of these speeds up how fast your skin sheds, and your tan sheds along with it.
How Many Days After a Spray Tan Does It Look Best?
Days 2 and 3 are usually peak. The colour has fully developed, it has settled evenly into your skin, and it has not started fading yet. If you are timing a tan for a wedding, a shoot or an event, book 2 to 3 days ahead rather than the day before.
How Often Should You Rebook?
Every 7 to 10 days suits most people, or every 5 to 7 days if you want continuous colour with no visible fade in between. Exfoliate gently between sessions so your next tan has an even canvas to develop on. There is more detail in our guide on how often to get a spray tan.
Aftercare is not complicated, it is just consistent. Stay dry for the first 6 to 8 hours, moisturize daily, and keep the scrubs away until you are ready to start again. Book your next automated spray tan at TANNED TO in Toronto and keep the glow going.
