Before getting in to what to do before your spray tan there are some things that would prevent you having a tan at all. Do not book a spray tan if you have any cuts, wounds, rashes, recent (unhealed) tattoos, piercings etc. Nor can you be tanned if you are in the first trimester of pregnancy. Serious acne is also a contra-indication as the tan can irritate it. Obviously the odd spot here or there is not a problem. Some skin pigment disorders can end up looking even more obvious after a tan. This is hardly life threatening, but you need to be aware of the possibility.
More important are things like asthma or other respiratory disorders. Normally these are not ‘show stoppers’ but it would be wise to speak to your doctor first. Definitely you will need to have your inhaler with you. You should also wear a mask and not stay in the tanning area for any longer than is necessary. This will minimise the number of tiny particles you inhale.
A very small percentage of people (roughly one in 50,000) are allergic, or at least hypersensitive, to DHA, the active ingredient in spray tanning solutions. If you have never had a spray tan before or it has been a while and you are generally prone to allergies, then you need to do a patch test 24 hours before a full tan. This involves nothing more than putting a small drop of solution behind the ear or in the crook of the arm. If there is no reaction you are good to go. Wash it off speedily if there is.
What to do (and what not to do) before your tan.
Avoid shaving or waxing for 24 hours before your tan.
Exfoliate with a gentle exfoliant before your tan. Do not scrub your skin raw.
Avoid makeup, deodorant and moisturisers on the day of your tan
Do not have a hot bath or sauna immediately before your tan
Remove any jewelry before your tan and make sure you have somewhere to keep it, or better just leave it at home.
Make sure you have some loose fitting (ideally dark) cloths to wear after your tan.
You will need to fill in the consultation form (which you can download here to save time on the day if you wish) and we are good to go.
This page can be downloaded as a PDF file here