Your glow should not disappear faster than your last vacation photo. When you step out of the tent with fresh South Seas color, the next few days are where the real magic happens. With the right spray tan aftercare, your sunless tan can stay radiant for about a week or longer, because you are working with your skin’s natural renewal cycle instead of fighting it.
Imagine this as your daily ritual. Soft skin, a subtle tropical scent, and a rich, even color that looks like you just landed in Tahiti, even if you are heading to yoga or school drop-off. Your spray tan aftercare routine is where that island glow becomes a lifestyle, not just a one day moment.
Why After-Care Makes All the Difference
A spray tan works because DHA, the active tanning ingredient, reacts with amino acids in the outermost layer of your skin to create that bronzed color. Those surface cells naturally shed over about seven to ten days, so anything that speeds up dryness or exfoliation will make your color fade faster or look patchy.
Hydration is the foundation of great spray tan aftercare. Dermatologists regularly highlight that applying moisturiser right after bathing and avoiding very hot water helps lock in moisture and support your skin barrier. When you keep skin supple and nourished, your tan fades more slowly and more evenly.
This is where clean, hydrating body care becomes your secret weapon. Vegan, paraben-free formulas like South Seas Monoï de Tahiti Lotion and Monoï de Tahiti Body Butter wrap your skin in coconut and Tahitian oils, so your glow looks smoother, softer, and more “just got back from the islands”.
What is spray tan aftercare?
Spray tan aftercare is the daily routine you follow after your appointment to keep your color even and glowing. A simple routine is to wait the recommended time before showering, use lukewarm water and gentle cleanser, moisturize once or twice a day with a tan safe, oil free lotion, avoid harsh exfoliation for several days, and protect your skin from long chlorine sessions or heavy sweating. These steps help prolong a sunless tan and prevent patchy fading.
Step 1 – Wait Before Showering
Right after your spray tan, the solution is still developing on your skin. Most pros recommend waiting at least six to eight hours before your first rinse, and sometimes overnight, depending on your formula and artist instructions.
During this window:
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Avoid showering, swimming, and sweating heavily. Moisture can cause streaks while the tan is still setting.
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Skip lotions, perfumes, and deodorants on the areas that were tanned.
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Wear loose, breathable fabrics so nothing rubs off unevenly.
When it is time to shower, choose lukewarm water instead of very hot water. Hot water can strip moisture and speed up fading, while warm water is kinder to your skin barrier.
Step 2 – Moisturize Daily (and Generously)
After your first shower, moisturizing becomes the heartbeat of your spray tan aftercare routine. Hydrated skin holds color longer and looks more luminous, and many spray tan studios advise moisturizing at least once or twice a day to prolong a sunless tan.
Focus on:
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Applying lotion morning and night.
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Paying extra attention to dry spots like elbows, knees, ankles, and hands.
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Choosing formulas made without heavy oils, drying alcohol, or harsh fragrance that can interfere with your tan.
For Wellness Erin, this is where your clean beauty values and your glow meet. South Seas Monoï de Tahiti Lotion is a lightweight tan extender lotion that nourishes with coconut and Tahitian oils, while the richer Body Butter cocoons dry skin at night. Both are vegan, cruelty-free, and paraben-free, so you can moisturize often without worrying about harsh ingredients.
Apply right after showering, when your skin is still slightly damp, to help lock in water that your skin just absorbed.
Step 3 – Skip Harsh Exfoliants Until It Is Time
Right after your tan, anything that scrubs or shaves away surface cells will also remove color. Many spray tan guides recommend avoiding exfoliating products and hair removal for at least several days so your tan has time to develop and settle.
In the first four to five days:
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Avoid body scrubs, exfoliating mitts, and strong acids on the body.
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Keep shaving minimal and gentle, since razors act like exfoliants.
Then, once your glow starts to soften, gentle exfoliation helps your spray tan wear off smoothly instead of in random patches. A mild body scrub used in light circular motions can encourage an even fade and prep your skin for your next appointment.
If you use a coffee or sugar based scrub, think of it as a “goodbye glow” ritual for the last couple of days, rather than something you do right away.
Step 4 – Protect Your Tan From Chlorine and Sweat
Water is not the enemy of your tan, but certain kinds of water exposure can be hard on both your skin and your color. Chlorine and salt water are known to be drying, and many spray tan specialists note that they can cause faster fading or patchiness if you are in the water for long periods.
To protect your glow:
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Avoid long pool or hot tub sessions in the first 48 hours after your tan.
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If you swim, rinse off with fresh water as soon as you can.
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Pat skin dry and reapply your tan extender lotion to bring back softness.
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Keep hot yoga and intense sweaty workouts to a minimum right after your session, since heavy sweat can break up the developing color.
Think of this as giving your tan time to “settle in” before you dive back into your usual routine.
Step 5 – Extend the Glow With Tan Enhancing Products
If you love that first or second day color, tan enhancing products are your best friend. Many spray tan studios and beauty writers suggest using gradual self tanning lotions or mists mid week to refresh your shade and help prolong a sunless tan between full sessions.
You can:
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Mist on a light layer of your favorite sunless spray, such as a Tahitian inspired body mist, once your original tan is fully developed.
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Use your daily tan extender lotion to soften any areas that start to look slightly lighter or drier than the rest of your body.
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Keep your skin care routine consistent, instead of skipping moisturiser one day and over applying the next.
For Wellness Erin, this is about balance. You get the look of a fresh tan while staying aligned with vegan, clean, body loving ingredients and mindful routines.
Quick Tan Saving Tips
These little habits make a big difference when you want to maintain a spray tan as long as possible:
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Sleep on dark sheets the first night to avoid marks on lighter linens.
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Pat, do not rub, when you dry off after a shower.
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Choose loose, breathable fabrics instead of tight seams that can rub color off.
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Drink plenty of water each day so you are hydrating from the inside out.
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Keep a travel size lotion in your bag so you can reapply on the go, especially to hands after frequent washing.
If you ever feel unsure, remember that your goal is simple. Be kind to your skin, and your tan will repay you with a smoother, softer fade.
Spray Tan Aftercare FAQs
How do I make my spray tan last longer?
To prolong a sunless tan, wait the recommended time before showering, keep showers short and lukewarm, use a gentle sulfate free body wash, moisturize once or twice daily with an oil free, tan safe lotion, avoid harsh exfoliation for several days, and limit long sessions in chlorinated water or very hot environments.
What should I use after a spray tan?
Reach for hydrating, non oily, vegan body lotions and butters that support your skin barrier. South Seas Aftercare Collection includes Monoï de Tahiti Lotion and Body Butter, which are designed to nourish your skin daily while helping your color look smooth and radiant.
Can I moisturize right after tanning?
You will usually be asked to avoid any products until after your first rinse, since lotion can interfere with the tan while it is developing. Once you have showered and your skin is dry, moisturizing becomes essential for keeping your glow even and hydrated. Always follow the timing your technician recommends for your specific formula.
Which products help prevent patchy fading?
Consistent, gentle hydration makes the biggest difference. Using a tan extender lotion like Monoï de Tahiti Lotion every day, plus a richer butter at night on dry spots, helps your spray tan fade in a more controlled, even way instead of breaking up into dry patches. Add gentle exfoliation only near the end of your tan’s life to encourage a smooth reset.
Keep Your Island Glow Going
Your spray tan is the start. Your aftercare routine is the story you tell every morning and every evening when you step into the shower, reach for your lotion, and choose to care for your skin with intention.
With a few mindful habits, clean, hydrating formulas, and vegan tan extender lotion that feels like a mini tropical escape, you can keep that South Seas glow going day after day. Explore the full Aftercare Collection and make Monoï de Tahiti Lotion and Body Butter part of your daily ritual so your island inspired tan always looks as radiant as you feel.