Spray tans are the perfect fix for your lighter skin or the shortcut to your dream summer glow, but there are things you should know about them too. For example, you may be experiencing irritation, streaks, or anything else which makes you want to remove your spray tan, so read on to find out how to get your spray tan off.
How long does a spray tan stay on the skin?
There are different types and techniques when it comes to a spray tan, and these can affect how long the spray tan will last.
It also varies between person to person and your lifestyle, as there are many different factors to consider. For example, water is known to make a spray tan fade slightly faster, so spending lots of time in the sea or ocean will most likely result in your tan lasting for a shorter time.
Not to mention, spray tans only absorb into the top layers of your skin, so as these cells are naturally ‘turned over’, the tan fades, and this rate of cell turnover varies between different people.
Here are the different type of spray tans and approximately how long they stay on for:
- HVLP (high volume / low pressure) systems – up to 10 days
- LVLP (low volume / low pressure) systems – up to 10 days
- Airbrush spray gun tan machine – 4-10 days
- Spray tanning booths – 28-30 days
- BUNDLE INCLUDES: Norvell M-1000 HVLP Mobile Spray System; Norvell Tanning Handheld Solutions - Tuscan Plus 8oz, Venetian 8oz and Dark 8oz; Norvell Training Program.
- PROFESSIONAL #1 BRAND: Norvell Sunless Rated #1 Professional Sunless Tanning Brand by Professional Spray Tan Artists/Technicians October 2017 (Research conducted by Fieldwork/Webwork International Inc., a global leading market research company).
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How do you get a spray tan off the body?
Before your next spray tan appointment, you want to remove your spray tan from your body so that the next one can have a smooth application and optimum results. Removing the spray tan before your next appointment is more important than you may think, as any excess from your previous job may interfere with the next one and this can result in streaks and patchiness.
Also read:
How Long Before & After Spray Tan Can You Shower? (Guide)
If you have smudged your spray tan before you rinsed it, or found patchiness or streaks anywhere on your body, you may be wanting to remove it and have it re-applied. This is probably the best approach to problems like this, so it’s useful to know how to remove the tan from your body – here are some methods:
Method #1: lemon juice
The acidic properties of the lemon juice in this recipe can help to dissolve the colour of the spray tan, and it’s very cheap, fast, and convenient – you can get these ingredients anywhere.
- Start by mixing some lemon juice and baking soda together in a bowl – enough to cover the area in which you are wishing to remove the spray tan. You can also use baby oil instead of baking soda.
- Use this paste to apply all over the body or wherever you’d like to use it.
- Leave it on for 5 minutes.
- Wipe the mixture off with a cleansing wipe or makeup wipe and rinse in the shower.
Method #2: hair removal cream
Do you know those hair removal creams that dissolve the hair on your legs, arms, and rest of the body? Well, now you can use it to remove a dodgy spray tan:
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- Get some hair removal cream – I recommend the Veet hair removal gel cream.
- Effectively removes hair in as little as five minutes
- Sensitive formula with Aloe Vera and Vitamin E to leave skin feeling moisturized
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- Apply the hair removal cream to areas where you wish to remove the spray tan, keeping in mind that this will remove the hair in this area too, so be prepared for that.
- Follow the instructions on your product and leave it on for the recommended time.
- Wipe the hair removal cream off and discover your spray tan has gone too!
- It’s best to shower after removing this as the products often have a very chemical-like smell, which can be quite unpleasant.
How do you get a spray tan off the face?
The face is made up of much more delicate and sensitive skin than the rest of the body, so it’s incredibly important that you remain gentle and keep this in mind when removing spray tan from your face. Because of this difference, you’ll want to use different methods to remove the spray tan, but it is still possible, nevertheless.
As you wash your face more often than other parts of the body, it will most likely fade much faster, so you could always wait it out for a few days if you’re prepared to do so. If not, here is an idea:
Method #1: coconut oil
Coconut oil is known to be good for so many things, and it both removes the spray tan, and also nourishes your skin in this method. If you are wishing to remove the spray tan from your entire face, this is the best option.
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- Mix together 2-3 tablespoons of baking soda with ¼ cup of coconut oil in a bowl.
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- Add this mixture to the face, making sure to spread it evenly over the entire area, like a face mask.
- Let it absorb into your skin for a few minutes.
- Wash the paste off with a washcloth and follow by a thorough face wash.
Method #2: chemical exfoliator
The idea of a chemical exfoliator may sound daunting, but it’s actually better for your skin that a manual exfoliator, such as a scrub. This method is the best for removing a spray tan when it’s started fading or there are certain areas that need to be smoothed out.
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- Get yourself a chemical exfoliator. These come in different forms, but something like an exfoliating toner with AHAs or another treatment is good. It can be in the form of wipes, a solution, or a masque.
- One Step Toner Pads: Exfoliate and hydrate your skin in one step with the multitasking facial toner pads. The multi-beneficial pads will help remove dirt, impurities, and makeup residue from the skin while delivering moisture.
- Must Have Skincare: The hypoallergenic pads help smoothen and moisturize your skin without causing irritation to leave it in the best condition for applying additional skincare products. Contains 70 pads and a tweezer for hygienic maintenance.
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- Follow the instructions for your specific product – they all work differently so have a look at the packaging. Be careful not to be too harsh on your skin.
- Wash your face afterward and continue with your regular skincare regime and your spray tan will be much less visible than before.
How do you get a spray tan off hands?
The hands can be a nightmare when it comes to any form of sunless tanning, as the product always stick oddly and in specific areas, due to the uneven skin texture. Removing spray tan from the hands is different from the rest of the body because the skin is quite different, so other methods may not work as well.
Just like your face, you wash your hands a lot (more than the rest of your body), so you might notice that the spray tan fades quicker there anyway so, if you’re worried about how to get it off your hands, there is always the option of waiting it out for a day or two and, even then, the colour will have faded noticeably.
Method #1: swimming
If you aren’t interested in spending all your time removing your spray tan from your hands (or feet!), swimming or taking a soak in the bathtub are two very good options. You may be wondering how this works, but essentially water helps spray tan fade, and this takes place fastest on the hands and feet. The swimming pool is especially effective, as the chlorine also plays a part in this.
Just take a swim or soak and the longer you stay in the swimming pool/bath, the more effective it will be. Doing so more than once will also offer more effective results.
Method #2: teeth-whitening toothpaste
The ingredients in teeth-whitening toothpaste can also help to lighten your skin when it comes to a spray tan. As these products are designed to clean your teeth, they can also ‘clean’ your body of spray tan. Using this method on small areas or specific patches of a spray tan is the best option.
- Take a teeth-whitening and apply some to an unused toothbrush (which you won’t ever be able to use on your teeth) as you would if you were to brush your teeth.
- Make small circular motions to scrub the spray tan off in the small areas you wish, such as between the fingers.
- Leave the toothpaste for 10 minutes to work on the skin.
- Rinse off and continue with your day, minus patchy spray tan on your hands and feet!
How do you get a spray tan off feet?
Just like the hands, the feet can be a spray tan disaster in some cases, as the skin texture around there varies so greatly, and therefore the colour sticks more in different places. This isn’t always the case, but it is certainly a possibility, so knowing how to remove the spray tan around your ankles and feet is very useful.
Remember, you want to be careful when removing a spray tan from the feet, especially the ankles, as these areas join up to the legs, and that can result in an obvious spray tan if you make this transition too harsh. Basically, you want to make sure that there is still a natural-looking blend between your feet or ankles and the bottom of your leg to avoid an even worse situation.
To be honest, you can use the same methods on your feet as you can on your hands, and making use of the bath or swimming pool will work well too!
Also read:
How to Remove Spray Tan from Toenails (Nail Polish?)
Final thoughts
There are different methods for removing spray tan from different parts of the body, and it is valuable information to know in case you find yourself in an awkward spray tan situation. The biggest thing to remember when removing your spray tan is to be gentle, and don’t damage the skin as excessive scrubbing or buffing can do so. Take care of your skin through this process and all will be fine!
