To be honest, we have all been there! Hands are probably the hardest to tan, I’m always worried that mousse is going to stick on my knuckles, and don’t even get me started on the wrists! So, I decided to write about how to get rid of self-tanner from hands.
Let’s start with what we can do to avoid all of this before even applying self-tanner.
Contents
You can either be careful when applying self-tanner in general, or you can learn a few tricks and tips on how to remove it after it’s already settled in.
How to get rid of self-tanner from hands?
First, I would suggest asking yourself where you made a mistake so you can avoid doing it again. I personally sometimes forget to apply self-tan on some parts of my hands and I really don’t know how this happens, but it does. I wake up in the morning, I see a pale spot, and I have no idea how I managed to forget to tan that exact part.
If that happens, you can put just a little bit of mousse on the application mitt, go over that pale spot, and just cover it.
If you had an accident and the self-tan was either patchy or you used too much of it, you can use a self-tan eraser, which multiple brands sell. Bondi Sands is my number one self-tanner or St. Tropez. Apply it to your hands, wait five minutes, and then gently start scrubbing it off.
- Bondi Sands Body Scrub has an oil free formulation that is self tan friendly
- Contains naturally derived exfoliants including Australian sand and sea salt to gently buff away dull dead skin cells
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I don’t think all of it will come off instantly, just because the application is still fresh; usually, you need to wait at least three days before starting to take the self-tanner off, but it will come off, just be careful and don’t be too aggressive.
- Natural looking guide color
- Wash hands after application
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My recommended self-tanning process
Moisturize
Firstly, I would recommend actually moisturizing your wrists and the top of your hands. I personally use my lotion on all of the dry parts on my body such as ankles, knees, shoulders, and underarms. I firstly start at the bottom, which is the right way to apply self-tanner; always start on the bottom and continue your way to the top of your body.
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Then, before I start applying self-tanner on my hands, I moisturize my wrists and hands and I take off the excess lotion from my palms. However, to be honest with you, it’s great if you leave just a little bit of lotion on your palms because I found that the grip is far better if you put on a little bit of lotion onto your palms when using an application mitt.
One time, I actually forgot to apply lotion on my palms, and I figured that out because my tanning mitt was slipping off my hands like crazy.
Application
Back to self-tanning your hands: so, after you apply the lotion (it doesn’t have to be a humongous amount, just as much as you need to cover your palms), you start with the wrists and then continue with a circular motion to your shoulders.
When you’re done, you don’t really have to take another squirt of the self-tanning mousse, you just go over your hands with what’s left on your tanning mitt. If you see you already used all that was on your mitt, then put on a half squirt, really the smallest squirt, and start in the middle of your forearm and continue to the top of your hands.
- a tan mitt that helps create the most awesome tan in the world, without the nasty orange fake tan hands. no excuses!
- use this mitt when applying your tan. it will stop your hands looking like you have pigged out on doritos, while helping you get that awesome dark, streak-free tan!
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Just make sure there is no excess on your hand because the next day they will look crazy!
When applying self-tan on your hands, you can quickly swipe the top of your palms and then what I do is go in between my fingers, then I swipe the tan over my fingers and I do the “chicken” fingers, which means you bend your fingers and then go over your knuckles, just so your hands don’t look like a zebra.
When you’re done, you can use a baby wipe and go gently over your palms, just so you get rid of any tan on your palms.
What I also like to do is go gently, really gently over my knuckles, because the tan has a way of sticking on the knuckles; I have no idea why, but that’s the one thing that separates you from a natural sun-kissed tan, your knuckles.
This is how we prevent tan from getting weird on our hands, with precise application. I always use my mitt, but I know some girls do prefer using a brush. I tried that one time, but I was too slow. I don’t even know how to use a brush on my face when applying makeup, so I’m not really surprised that I didn’t like using the brush on my hands.
Also read:
How to Apply Self Tanner Without a Mitt? (Different Choices)
Conclusion
If you can, be careful when applying self-tanner in the first place. It can happen that you miss a spot sometimes or to put too much of it on, especially if you’re new to this, but just be careful and use as little self-tan as possible when it comes to the top of your hands.
When applying self-tanner, don’t forget to go between your fingers and do the chicken fingers or a claw-like we discussed.
If you somehow missed a spot or overdid the self-tan, don’t worry, it has happened to all of us at some point; just make sure you use the right products to get it off and try not to be so aggressive towards your skin; always be gentle.
How to Take Off Self Tanner Quickly? (My Favorite Methods)