Self Tanning Questions

How To Self-Tan Your Back? (With or Without a Friend)

Written by: Anastasija

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While self-tanner can look really natural, professional and give you beachy vibes all-year-round, it can be a struggle to apply at times, especially to your back. If you always fear the process of applying self-tanner to your back, fear not! Here are some tips and tricks to apply self-tanner to your back.

How to self-tan your back?

Self-tanning you back is a difficult process, and many people skip it altogether to avoid frustration. If you are someone who struggles to self-tan your back and is looking for a solution, there are various tips and tricks to achieve this.

  • Prepare: just like self-tanning any other part of your body, always prepare your back for self-tanning beforehand. Make sure to exfoliate well as the back is often one of the oiliest areas on the body, so this step will make a big difference.
  • Use a tool: there are specific tools to help you when self-tanning your back, and we will talk more about them later. They’re quite affordable and can make a big difference when it comes to your self-tanning routine, especially if your on your own with no-one to help you.
  • Consider pressure: although it sounds quite irrelevant, bear in mind how much pressure you are using when blending out the fake tan on your back. It can be easy to forget about being gentle and too much pressure can smudge the fake tan you’ve already applied and make it streaky rather than blend it.
  • Pay attention to streaks: if you’re not planning to show your back any time soon, it can be tempting to just slap on some self-tanner and ignore the streaks and patchiness, but this is something you should avoid. It’s worth ensuring your back has a good, even tan to prevent an awkward situation when your back is showing in the future.
  • Fix things straight away: always look in a mirror after you’ve finished applying self-tanner to your back, to check for any streaks or marks. It’s better to fix or blend these mistakes straight away rather than later on when it will be much harder.

how to apply self tanner on back

If you’re looking for some more detailed ideas on how to apply self-tanner to your back, here they are!

Call a friend or a partner

Perhaps the easiest way to apply self-tanner to your back is with a friend or someone else to help you. You may find that, no matter how hard you try or how many different methods you use, it’s practically impossible to self-tan your back by yourself.

When you ask a friend to help you self-tan your back, it can be very useful for them to have a full range of motion to do so. Even if you do manage to self-tan your back yourself, it can be hard to see exactly what you’re doing and how well you have blended it, etc.

This is probably the best method if you want to avoid any streaks or patchiness, as you can be confident that the other person will apply the right amount of pressure, not pressing so hard that the tan is smudged. If you’re wondering, this is actually quite hard to control when tanning your own back, as you are just focusing on reaching there.

Not to mention, they can see exactly what they’re doing, and where more product needs to go.

Use a self-tanning back applicator

Despite the fact that it’s the easiest and most effective option, not everyone has a friend or partner to come over at short notice, or you might not be comfortable with that, which is okay too. You’ll be relieved to hear that there are other options!

There is actually a product that is made for self-tanning your back, which is a self-tanner applicator. They are made of a long stick with a padded section at the end for applying the self-tanner.

Just like a mitt, you use them to blend the self-tanner into your skin for a natural, streak-free finish. Because the stick is longer than your arm, it gives you more access to your back and even other areas on your body.

Tanning_Mitt
My tanning mitt

In terms of precision, a stick applicator is more accurate when trying to fix a certain area or spot. At the same time, it’s more difficult to blend with, as you must hold it at an awkward angle.

If you are looking to buy a self-tanner back applicator, here are some recommendations:

Bondi Sands Self-Tanning Back Applicator | Easy-to-Use Device Promotes Healthy, Glowing, Streak-Free Tan | Includes 1 Applicator and Spare Pads
2,425 Reviews
Bondi Sands Self-Tanning Back Applicator | Easy-to-Use Device Promotes Healthy, Glowing, Streak-Free Tan | Includes 1 Applicator and Spare Pads
  • This back applicator is ideal for easily applying self-tanner on hard to reach areas from head to toe
  • Extend the handle; Apply lotion or foam to either side of the back applicator; Use long vertical strokes

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Skinerals Back Wand and Pad Parent (Back Wand including pad)
401 Reviews
Skinerals Back Wand and Pad Parent (Back Wand including pad)
  • 🌟 Extended Reach for Self Tanner Application: This user-friendly back wand is designed for those hard-to-reach areas, ensuring your natural self tanner or tanning mousse is applied evenly across your entire back.
  • 🙌 Perfect Pair for Self Tanner Mousse: The Skinerals pad works seamlessly with various formulations, including self tanner mousse, making it versatile and effective.

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Use a non-absorbent band

As well as self-tanning back applicators, you can use a non-absorbent band, which is another back self-tanning solution. It looks like a long piece of material and you can hold it on either side.

Unlike the stick applicator, you can use a non-absorbent band to blend the product into your back very easily. It is less precise but is more likely to produce a softer, smoother blend than with an applicator.

If you struggle to reach behind your back with a stick applicator, a non-absorbent band will be easier to use, as it has handles on either side which you hold with each hand and use it to rub up and down your back.

If you are looking for a self-tanner applicator band, below are some worth trying:

Skinerals Microfiber Back Applicator Mitt Band, Back Self Tanner and Body Lotion Applicator Band, Black
771 Reviews
Skinerals Microfiber Back Applicator Mitt Band, Back Self Tanner and Body Lotion Applicator Band, Black
  • APPLY SELF TANNER CONSISTENTLY - Use the Skinerals Back Applicator Band to apply self tanner to your back effortlessly and consistently; This tanning applicator band is perfect for sunless tanner, as well as sunscreen, body lotions, ointments, gels, and more
  • GET THOSE HARD-TO-REACH PLACES - This easy-to-use back applicator allows you to cover every area on your body all by yourself; Prevent stained hands and reach those hard-to-reach spots on your back for a perfectly even sunless tan

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Back Lotion Applicators Self Tanning Lotion Applicators For Your Back, Self Tanner Applicator Band Easily Apply Lotions and Tanner, Perfect Companion For Tanning Mitt
114 Reviews
Back Lotion Applicators Self Tanning Lotion Applicators For Your Back, Self Tanner Applicator Band Easily Apply Lotions and Tanner, Perfect Companion For Tanning Mitt
  • 1. 【 An Applicator Specially Designed for Back 】 The back lotion applicator with two easy-to-grip handle that help you apply the lotion evenly to hard-to-reach part of your body. You can easily finish the work of applying lotion, mousses, and creams by yourself. It can be used not only to apply tanning lotions, sunscreens in summer, but also to apply moisturizing body lotions in winter.
  • 2. 【 Less Absorption and No Streaks 】 The surface of the back applicator is very comfortable and soft, so the lotion is better held and does not drip easily. Due to its special non-absorbent materials on the back side, our applicators absorb very less lotion. The edge of the applicator will less rub your skin to help you apply lotions evenly and smoothly. No streaks and stained hands.We recommend that you apply lotion as soon as possible to your back after pouring the lotion on this applicator.

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How can you check if you applied self-tanner evenly on your back?

After you’ve spent lots of effort self-tanning your back, it’s good to know if you’ve done so evenly or not. Unlike your arms or your legs, you can’t just see your back automatically, but you should still check to see if it is even.

The first way to do this is to ask a friend, again, if possible.

Another way to check, if you’re on your own, is with a mirror. You can either position your body in front of a full-length mirror and twist to see your back. If not, stand in front of a mirror and use a handheld mirror and move it around behind you to see different areas of your back through the mirror in front of you.

If you notice that your back is patchy or streaky, now is the time to top it up and fix it.

Even if you don’t think people will see your back, it’s important to apply the self-tanner evenly as you don’t want to end up in a situation where your back is showing, and it’s covered in streaks.

Final thoughts

There are different ways to self-tan your back, even if you don’t have someone to help you. If you can apply self-tanner properly to your back, your whole body will appear more even and natural.

About Anastasija

Welcome to my website! I'm Anastasija, and as a redhead with a sensitivity to the sun, I embarked on a quest to find the perfect sunless tanner six years ago.

After extensive research and four years of personal experience, I'm here to share my wealth of tips and tricks for achieving a beautiful, sun-kissed glow.

Whether you're interested in self-tanners, spray tans, or safe sun exposure, this website covers it all.

Join me as I provide valuable insights and guidance for various methods of getting that desired tan.

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