I have clients that leave the spray tan solution on for 4-5 hours and then rinse before bed. I have clients who leave their fresh spray tan on overnight before they shower. Either one is just fine as long as you are happy with the resulting color. If you’re craving a tan though, the good news is that you don't need to risk damaging your skin to achieve a subtle, believable bronze, as face tanning drops are an easy and effective way to get some golden colour. No, the DHA, which is the active ingredient in the in-shower self-tanner and normal self-tanners, reacts with the outer layer of dead cells on the skin. It stains this outer layer, and this only fades after a week or so. Application-wise, the same rules apply as with regular tan for the most natural-looking finish. It’s best if you buff away any dry patches with an exfoliator the day before to make sure you have a smooth canvas. “Don't however use any moisturiser beforehand or products in the shower with oil in them,” says Jimmy.

The above is also true for your first shower after a self-tanning mousse or lotion that contains a bronzer.

Are gradual self-tanners better?

By what type of spray tan, we mean the brand and whether or not it was a standard ‘9-hour development tan’ or the latest innovation in spray tanning, the ‘ express tan‘.

An in-shower self-tanner is a product that lets you achieve a sunless tan while in the shower. It is lotion like other self-tanners, but it gives you the opportunity to achieve your tan in a warm shower. Whether you're looking to outsmart British summertime, which skews cloudy at the best of times, or you just prefer to faux your glow year-round, gradual tan is an essential step for a dewy, next-to-natural finish. It is an in-shower scrub that gently exfoliates the skin to prepare it for an improved color absorption. Using some shower gels with self tan too soon after application can even affect how the self tan develops on the skin, in the most extreme cases resulting in a tan that develops an undesirable shade, meaning you have to spend time then trying to scrub away the original tan to begin again. Therefore using a shower gel that has been especially designed for use on self tanned skin is more important than you may think in terms of ensuring your tan looks its best and lasts as long as possible. My shopping list of recommended body washes for before and after your spray tan are listed below. First Shower After A Spray TanIf you are looking at your spray tan and think – “my word, this is brown”, don’t worry; it’s just a colour guide so your beauty therapist doesn’t miss a bit. You’ll end up just as brown as what you asked for. If you are worried about it developing too dark, wash it off half the time, and you’ll be half as brown! To ensure an even tan, squeeze 2-6 drops into the palm of your hand, then sweep around your face using your fingers as you would your serum. Choosing the best Shower Gel with self tan has just been made a lot easier, thanks to For All My Eternity Tan Saving Shower Gel. This unique shower gel has been specifically developed for use on self tanned skin, meaning it won’t strip the colour from the skin, nor any natural oils. Our Tan Saving Shower Gel instead helps to care for your existing self tan and extend your glow, perfect for getting the most out of every application of self tan.

Your spray tan artist will tell you how long you need to wait till your first shower after your spray tan.Or do you have a darker skin tone or are going on a vacation and looking for some beach color? Then leaving the sunless product overnight could be your sweet spot. If you are new to sunless tanning feel free to EXPERIMENT with your spray tan artist or your self-tanning mousse to find out what works BEST FOR YOU and your skin. The salon in which your spray tan is applied will probably tell you how long you are to leave your colour guide on. The colour guide is the brown spray left on your skin after using the tan.