The Perfect DIY Spray Tan – Without the Orange

Prep The Night Before

Prepping for a spray tan ahead of time goes a long way in making your tan look natural and non-orange. It’s very important that the day before you plan to tan, that you take a shower, shave, and exfoliate. After your shower, put lotion on your skin. Do not, under any circumstances, put on deodorant.

The day of the big tanning event, do not put on lotion or deodorant. Why? Because the chemicals in these two items can have a reaction with the ingredients in the spray, and turn you a grungy shade of green. Grinch green sounds worse than nacho cheese orange, and is a major beauty buster.

Protecting Your Hands and Feet

If orange is going to happen, it’s most likely going to happen on your hands and feet. You can get an amazingly natural looking tan and have the whole effect ruined by blotchy off-colored hands. Avoid the orange telltale signs of a spray on tan by using a special cream made just for this purpose. Ask your local tanning salon to suggest a product or purchase this barrell cream directly from them. This type of product is a must have in preventing discoloring of these two orange prone spots.

Avoid The Machine

While many DIYers thinking buying a spray tan machine for their home is a good investment, it’s more like a beauty nightmare. The inexpensive versions for home are famous for leaving people blotchy, streaky, and with an unsexy orangey skin tone. Skip the at home tanning machine if you haven’t already bought, and skip the orange blotch.

Going For It

If you are using a new product for the first time, always test out your tanning product on a small inconspicuous spot before applying it to your entire body. Trying to go too dark will turn you orange, guaranteed. By testing the product on your upper thigh or behind, you can make sure the shade is right for your skin tone.

Following the manufacturer’s instructions, apply the product evenly where you want to add tan. After applying the spray, avoid rubbing it in directly with your hands, and instead use a special mitt or glove made just for this purpose. After double-checking that you didn’t miss a spot (double check elbows and the back of your knee), and that you wiped up any runs and streaks, allow the product to air dry. Afterwards, wear only loose dark fitting clothes, as light colored clothing can get stained. Do not take a shower for at least eight hours making sure you shower before bed to avoid staining your sheets.