"How long do spray tans last?" As a spray tan artist, it's essential to educate your clients on how to extend the life of their tan. While some solutions may only last a few days, NUDA’s high-quality ingredients ensure a beautiful, long-lasting tan that can endure for 10-14 days with proper care. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you and your clients achieve and maintain the perfect sunless glow.
The Importance of Preparation
Proper preparation is the key to a successful spray tan. Educate your clients about the critical steps they need to take before their appointment to ensure the best results.
Exfoliation is the most crucial step in preparing the skin for a spray tan. Sunless tanning products interact with the amino acids in the skin’s outermost layer, so it's vital that this layer consists of fresh, live skin cells. Proper exfoliation creates a smooth base, allowing the spray tan to adhere evenly and last longer.
Exfoliation Tips:
- Clients should exfoliate their skin one to two days before their session.
- A simple soap or loofa won’t suffice; recommend using an exfoliating mitt and a quality body exfoliant.
- Avoid exfoliating on the day of the session to prevent residues and open pores.
Focus on Rough Areas:
Encourage your clients to pay special attention to rough areas such as the tops of the feet, heels, ankles, elbows, armpits, knuckles, and collarbones. These areas shed skin cells more quickly and need thorough exfoliation to prevent uneven fading.
Consequences of Poor Exfoliation:
If exfoliation isn’t done correctly, the spray tan may fade unevenly or disappear prematurely, often in blotchy patches. NUDA products are designed to fade gradually and evenly when the skin is properly exfoliated.
Activities and Habits to Avoid
Certain activities and habits can cause a spray tan to fade prematurely. Advise your clients to avoid the following to maximize their tan’s longevity:
- Excessive sweating while sleeping.
- Exposure to seawater, heat, pools, and sand. While spray tanning is ideal before a trip, these elements can shorten the tan’s lifespan.
- Jacuzzis and saunas.
- High-intensity physical activities like spinning and hot yoga that cause excessive sweating.
- Long baths or showers.
Products and Ingredients to Avoid
To ensure a long-lasting, even tan, your clients need to avoid certain products and ingredients that can negatively affect the spray tan.
Avoid Products with High Levels of:
- Mineral oils
- Petroleum
- Perfume
- Alcohol
- Sulfate
Many ingredients found in common creams, soaps, and body washes can cause the tan to fade quickly and patchily.
Specific Products to Avoid:
- Creamy bar soaps or body washes (e.g., Dove): These can cause streaking and fading, and may even turn the tan orange due to altering the skin’s pH. Recommend using gel-based soaps like the Nuda Body Wash.
- Sunscreen: Essential but avoid products with lots of oil, alcohol, or perfume. Aerosol sunscreens can be especially drying.
- Anti-acne products: These often exfoliate and dry the skin, leading to a quicker fading of the tan. Avoid products containing AHAs and salicylic acid.
- Waxing products: These will remove the tan entirely.
- Shaving products: Many shaving creams and gels contain ingredients that can damage the tan. If shaving is necessary, use a fresh razor and a sulfate-free conditioner or gel body wash instead.
- Body scrubs, loofahs, and mitts: These exfoliate the skin and should be avoided during the duration of the tan until it's time to remove it.
By following these guidelines and utilizing NUDA’s premium sunless tanning solutions, your clients can enjoy a beautiful, long-lasting tan. Providing this level of education and care will not only enhance their tanning experience but also establish your reputation as a knowledgeable and professional spray tan artist.