In our previous two blogs posts, Our Top Tanning Tips for Brides-to-Be and The Best Spray Tan for Brides – we explore all the reasons why our Sunescape Tan professional spray tan formulas are perfect for brides & bridal parties. Now, we are answering the most frequently asked spray tan questions from brides. 

Credit: Laura Henshaw, tanned by Tan and Beauty Lounge

Should I Get a Bridal Spray Tan for my Wedding Day?

For many brides, the fear of looking too orange or having an unnatural looking tan on their wedding day can often deter them from going ahead with a professional spray tan. Thankfully, with Sunescape Tan, our four professional spray tan solutions can guarantee every bride is left with an even, streak-free, natural-looking tan.

Don’t just take our word for it! Hear from owner of The Parlour Room Clovelly, Natalie Papadopoulos on why Sunescape Tan is her go-to bridal tan of choice. 

“We love Sunescape as it is a really beautiful natural colour whilst also being extremely hydrating on the skin. The different shades allow us to offer our clients a range of options from whether they want something natural or a much more bronzed look. Weekend in Bondi (light) is our go-to bridal tan as it is the perfect subtle glow.”

 

Why Choose a Sunescape Tan for your Wedding Day?

Whether you’re after a subtle touch of colour that looks like you’ve spent a weekend laying on the beach at Bondi, or a darker glow that looks like you’ve just returned from a month in Maui – Sunescape Tan has a shade to match every bride’s skin & tan goals! 

What also makes Sunescape Tan so special is unlike other traditional tanning brands, Sunescape uses only organic ingredients jam-packed with vitamins and nutrients for hydrated, nourished & moisturised skin – all whilst providing beautifully bronzed skin.

 

How soon before my wedding should I spray tan? 

Regardless of whether it’s the morning of or a couple of days before, our Sunescape Spray Tan therapists will help you decide which option will suit you best ahead of your big day. Whether soft glow or more dramatic bronze, our tan is non-transferrable (won’t leave stains on your gorgeous white gown) and is long-lasting minus patchy fading! 

But as a general rule of thumb, we recommend getting your spray tan for your wedding day 24-28 hours before you say “I do”. 

 

How should I prepare for my wedding day spray tan?

The best tan is one that has had the best preparation! To be prepared for your bridal spray tan, ensure that for the week leading up to your tan appointment – you are staying out of the sun and layer on that SPF as it’s extremely difficult to tan sunburnt or peeling skin! 

The next important step is both exfoliate and moisturise your skin in the days leading up to your tan – using a gentle exfoliator like our Exfoliating Body Polish is great to buff away dead skin cells and leave your skin perfectly prepped to ensure you have the best spray tan results possible.

On the day of your tan, skin should be left completely clean and free from deodorant, perfume, any moisturiser or makeup. 

 

Will my tan smell on my wedding day?

The great thing about our natural spray tan formulas is that unlike other tanning brands, Sunescape Tan does not leave the skin smelling strongly of fake tan. Our natural DHA is no where near as strong smelling as that of regular DHA, and as an added bonus is so much better for your skin! We also fill our formulas with natural ingredients like coconut oil, Kakadu plum, aloe vera and macadamia nut oil.

 

Where can I get a Sunescape Tan bridal spray tan?

We have hundreds of salons & spray tan artists across the country that offer our Sunescape Spray Tan services. Click here to find your closest stockist.

 

How dark will I go?

The colour one person achieves to another will be different - this all depends on their original skin tone, and the conditions around pre and post spray preparation. Remember that colour is also subjective, what one person thinks is dark may be different from another.

One important factor which will impact any fake tan is the pH levels of the skin and formulation. An alkaline pH causes the tan to look orange, whereas a slightly acidic pH reduces this colour problem. A balanced formulation understands the importance of maintaining moisture in the skin, the correct pH balance and the reaction of amino acids and DHA.

Other things that can impact how dark a spray tan will develop include things like hormones - which can impact the pH of the skin, medications, or even humidity. For example, if you have just had a shower and your skin has not yet cooled down, this may impact the DHA’s ability to fully develop.

Remember, spray tanning is designed to be natural. If you have skin like Nicole Kidman, you aren’t going to get a Beyonce glow. The super dark mahogany colour seen on bodybuilders is applied with a sponge – and often contains dyes that are banned in some parts of the world.

 

How long will my spray tan last?

The effect of DHA isn’t instantaneous. It takes around 1-4 hours for the browning effect to kick in, and it can continue darkening for as much as 72 hours after the tan has been washed off. Because it’s the dead cells on the skin’s surface that it affects, the tan it induces lasts for up to ten days (sometimes a little longer), and will fade as these dead skin cells shed, so reapplication is necessary to maintain the effect.

How long the tan will last however really depends on the individual condition of the skin and how the skin is treated following the tan. Things like exfoliation, swimming, long hot showers and baths will obviously result in the shedding of those external cells faster, resulting in a shorter lasting tan. If you want to extend the life of your tan, it is important to moisturize daily and use only sulphate free shower gels and avoid using exfoliants like AHAs and BHAs that will strip your tan faster.

 

Pre-tan Skin Preparation - 24 Hours Prior

For the best results, we recommend skin to be thoroughly exfoliated prior to spraying. Exfoliating helps to remove any dead skin cells and enables the skin to absorb the tanning solution more effectively and evenly. We recommend the use of our Sunescape Tan Removal Mitt.

Hair removal should be done a minimum of 24 hours prior to spray tanning. 

For waxing, we would even recommend 48 hours prior so that the skin has had plenty of time to calm and minimise any possible irritation.

Waxing should never be done straight after a spray tan as this will remove the tan.

 

Skin Preparation On The Day

Please ensure that your client has filled in our Client Preparation Questionnaire prior to tanning. See page 18 & 19.

For best results, it is important that skin is dry and free from any oils, moisturisers, makeup and deodorant. Tans work best on dry, unperfumed skin.

For clients who are unable to have their makeup and deodorant removed, we recommend having unscented makeup wipes on hand for removal prior to tanning.

If the client has sensitive skin, we recommend a patch test be done prior to a full body tan either at the back of the knee or on the inside of the elbow.

Lightly apply moisturiser or a barrier cream to areas of hard skin such as palms, heals, knees and elbows. This will prevent the tan from ‘grabbing’ onto areas that may not have been exfoliated sufficiently.

 

POST TAN

At the end of the spray tan, be sure to wipe over the clients palms and finger nails to remove any overspray that may have gone onto these areas

Our tans are Rapid 2 hour tans meaning that you can shower after only 2 hours. ‘Summer in Santorini’ is 1 hour. 

Following the client’s shower, the tan will continue to develop for a further 6-8 hrs, so please ensure that this is explained to the client. Some may panic that the colour isn’t dark enough, so it is important that it is understood that the tan will continue to develop and will not have reached its full colour until the next day.

To prolong the life of the tan, advise all clients to:

• When you shower, try to pat skin dry rather than rubbing with your towel
• Keep shower short and not too hot.
• Make sure to thoroughly wash hands and feet as these areas can be dry and the tan can grab there.
• Avoid prolonged swimming in chlorine/saltwater pools and spas.
• Avoid excessive exercise and sweating; this can cause the tan to fade faster.
• Avoid the use of soap or body wash products that contain the ingredient Sodium Laurel Sulphate.

• Moisturise skin morning and night.

DHA can be drying on the skin, so it is crucial that you keep skin well hydrated with Sunescape Body Butter.