Can you shave with a spray tan on?

Spray-on tan is a great way to get an evenly tanned skin without having to expose yourself to direct sunlight for long periods of time. That is why more and more people are turning to spray-on tan as a quick and safer alternative to sun tanning. But since spray tanning is an artificial process you have to take some precautions to maintain your golden tan and one of the things you will have to be especially careful about is shaving with a spray tan on.

Can you shave with a spray tan on?

If you recently used skin spray tan it is recommended not to shave your skin for at least 12 hours. Shaving removes a thin layer of skin cells from your skin and if you do it right after getting a spray tan you can remove a significant amount of tan in the process. Once 12 to 24 hours have passed, the spray tan would have settled into the layer of your skin and you can start shaving without the risk of losing any tan.

It is a good idea to shave before your spray tan appointment because getting a tan done without a shave can lead to uneven tan in areas of skin that are covered by hair. But even after your spray tan has settled into your skin there are some precautions you should take when shaving in order to make your tan last as long as possible. In this article, we are going to tell you all about them.

How to shave with a spray tan on?

Shaving with a spray tan on requires special care and if you are not careful your tan can start fading. So in order to maintain your skin tone after an artificial tan, follow these simple shaving tips:

● Don’t use a dull razor:

When you start shaving after getting a spray tan, your goal is to exfoliate your skin as little as possible when you shave. Using a dull razor is going to do the exact opposite as it will be rough on your skin and it will scrape off more of your skin layer along with your tan. So it is recommended to use a fresh razor each time you shave with a spray tan because a brand new razor with a sharp blade will be gentler on your skin and it won’t scrape off your spray tan during shaving.  

● Don’t shave every day:

For some men, shaving every day is not only a habit but a necessity because their beard grows back too quickly. But it is important to remember that the more you shave the more tan you will scrape off from your skin so it is recommended to shave every 2 or 3 days to keep your tan. Of course, you will miss the smooth feeling that comes from shaving daily but it will be worth it because you will be able to maintain a nice bronze tan on your skin.

● Avoid using aftershaves and shaving foams that contain alcohol:

Alcohol is known for its ability to penetrate the skin and therefore it can affect the tan that has settled into your skin. Alcohol is a common ingredient in pre-shave, post-shave, and shaving foams so when you are buying shaving products make sure not to buy ones that contain alcohol.

● Use an electric razor along with a regular razor:

An electric razor will not exfoliate your skin as much as a razor, so you can use an electric razor in combination with a regular razor. An electric razor won’t give you nearly as close of a shave that you get from a regular razor but using it for a few days in-between and then using a regular razor for a close shave is a great way to prevent the hair from growing out of control without damaging the tan too often.

● Be gentle when you shave:

When you shave with a spray tan on you have to be extra careful not to scrape away any of your beautiful tan by pressing the razor too hard against your skin. The more pressure you apply when shaving, the more skin layer you will be removing and your tan will come-off along with it. Make sure you are extra gentle when shaving for the first time after getting an artificial tan because the tanning solution has not yet bonded with your skin properly and it is very easy to waste your tan if you shave too hard.

Shaving before getting a spray tan

As we mentioned earlier, shaving before getting a spray tan is crucial to get an even and realistic looking tan. If you have hairs on your skin when the tan is applied, the hairs will not allow the tan to completely coat the skin underneath them and the tan in that area will be less dark making the tan look uneven. Another way shaving before putting on spray tan helps is by removing a layer of dead skin cells from the skin to make the skin smoother and it is easier for the tanning solution to settle into the skin with the extra layer of dead cells removed.

But keep in mind that shaving right before getting a spray tan is not recommended and spray tanning experts advise to shave 24 hours before getting a spray tan. The reason you shouldn’t shave right before putting on spray tan is that when you shave, you open up microscopic tears in your skin’s outer most layer. When the spray tan is applied, it can irritate the fresh sensitive skin by entering these microscopic cuts. But waiting 24 hours after a shave will give your skin enough time to recover and heal the microscopic cuts and reduce the risk of irritation and rashes.

How to make your spray tan last longer

A spray-on tan will last you between 5 to 10 days depending on how dark the shade of the tan is and how well you managed to apply it to your skin. Darker shades of spray-on tan take longer to fade but with proper care and caution you can make any shade of artificial tan last for more than a week.

● Wear loose-fitting clothes and shoes:

After getting a fresh spray tan you should avoid wearing tight-fitting clothes because the friction from the cloths can strip away the artificial tan especially within the first 24 hours of applying the tan. So if you have decided to get a spray-on tan, go ahead and buy some loose clothes and shoes to wear for the first 24 hours after your spray tanning session.

● Note:

A freshly applied spray tan can get onto your clothes so it is a good idea to wear darker color cloths and avoid wearing white or other light-colored clothes for the next 24 hours after putting on a spray tan.

 ● Keep a self-tanning product handy:

Fading spray tan from shaving is inevitable therefore you should always keep a self-tanning product with you to even out your skin tone by applying it to the areas where the spray tan seems to have faded away.

● Don’t shower right after getting a spray tan:

It is very important to let a spray tanning solution settle into the layers of your skin for the first few hours for a long-lasting tan. So showering within 6 hours after getting a spray tan is a complete no no. To be on the safer side it is recommended not to shower for 12 hours after your artificial tan is applied to prevent washing away your shade. Another way people wash away their spray tan during showering is by using warm water for showering which makes it difficult for the spray tan to stay on the skin. Also spending too much time under a running shower is going to wash away your tan.

● Avoid wearing perfumes or deodorants:

Perfumes and deodorants are known to contain ingredients that can break down the tanning solution inside your skin and cause the tan to seem patchy in areas that come in contact with deodorants and perfumes. So your best bet is to use baby powder as a way to soak up excess sweat while maintaining a light fragrance at the same time.

● Keep your skin moisturized:

A spray tan can fade away fairly easily if your skin is dry so to prevent skin dryness you should apply a moisturizer to your skin twice a day to keep your skin well hydrated.

● Do not wax with a spray tan on:

When it comes to removing unwanted hair while you have a spray tan on the best way to do it is by shaving because waxing peels away a lot more skin compared to shaving and your tan will be peeled away along with the skin.