We’ve all seen streaky, orange sunless tanning disasters (and maybe even had a few ourselves) but by taking a few sensible precautions it is easy to achieve a natural-looking golden glow.
Prepare Your Equipment
If you are inexperienced you should allow at least an hour to apply a full body sunless tan. With more practice the whole process can take as little as 30 minutes. However, you must ensure you have everything you need to hand. At a minimum you will require
- A dark tight-fitting outfit to cover the areas you do not wish to tan. Avoid light-colored materials as the tanning lotion will stain them. A snug fit is essential to prevent the lotion getting under the edges of the fabric and creating an uneven finish.
- Gloves (if you are using them), a nail scrub and soap. If you are not using gloves then you need to thoroughly clean and scrub your hands and nails to avoid developing orange palms.
- A soft sponge brush with a handle for applying tanning lotion to your back. Any medium-sized sponge brush with a handle three to four inches long will work. Many salon equipment stores sell specialist brushes for this purpose. However people have also had good results with sponge paintbrushes from hardware stores.
- Ordinary skin lotion and wet-wipes. This will be used to tone down the color on those difficult areas such as the knees and elbows.
Prepare Your Skin
Before applying any tanning lotion you should bathe and exfoliate your skin. This will get rid of any dry areas of skin and help the tan to look even and natural. There is no need to use expensive boutique exfoliant creams – any exfoliator which contains polyethylene as its active ingredient will do a great job.
There is some debate over whether or not you should shave your legs directly before applying a sunless tanning lotion. If you have sensitive skin you may want to shave your legs the day before.
Apply Your Tan
Always start on the legs, followed by your torso and then the arms. Apply the product to the neck, face and hands last as these develop the most quickly.
To avoid streaks rub the lotion in using a small circular motion. For difficult to reach areas use the sponge on a stick. Make sure you only do each area once! It is easy to forget where you have already applied the tanning lotion if you are not methodical. If you’re not wearing gloves, wash and scrub your nails and hands every five minutes.
To avoid unsightly dark or dirty looking areas on drier areas of skin such as the elbows or knees, apply some skin lotion before the sunless tanning lotion. For lighter areas of skin, such as the armpits or sides of the feet, it is easiest to apply the tanning lotion as normal and then wipe off with a baby wipe or similar.
Unless you are experienced, trying to avoid these areas may result in patchiness or streaks. Similarly, do not try to avoid applying tanning lotion to the lips or nipples – these areas will not darken when using a sunless tan.
Aftercare
During the drying period (approximately half an hour) do not wear anything but loose fitting clothes. Whilst the tan develops you may wear street clothes, but avoid tight belts, bras and similar clothing. It is also recommended that you refrain from exercise that will make you perspire as this will make your tan run.
AUTHOR BIO - Amanda Revie has developed the above method of applying sunless tanning products after many years of experience. She recommends the use of professional grade salon equipment to reach those hard to get places.
