What To Wear To A Spray Tan (And How To Prepare On The Day)

Booked in for a spray tan but not sure what to actually turn up in? You're not the only one wondering. A little preparation on the day makes a real difference to how your tan develops, so here's exactly what to know before your appointment.

What to Wear to a Spray Tan

Loose, dark clothing is the way to go, both to and from your appointment. Tight clothes can rub against freshly applied solution and cause streaking or patchy marks before the tan has had time to fully develop. Anything with elastic waistbands, tight sleeves or fitted seams creates exactly the kind of friction that can leave lines in places you didn't want them.

Dark colours matter too, since the solution can transfer onto light fabrics in the hours after treatment. This isn't a small risk, freshly applied tan is far more likely to mark clothing than you might expect, so save your white t shirt for another day.

Flip flops or open sandals are worth considering as well, since socks and closed shoes can rub against your feet while the tan is still developing. Feet are often overlooked when people think about tan friendly clothing, but they're just as prone to marking or rubbing as anywhere else on the body.

A quick outfit checklist for your appointment:

• Loose, dark top and bottoms, avoiding anything tight or fitted

• Open shoes such as flip flops or sandals rather than trainers or closed shoes

• No tight underwear or bras with narrow straps if avoidable

• A loose robe or oversized shirt is a good option if you're unsure what else to wear home

How Long Does a Spray Tan Take?

The appointment itself is usually quick, our standard spray tan takes around an hour, including consultation and application. This makes it one of the easier treatments to fit around a busy schedule, whether that's a lunch break or an evening slot before heading out.

The tan itself continues to develop for several hours afterwards, so the visible colour you leave with isn't the final result, it deepens over time as it processes on the skin. This catches a lot of first timers off guard. Don't judge your tan by how it looks the moment you leave, since the true colour only reveals itself once development is complete and you've had your first rinse.

What Should You Do Before You Arrive?

Exfoliate thoroughly the day before your appointment, paying attention to drier areas like elbows, knees and ankles where solution can cling and develop unevenly. These areas are naturally drier and rougher than the rest of the skin, which means they tend to absorb more product unless properly prepped beforehand.

On the day itself, skip moisturiser, deodorant and perfume, since these create a barrier that stops the solution developing evenly across your skin. It's an easy step to forget, particularly if applying these products is part of your normal morning routine, so it's worth building in a reminder for appointment day specifically.

Should You Shave or Wax Beforehand?

Yes, ideally at least 24 hours before your appointment rather than on the day itself. This gives your skin time to settle and avoids any irritation interfering with how the tan takes.

Shaving or waxing opens the pores slightly, and doing this too close to your tan appointment can lead to small dark dots or uneven patches where the solution settles into freshly opened pores rather than sitting evenly across the skin's surface. A day's gap gives your skin enough time to properly close and settle before the tan is applied.

What Happens After Your Appointment?

Avoid water, sweating and tight clothing for the number of hours your therapist recommends, since this is when the solution is actively developing. This development window is genuinely important, and rushing it by showering early or exercising straight afterwards can undo a lot of the evenness you'd otherwise get from the appointment.

Once that development time has passed, a lukewarm rinse will remove the initial guide colour, revealing your natural developed tan underneath. This first rinse can feel a bit alarming if you're not expecting it, since a fair amount of colour comes off in the water, but that's completely normal. The guide colour's job is done once it's helped you see even coverage during application, and the true tan is what's left once it's rinsed away.

A Timeline for Your Appointment Day

Common Myths About Spray Tan Appointments

"The colour you leave with is your final result." Not quite. What you see immediately afterwards is largely the guide colour, which washes away during your first rinse to reveal the actual developed tan underneath.

"Any clothing is fine as long as it's comfortable." Comfort matters, but colour and fit matter just as much. Tight, light coloured clothing is one of the most common causes of streaking or staining straight after an appointment.

"You can shower whenever you like once you leave." The development window your therapist gives you is specific for a reason. Showering early is one of the quickest ways to affect how evenly the tan settles.

"Exfoliating on the morning of your appointment is just as good as the day before." Same day exfoliation can leave skin slightly more reactive right before application. A day's gap gives skin time to settle while still being properly prepped.

Anything Else Worth Knowing?

Bring your own dark clothing to change into rather than relying on what you arrived in, and avoid booking anything requiring tight activewear or swimming immediately afterwards. Planning your day around the appointment, rather than squeezing it in between other tight schedule commitments, makes a genuine difference to how evenly your tan develops.

A little planning around your day goes a long way toward getting the most even, longest lasting result. This is really the theme running through all of the advice above, small, easy adjustments to your normal routine that protect the result you're paying for.

Common Mistakes to Avoid on Appointment Day

Even with good intentions, a few habits can undo an otherwise well prepped tan:

• Wearing tight clothing straight after your appointment, undoing the benefit of loose clothing during the actual treatment

• Showering too early, before your therapist's recommended development time has passed

• Applying deodorant or perfume before you arrive, creating a barrier the solution can't develop evenly through

• Shaving or waxing on the morning of your appointment, rather than the day before

• Forgetting to bring a change of dark clothing, leaving you stuck in whatever you arrived in

Common Questions

What if I forget to wear dark clothing? It's not the end of the world, but there's a genuine risk of staining lighter fabrics, so bringing a spare dark top or bottoms is a sensible backup if you're unsure what you'll be wearing.

Can I wear a bra to my appointment? A soft, loose fitting bra or no bra at all is generally recommended, since tight straps can leave lines in the developing tan.

Is it okay to drive straight after my appointment? Yes, there's no restriction on driving, though it's worth considering loose clothing and being mindful of car seats, which can also mark during the development period.

What if I sweat a little on the way home? Light activity like walking is generally fine, but it's worth avoiding anything that causes noticeable sweating until your development time has passed.

Can I apply makeup before my spray tan appointment? It's best to keep your skin product free where possible, including on the face if you're having a full body tan, so the solution can develop evenly without any barrier from makeup.

Should I paint my nails before or after my appointment? Either works, but painting them beforehand avoids any risk of remover or fresh polish interfering with the tan on your hands during the development window.

Ready to Book Your Glow?

A spray tan is one of the quickest ways to get a natural looking glow, and a little preparation on the day is really all it takes to get the most even, longest lasting result from your appointment.

Explore our full range of spray tan treatments and book your appointment today.