Best Body Wash For Before & After Your Spray Tan

Hopping into the shower before your spray tan appointment, you grab your body wash and think “is this the best body wash for my spray tan?”

Good question! YES, it absolutely matters what body wash you use BEFORE and AFTER your spray tan.

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What To Wash With Before Your Spray Tan

The MOST important part of washing your body before your spray tan appointment is to remove all the beauty product residue from your skin. Lotion, perfume, deodorant, body spray, etc. All of these things can cause a barrier between your skin and the spray tan solution.

We want clean dry skin with nothing to get in the way of your sunless tan soaking in evenly.

Gently exfoliating is great using a loofah or exfoliating towel and a mild body wash.

Before your spray tan, we want a body wash that is clean rinsing and NOT an extra moisturizing formula as it will coat the skin.

Worst Body Wash For Spray Tan

Many shower products contain oil, wax, and moisturizers that will coat your skin not allowing your tan to soak in evenly.

This can result in a blotchy, streaky, uneven color. YUCK, no one wants that.

Other bath products contain harsh detergents, salicylic acid, alpha-hydroxy, exfoliating beads, fragrances, and dyes.

This can result in stripping your color off after your spray tan in an unattractive way

Avoid extra moisturizing formulas, Dove, Olay, Bath & Body, and Victorias Secret body wash.

SUNLESS TANNING GOAL: a smooth even tan that lasts for as long as possible.

My shopping list of recommended body washes for before and after your spray tan are listed below.

First Shower After A Spray Tan

Your spray tan artist will tell you how long you need to wait till your first shower after your spray tan.

There are rapid tan types of sunless tanning products that need to be left on the skin 1-3 hours before showering and then only a clear water RINSE.

There are regular spray tanning solutions that need to be left on the skin 8-10 hours or overnight before showering off.

With either type of spray tan solution, if there is bronzer in the product, be aware that the initial tan will look too dark as the layer of bronzer is sitting on top of a developed spray tan. That is two layers of color and it is too much. When you do step into the shower you will see bronzer washing off your skin.

This means that your tan will look streaky as the water first hits your skin. DON’T PANIC! You are not messing up your tan….stay in the shower and continue to rinse off the bronzer.  It will puddle around your feet and you may feel like you have messed up your spray tan.  You have not.

Your even sunless tan is hiding underneath the bronzer just waiting for you.

The above is also true for your first shower after a self-tanning mousse or lotion that contains a bronzer.

Using a harsh body wash will strip your sunless color prematurely fading out your bronzy glow.

What If I Wash My Spray Tan Off Too Early?

Washing a sunless tan off before the recommended time will result in your tan being a lighter color.

If you wash your spray tan immediately after you get it you won’t have a tan.

The spray tan solution DOES have to sit on your skin for a little time to develop your color.

This is somewhat up to your personal tan preferences as far as how long you leave your spray tan on before washing.

I have clients that leave the spray tan solution on for 4-5 hours and then rinse before bed.  I have clients who leave their fresh spray tan on overnight before they shower. Either one is just fine as long as you are happy with the resulting color.

Notice I said RINSE when we are talking about that first shower after your spray tan.  Soap will stop the tan from developing. Rinsing will just remove the bronzers from your skin so you don’t have to worry about it getting on clothing.

Take into account your skin type and what kind of tan you are looking for.  Are you super fair and just want a little glow for a wedding? A rinse a few hours in might be what you are looking for.

Or do you have a darker skin tone or are going on a vacation and looking for some beach color? Then leaving the sunless product overnight could be your sweet spot.

The same can be said of at-home self-tanners.

If you are new to sunless tanning feel free to EXPERIMENT with your spray tan artist or your self-tanning mousse to find out what works BEST FOR YOU and your skin.

If you are afraid you might make a mistake with a self-tanner and it will be WAY too dark.  No worries….just do your legs.  Then if it’s not what you were expecting you can always wear pants for a day or two.

Remember sunless tanners are TEMPORARY! This is why they are safe but also why you can play with them to find your perfect color. If it is not what you expected it will fade away in a few days.  Have FUN, don’t stress.

How To Wash Your Face After A Spray Tan

In the world of sunless tanning, your face is always the first to fade. Facial skincare products, wearing makeup, and makeup removers can be hard on a spray tan fading the color quickly.

Worst face wash after a spray tan:

• acne wash
• anti-aging wash
• harsh gel facial wash
• facial washes that contain AHA’s, Glycolic or Retinols
• makeup removing wipes

Best Face Wash After Spray Tan

The best type of face wash to use is a sulfate-free facial wash to gently cleanse your skin. Stay away from anything that is harsh or exfoliating.

For my list of spray tan safe face washes for after a spray tan head over here.

Related Articles:

• 5 best lotions to use after your spray tan
• 3 tips for shaving after your spray tan
• Top 5 best sunscreens safe for your spray tan
• Natural body lotion that is not sticky
• What To Wear After A Spray Tan

What Body Wash Is Safe After My Spray Tan?

Think gentle, mild, natural, and simple.

Similar to what to wash with before your spray tan we don’t want anything harsh or purple sparkly scented shower gel.

This will strip your pretty bronzy spray tan leaving you faded and sad.

We want your color to last as long as possible so we need to find a body wash that you love that can help accomplish extending your spray tan as long as possible

Here is my list of the best body wash for before and after your spray tan. They contain none of the harsh ingredients that can break down a sunless tan, stripping the color prematurely.

Check them out and see if you can find a new favorite body wash!

Wondering how to wash your hair after your spray tan? Head over to my blog post that gives all the details on the best way to do it.

Events To Spray Tan For:

• Should You Get a Spray Tan for Your Wedding Yes or No?
• How To Get The Best Spray Tan Before Your Vacation
• The Secret to Making Your Prom Makeup POP!
• Spray Tan Tips For Your Photoshoot
• How Boutique Clothing Models Prep For Photo Shoots

Kathryn’s Top 5 Best Body Wash For BEFORE and AFTER Your Spray Tan:

Best Gentle Body Wash For Spray Tan Cetaphil Pro Soothing Wash

Shop this Gentle Skin Cleanser on Amazon

Cetaphil is always a great go-to option for gentle cleansing before and after your spray tan.  Often recommended by dermatologists for sensitive skin. Gentle and non-stripping to help keep the bronzy color on your skin.

Best Drugstore Body Wash For Spray Tan Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Foaming Milk & Body Wash

Shop this Natural Body Wash on Amazon

I’m obsessed with the Shea Moisture line. This all-natural foaming milk and body wash leaves a yummy scent as it cleanses your skin and won’t hurt your spray tan.

I have super dry skin and the Shea Moisture line doesn’t make me itchy or uncomfortable. Certified organic raw shea butter delivers intense hydration that nourishes and coconut oil moisturizes dry, dull-looking skin and leaves it soft, supple and smooth with a beautiful even tan!

Best Sensitive Skin Body And Face Wash For Spray Tan La Roche Posay Gentle Foaming Wash

Shop This Soothing Body Wash on Amazon

Gentle Daily Cleanser with Shea Butter & Niacinamide for Extra Dry Skin, Allergy Tested. This soothing body & face wash for extra dry, sensitive skin is safe for babies, children & adults. Allergy Tested.

For very dry skin. Fragrance & Soap Free. Spray tan friendly body wash.

Ph Balanced Body Wash For Spray Tan Puracy Natural Body Wash

Shop this Sulfate-Free Body Wash on Amazon

Sulfate-Free, coconut-based cleansers create rich, luxurious foam with NO harsh chemicals The clean rinse is perfect for use before and after your airbrush tan.  I love the citrus and sea salt smell of this body wash!

There are NO HARSH CHEMICALS: No Cocamidopropyl betaine, sulfates (SLS, SLES, SCS), formaldehyde, salicylates, parabens, phosphates, MEA, DEA, TEA, petroleum-based ingredients, animal by-products, perfumes, dyes or caustics

Plant-derived, non-toxic, hypoallergenic, vegan, gluten-free, biodegradable; Certified Cruelty-Free by PETA & Leaping Bunny – Never Tested on Animals; Made in the USA!

Self Tanning Safe Body Wash Majestic Pure Herbal Shampoo & Body Wash

Shop this All-in-One Shampoo and Body Wash on Amazon

Who doesn’t LOVE an all-in-one product? I know I do! Wash my hair and my body with the same bottle. That means one less bottle to deal with in my shower.  Safe for your hair color and your spray tan.

There you have my top 5 body washes that are safe for your spray tan.  I hope you find a new favorite to live in your shower.

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As a small business owner, I can’t stock all the amazing products that are available in the world of sunless tanning but I can give you my professional opinion.

Spray Tan Business Pros:

Do you have a mobile spray tanning business, home-based spray tan business, or are you looking for information on HOW to start a spray tan business? Then check out my tools of the trade area of this website for help in setting up your own airbrush spray tanning business.

• Professional advice on choosing the best spray tan equipment
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Hi, I'm Kathryn! I'm here to help you have the best spray tan experience possible. I spend my days creating beautiful sunless tans in my Northwest Ohio spray tan studio and sharing everything I know about how to get the perfect spray tan and how to build a boutique spray tan business here on my spray tan blog.