What To Wear After A Spray Tan

After your spray tan, you should wear dark, loose cotton clothes that will cover your fresh tan to protect it. Outfits such as a dark cotton maxi dress, loose yoga pants, a t-shirt or jammie pants, and a soft long-sleeved t-shirt. Never wear tight tops or leggings after your spray tan as they can rub and mark your fresh tan before it sets in.

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Feel free to come to your spray tan appointment in whatever you have on.

If you are coming from work no problem at all. You can change when you get to the studio into whatever you would like to wear during your appointment to get sprayed in.

During your spray tan appointment wear whatever you are comfortable in!

I have clients who wear shorts and a tank top and I have clients who wear only a thong.

My only concerns:

• that we are NOT making tan lines anywhere it’s going to show in your clothing or bathing suit.
• that you feel comfortable while I am spraying you.

Do You Wear A Bra For A Spray Tan?

I generally advise older/dark-colored bras and undies to get sprayed in.  Most of my clients go topless with a thong for spraying to make sure that they won’t have any lines that will show.

If you prefer to wear a bra during your spray tan please make sure it is NOT your favorite brand-new white bra. Choose an older dark-colored one to wear during your spray tan.  I would never want to get a spray tan solution on something that you just bought.

How undressed you get is completely up to your comfort level.

What To Wear After A Spray Tan:

This part is EASY!!  Dark, protective, loose clothes. LOOSE FITTING!!

• Dark because we don’t want to see any bronzer in case it rubs off onto your clothes.
• Protective to keep your tan safely covered while it develops.
• Cotton so we make sure that if any bronzer does rub onto them it will wash out
• Loose so you are not rubbing lines into your fresh tan.

Can You Put A Bra On After A Spray Tan

Wearing a bra after a spray tan can cause rubbing and dark spots where the elastic is pressing into your skin.  Mostly this is seen around your ribcage and on the shoulder straps.

Wearing a bra after your spray tan is NOT my favorite idea BUT I do understand that sometimes we are not headed straight home and feel the need to be covered up a bit.

Plan ahead with a bandeau or strapless style bra that I can help you hook gently so it won’t rub.

Please DON’T hook your bra in the front and spin it around sliding it over your fresh tan. This WILL smear your color and make it uneven.  If you absolutely must put your bra back on ask for help and I can hook the back for you.

How Long Till I Can Wear A Bra After A Spray Tan

It’s best to wait till after your first shower to wear a bra after your spray tan

Can You Wear Socks After A Spray Tan

I prefer that you are slipping into a flip-flop or a loose-fitting slipper type of shoe to go home in.

But a loose-fitting soft cotton sock is ok to put on after a spray tan such as the fleecy slouchy socks if it’s cold outside.

No tight footie socks. They rub on the front of your ankle causing a mark on your tan.

No trouser socks. They are tight and have a snug band at the top leaving marks around your leg below the knee.

What To NEVER Wear After Your Spray Tan:

So I asked some of my spray tan artist friends what items of clothing make them cringe when a client pulls them out of their bag to wear after their freshly applied spray tan.

Here is what I got…..

Never Wear Leggings After A Spray Tan

Leggings are tight, they rub, they have seams that rub, and they have tight waistbands that rub.  Did I mention that they rub?  Lululemon leggings are the worst with ALL the decorative seams and cutouts and crisscross straps.  Super cute but not good after a spray tan.  Think lines ALL OVER your legs.

Never Wear A Bra After A Spray Tan

Regular bras, sports bras, cute bras with 25 straps in the front and the back. These come with all sorts of problems.

Rubbing over your tan while you are pulling it over your head. Sliding it down your arms getting into it. Hooking it in the front, and then spinning it around to the back.

Makes my eye twitch just thinking about it.

Never Wear Tight Shorts or Pants After A Spray Tan

These can be hard to pull up over your booty, causing you to drag your thumbs up the side of your leg while you are tugging your bottoms up creating a mess on your leg and your hand.

I don’t like shorts EVER after your spray tan.

Cover up those legs so they are protected and you don’t stick to your car seats. This will cause the back of your leg to be blotchy and get spray tan solution on your car seats.

Never Wear Tight Shirts and Tops After A Spray Tan

These have to be pulled down over your face, rubbing and smooshing your hair into your tan.

Rubbing across your pretty tan face with the awesome cheekbone contour that I just applied.

Or they have tight sleeves that pull and rub when you are putting your arms through and smear your tan around your wrist and up your arm.

Don’t Wear Jewelry After A Spray Tan

Apple Watches, fitbits, bracelets, necklaces. All of these can rub lines into your fresh tan and also get tanning solution onto your favorite digital wrist device.

I know you want to get all your steps in but you are gonna have to be patient and wait until after your first shower to put the Fitbit back on.

Don’t Wear Tight Boots, Pumps, or Strappy Sandals After A Spray Tan

All of these can rub lines into your feet and around your ankles. Definitely not cute in the summer or before your beach vacation.

The basic theme here is that we DO NOT want you to put on any article of clothing that is going to rub your tan for the first 10 hours after your spray tan was applied.

We say these things because we love our clients and want your tans to be amazing and smooth and properly contoured.

When Can I Wear Regular Clothes After A Spray Tan

Please wait until after your FIRST SHOWER to wear regular clothes.

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• Natural body lotion that is not sticky
• How To Shave Before & After Your Spray Tan
• When to book your nail appointment so you don’t ruin your spray tan
• Eyelash Extensions Or Spray Tan First
• How To Extend Your Spray Tan

What To Wear To Bed After A Spray Tan:

Ever wondered what to sleep in after your spray tan?

Many of my clients are coming in after school or work so bedtime is not that far off in the future. We need to think about what is the best thing to wear to bed after your spray tan.

Is it ok to lie down after a spray tan or go to sleep?

OF COURSE! We just don’t want you getting wet or sweaty. And we would like you a little covered up so that your tan and your bedding is protected.

Before you hop into bed, make sure you have some nice soft long jammie pants and a long sleeve cotton tee to put on like the ones below.

This keeps your legs and arms covered up so that you don’t rest your hands on your tan while you are sleeping causing the spray tan solution to transfer to the palms of your hands.

It also keeps skin-to-skin contact to a minimum so that you don’t create any uneven areas while the tan is developing.

Best Pajamas To Sleep In After A Spray Tan.

Shop these soft pajamas on Amazon

If you are worried about getting spray tan on your sheets you can always put an old sheet down or a towel for that first night.

Spray tan solution does wash out of cotton so as long as the sheets are just cotton and not a blend they will wash.  If you are not sure what your sheets are made out of then you will want to put on an older set or snag one of these sleep sacs for self-tanning.

The Best Way To Keep Spray Tan From Getting On Sheets

Shop This Spray Tan Sheet Protector On Amazon

I know that it is not always possible to control getting sweaty while sleeping.  If you wake up in the AM and see that there is spray tan soaked onto your jammies and the bronzer looks messed up on your skin please don’t panic.  It is just the bronzer that is a little smooshed and after it is washed off in your shower all will be fine.

As to the getting sweaty at night situation: some people do and others don’t. Try hard to not get sweaty if you can help it. Run the A/C or a fan. Wear lightweight cotton jammies.

What To Wear After A Spray Tan In Winter:

If you live in an area that has a winter season, the weather can be very unpredictable.  Here in the MidWest where I am, we joke that all the seasons CAN and DO frequently happen in one day.

So it is best to be prepared for the worst-case scenario before you leave the house for your spray tanning appointment.

Yes, I do tons of tans in the winter.  Getting a little glow can help to brighten up your day and keep your spirits up during the long grey days of winter.

A long sleeved jacket with a hood to cover your face will protect you from the snow, sleet, or rain since water in all its forms on your spray tan will cause polka dots.

Loose gloves may also be a good idea if the weather is very bad or it is blowing out.

If there is snow or slush on the ground then a loose boot such as UGG type will protect your feet from the wetness.

What To Wear After A Spray Tan When It Rains:

Similar to what to wear after your spray tan in the winter is what to wear when it is raining.  You have to keep your airbrush tan protected from the water.

I would recommend that having an umbrella or rain poncho handy, keeping covered up with a rain parka with a hood, and parking as close as possible are good spray tan tips for a rainy day.

How cute is this umbrella?!!!

Shop this umbrella on Amazon

What To Wear After A Spray Tan In The Spring/Summer:

This is the busiest time of the year for getting a spray tan. And it is also that time of year when we are more uncovered and more skin is showing making any messed-up bits on your tan more visible.

Also, many formal events such as prom and weddings are happening in the spring and summer which come with formal photography.

Keeping your tan in place as it develops is important.

My favorite spray tan outfit for spring and summer is a soft cotton maxi dress. I recommend something in a dark color so you can feel comfortable going without your bra, and there are no lines or marks in your tan.  Add a cute scarf for some extra coverage and no one will know.

Scroll down a bit further to see some examples of what to wear after a spray tan.

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

Best Clothes To Wear After A Spray Tan:

So now that you know the clothing rules, does that mean that you have to wear your oldest, yuckiest, baggiest clothes in public?

No, you don’t!

I am met with “no one ever sees me like this” and “I can’t believe I am out in public like this” every day.

It doesn’t have to be that way.

There are plenty of really cute spray tan-friendly tanning outfits that we can put together for you to wear after your sunless tan.

Clothes that you can go back to work in or even out for a bite to eat before heading home without feeling like you just rolled out of bed and shouldn’t be seen in public.

If we just follow the guidelines I explained above when choosing an appropriate spray tanning outfit you can keep your spray tan protected and be stylish at the same time.

So let’s get started with a few choices of cute clothes to wear after your spray tan and why I like these options.

Best Spray Tanning Outfits:

Best Maxi Dress To Wear After A Spray Tan black maxi dress!

Shop this long cotton maxi dress on Amazon

I love this dress for several reasons: It is loose and soft covering your legs and protecting them from sticking to anything you may sit on. There are no bands around the arms or waist to rub your tan. The shoulders and upper arms are covered with soft fabric so you will not stick to your car on the way home. Your seatbelt will not be directly on your skin. The neckline is a v-neck so easily pulled over your head without touching your face.  And there are pockets.  And I LOVE pockets. This dress does come in many colors. I would stay with one of the darker ones so you don’t notice any bronzer rub-off. You can go braless with a cute scarf added to the outfit.

Best Midi Dress To Wear After A Spray Tan

Shop this patterned midi dress on Amazon

This patterned midi dress is a similar style to the first one I showed you. With the deep v-neck for easy over-the-head dressing and loose sleeves that cover the shoulder. It is a bit shorter while still covering most of your leg.  Perfect for after spray tan wear.

Best High Low Dress To Wear After A Spray Tan

Shop this High Low Loose Cotton Tunic Dress on Amazon

If you like a shorter dress this style is perfect!! The longer back covers your legs when sitting, while the front still shows off your pretty tan legs.  It still has an open neckline for easy over the head and shoulders are covered for the seatbelt and car ride home.

Best Pants To Wear After A Spray Tan

Shop these Drawstring Pull On Soft Pants on Amazon

Soft and loose with an elastic and drawstring waistband is the perfect setup for comfy cute pants to slide on carefully over your fresh spray tan.  No tight legs to rub. You won’t stick to the car or any furniture with all of your skin covered.

Best T-Shirt To Wear After A Spray Tan

Shop this soft V-neck Tee on Amazon

Again a soft V-neck silhouette is perfect for easy over-the-head dressing. Pair with the drawstring pants above or even a loose maxi skirt for a cute outfit. It won’t mess up your tan.

Add a fun scarf for a little extra coverage in the front. No one will ever know that you aren’t wearing a bra!

Spray Tan Shoes

I always recommend a flip flop or a loose slipper type of shoe to wear after your spray tan. Unless it is snowing or raining and then I do want those feet covered up with a loose cotton sock to get you home safely. Then you can go barefootin’

Conclusion: What To Wear After A Spray Tan

I hope this helped you decide what to wear when you are getting organized for your spray tan appointment. And maybe you can even pick something that makes you feel cute to wear home!!!

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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.