If you want your prom makeup to look flawless in photos, the sevret most makeup artists recommend is professional spray tan before prom.
A custom airbrush spray tan evens out your skin tone, brightens your complexion, and helps your makeup artist create a smoother foundation match. It’s one ot the easiest ways to elevate your entire prom look.
In this guide you’ll learn:
- When to get a spray tan before prom
- Why spray tans make prom makeup look better
- A complete prom beauty timeline
- Spray tan tips to avoid mistakes before your dance
If you’re planning prom in Perrysburg, Toledo, or Northwest Ohio, this guide will help you plan the perfect glow.
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✨ PROM SPRAY TAN ESSENTIALS (DON’T SKIP THIS)
Before your appointment, make sure you have everything you need for the perfect glow:
✔ Oil-free body wash (pre-tan prep)
✔ Exfoliating mitt (smooth skin = even tan)
✔ Loose dark clothing for after your appointment
✔ Gentle moisturizer (for after your first rinse)
✔ Lash clusters + glue for your full glam look
✔ Teeth whitening strips (for brighter photos)
👉 Plannning your perfect glow? SHOP MY FULL PROM PREP CHECKLIST HERE
These are the exact products I recommend to my clients every prom season so you don’t ruin your tan or your dress.
When Should You Get a Spray Tan Before Prom?
The best time to get a spray tan before prom is 1-3 days before the dance.
This timing allows the color to fully develop, lets you shower off the cosmetic bronzer, and ensures your glow looks natural in prom photos.
Most spray tan artists recommend scheduling your appointment 2 days before prom for the most balanced result.
Should You Get A Spray Tan For Prom?
A professionally applied spray tan evens out your skin and brightens your complexion, bringing it all together when it’s time for hair and makeup.
We are NOT talking vacation tan here like you just got back from Spring Break in Mexico, but a subtle glow to bring out your features and brighten you up.
Should Your Spray Tan Match Your Prom Dress?
One thing most girls never think about when planning their prom glow is how their spray tan works with the color of their prom dress.
Your goal is not to look extremely dark. The goal is to create a natural, even glow that complements your dress and makeup.
For example:
- Light colored dresses (white, blush, champagne) look beautiful with a soft golden glow.
- Bold colors like red or royal blue look amazing with a slightly deeper bronze tone.
- Pastels pair best with a light natural tan so the color of the dress remains the star.
At SunSpray by Kathryn, every tan is custom blended for your skin tone, so your glow enhances your overall prom look instead of overpowering it.
Think of your spray tan as the finishing touch that brings your entire look together.
Why Spray Tans Make Prom Makeup Look Better
After searching prom makeup looks on Pinterest, you found some great ideas, but you can’t figure out how the girls in all those pictures look so flawless, how their eyes seem to POP, and how their teeth are so white.
There is a little red carpet-secret that celebrities, models, and makeup artists use for special events.
It’s the first step to getting glammed up.
Before the hair and makeup create the perfect even skin palette.
It’s a spray tan!
Is a spray tan worth it?
A spray tan is the first step to a glam makeup look and is SO worth it.
It doesn’t matter if you are the fairest of the maidens or have a darker skin tone; a little airbrushed glow makes all the difference when your professional makeup artist starts to apply your foundation.
Prom Beauty Timeline (Hair, Makeup, Spray Tan)
How to get ready for the day of prom
I created a prom beauty checklist to help get you started with your prom planning.
2-3 Months Before Prom:
- Book your hair, makeup, spray tan, and nail appointments
PRO TIP: Spring is a really busy time of year for beauty professionals, with prom, graduation, and wedding season all coming together at the same time. Booking ahead is super important to get the spray tan appointment time you want.
2 Weeks Before Prom:
- We LOVE using Crest Whitening Strips for prom prep because they make your smile noticeably brighter in photos without sensitivity.
1 Week Before Prom:
- Get a facial
- Get your brows done
- Get your lashes and lash glue so you have time to practice.
- At the studio, we love using cluster lashes because they give you a soft glam look without the commitment of extensions.
2-3 Days Before Prom:
- Get your mani/pedi BEFORE your spray tanning appointment
1-3 Days Before Prom:
- Get your spray tan
Day of Prom:
- Hair and Makeup Appointments
- Get Dressed
- Pictures
Related Articles:
- How to get an appointment for a spray tan with Kathryn from SunSpray
- DECIDING TO GET YOUR FIRST SPRAY TAN
- When to schedule your manicure so you don’t ruin your spray tan
- What to wash with before and after your spray tan
- 5 Best Lotions to Use After Your Spray Tan
- Natural body lotion that is not sticky
- 3 Tips for Shaving After Your Spray Tan
- Eyelash Extensions Or Spray Tan First
When Is The Best Time To Get A Spray Tan Before Prom?
There’s a lot of discussion about when the perfect time to get your spray tan is before prom. I treat your prom spray tan the same way I treat my bridal spray tan.
The perfect time to get your prom spray tan is 1-3 days before the dance.
Your color will fade if you go any further out from your event.
Should you get a spray tan on the DAY of your prom?
The answer to this is NO!
If you get your spray tan on the day of prom, you run the risk of getting bronzer on your prom dress. Then you will be trying to figure out how to get spray tan off of your prom dress:(
When you are dancing and having fun, you might get a little sweaty, and the bronzer will streak and then soak into your gown. If the gown is a light color, this is going to show!
What if I get sprayed with a clear solution so there is no bronzer? Then can I get my tan on the same day as prom?
NO!
DHA reacts with and stains certain fabrics. These stains cannot be removed because, in essence, the spray tan solution has “tanned” your gown.
PLEASE don’t get your spray tan on the same day as your prom.
Getting your tan applied 1-3 days before prom lets you shower, removing the bronzer AND the active ingredients of the spray tan so that nothing will be rubbing onto your gown and ruining it.
I partnered up with the girls at Merle Norman Cosmetics and with Senior Photographer Brittany Ann to bring you a complete look. We loved our styled shoot with our model Chloe, so you can see exactly what we are talking about.
The beautiful glow from Chloe’s spray tan helps to even out her skin tone, bring out her eyes, and make her makeup pop!
💖 Want the full step-by-step checklist? Tap here to follow everything in order → PROM CHECKLIST
What If You Have Tan Lines Before Prom?
Tan lines are very common this time of year, especially if you have been outside for sports, spring break, or track practice.
The good news is that a professional spray tan can help blend and soften tan lines so they are far less noticeable in photos.
During your appointment your spray tan artist can lightly adjust the color in certain areas to help even out your overall tone.
For the best results:
- Try to avoid getting additional sun exposure right before your appointment.
- Let your spray tan artist know about any tan lines when you arrive.
- Avoid self-tanning products beforehand which can make blending more difficult.
Even if you have noticeable tan lines now, a custom airbrush spray tan can help create a much more even look for prom photos.
Should You Do a Trial Spray Tan Before Prom?
If you have never had a spray tan before, doing a trial tan a few weeks before prom can be a great idea.
A trial appointment allows you to:
- See how the color develops on your skin
- Learn how your skin holds the tan
- Practice your spray tan prep routine
This is especially helpful if you have very fair skin or sensitive skin and want to feel confident before the big event.
Many of my bridal clients do a trial tan before their wedding, and prom can work the same way.
If you are short on time, don’t worry. A custom airbrush spray tan is designed to look natural even for first-time clients.
How Dark Should Your Prom Spray Tan Be?
The biggest mistake girls make before prom is thinking they need to be very dark to look good in photos.
In reality, the most beautiful prom spray tans are usually soft, natural, and subtle.
Your spray tan should enhance your natural skin tone, not completely change it.
When your tan is balanced correctly it helps:
- Brighten your complexion
- Make your teeth appear whiter
- Help makeup apply more smoothly
- Create a healthy glow in photographs
Professional spray tan artists adjust the color based on your natural skin tone so the final result looks polished and effortless.
Why Spray Tans Look Better in Prom Photos
Professional photographers love working with clients who have a light spray tan because it creates a more even skin tone in photos.
A subtle glow can help:
- Reduce redness in the skin
- Create natural contour and dimension
- Prevent the “washed out” look that sometimes happens with flash photography
This is one of the reasons spray tanning is commonly used for weddings, photo shoots, and red carpet events.
When your skin tone looks smooth and even, your makeup artist can create a flawless foundation match and your photos will look amazing.
🚫 PRODUCTS THAT CAN RUIN YOUR SPRAY TAN
One of the biggest mistakes I see every prom season is using the wrong products before or after your tan.
Avoid:
✘ Dove soap or bar soaps
✘ Oil-based lotions
✘ Harsh acne washes
✘ Bath & Body Works products before your tan
Instead, use spray tan-safe products:
👉 SHOP SPRAY TAN SAFE BODY WASH
👉 SHOP MY FAVORITE MOISTURIZER
👉 SHOP THE EXFOLIATING MITT I RECOMMEND
Using the right products is the difference between a flawless glow and a streaky, patchy tan.
Prom Spray Tanning Tips for the Best Results
Before your appointment read my guide on What to Do Before a Spray Tan.
Get all your spray tan-approved supplies together before your appointment so you are prepared.
- Shower with a Sulfate Free Body Wash
- Shave BEFORE your tan
- Exfoliate BEFORE your tan with an exfoliating mitt
- Always have your Mani/Pedi and Brow Waxing done BEFORE your spray tan appointment
- Wear an Older Bra/Undies to your spray tanning appointment. If your dress is backless, grab some of the petals or a sticky bra to wear during your spray tan appointment
- Stay Dry AFTER your spray tan for 8-10 hours (this means you CAN NOT get your spray tan and then go to practice)
- Shower When You Get Up BEFORE school if I have sprayed you on Thursday
- NEVER wash your face with anti-acne facial wash or apply acne products to your spray tan
Prom Spray Tan Advice
Please listen to your spray tan professional regarding spray tan advice and instructions.
DO NOT put lotion on before your spray tan
- Your tan will NOT soak in and you will be splotchy
DO NOT put lotion on when you get home after your spray tan
- Your tan will smear all over leaving you a streaky mess and your hands all sorts of orange and messy
DO NOT take a shower immediately when you get home after your spray tan
- You will wash off the spray tan solution and will not be tan (the only exception to this rule is if you were sprayed with a rapid tan or one-hour tanning product). Your spray tan artist will tell you exactly when to shower.
DO NOT wash your hands after your spray tan
- You will wash the spray tan solution off your hands and they will be white.
DO NOT forget to shower in the morning before school
- If you leave the bronzer on you will be too dark and slightly off color so please hop in the shower and rinse the bronzer off before starting your day.
DO NOT wear the bronzer to Prom
- If you don’t shower before your prom and put your pretty dress on over the spray tan solution, you WILL get spray tan on your gown and ruin it. Also, if it’s a light-colored fabric and you get sweaty, it will soak into your dress and show at the dance. Holy embarrassment!
Other Events To Get A 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
- Spray Tan Tips For Your Photoshoot
- How Boutique Clothing Models Prep For Photo Shoots
How To Keep Your Spray Tan Looking Perfect on Prom Night
Once your spray tan has developed and you have showered off the bronzer, keeping your glow looking fresh is easy.
- Apply a light moisturizer the morning of prom
- Avoid heavy oils on your arms and shoulders
- Wear loose clothing while getting ready
- Bring blotting papers for your face if you tend to sweat while dancing
A healthy glow paired with great hair and makeup will give you that polished “prom night” look everyone loves in photos.
✨ Don’t forget to save your Prom Spray Tan Prep Checklist so you’re 100% ready for your appointment → SAVE CHECKLIST
Prom Spray Tan in Perrysburg and Toledo Ohio
So now you know the secret to making your prom makeup and pics look amazing. If you are preparing for prom in Perrysburg, Toledo, or Northwest Ohio, a professional spray tan helps your makeup look smoother and more radiant in photos.
Prom spray tans are typically scheduled 2-3 days before the dance for the best results.
Prom season fills quickly every year.
If you need a prom spray tan in Perrysburg or Toledo, you can book your appointment here:
If you are not in our area and are looking for a fantastic spray tan artist near you, then you should read DECIDING TO GET YOUR FIRST SPRAY TAN for tips on choosing the best spray tan artist in your area and a quick rundown on what to expect during your spray tanning appointment.
Yes. A spray tan evens out skin tone and reduces redness so foundation applies more smoothly.
No, as long as you shower off the bronzer after the recommended time and schedule your tan 1-3 days before prom.
No. The tan needs time to develop and the bronzer must be rinsed off first.
Styled Shoot:
- Spray Tan SunSpray by Kathryn
- Makeup Artist Merle Norman Cosmetics
- Photographer Brittany Ganss
As a small business owner, I can’t stock all the fantastic products available in the sunless tanning world, but I can give you my professional opinion.
Hi, I’m Kathryn, the founder of SunSpray by Kathryn and a spray tan artist with 25+ years of real-world experience in the sunless tanning industry.
I’ve spent decades perfecting the art of custom spray tanning — from everyday glow to advanced bridal and contour spray tanning — and for the last 7 years, I’ve worked directly in sunless product development and formulation, testing and refining professional products recommended by artists across the industry.
I’m certified in spray tanning and have continuously trained in advanced techniques, and I bring both technical knowledge and hands-on experience into everything I teach and share. My goal is simple: to help clients feel confident in their skin and to support other artists with honest, experience-based education that actually works in the real world.