SPRAY TAN WITH TANS BY KAIT

Starting off my vacation already bronzed was a game changer! And clearly you guys thought so too, as I got sooo many comments as to how I got tanned so quickly! Truth is, I may have faked it with a spray tan, and because you asked so many questions about it via DM… I’m sharing all the deets!

 When I realized I didn’t want to be pasty white upon arriving to my tropical winter vacay, and knew I didn’t want to damage my skin in a tanning bed, I knew my best bet was to try a spray tan!

I had never had a spray tan before, so it’s safe to say I was a little unsure of what to expect… Although spray tans sometimes get a bad rep for making you look like a Cheeto or a Dorito, if done properly, this is definitely not the result you’ll get! More like a beautiful, golden goddess… no seriously. You’ll actually feel this good.

I went to see Kait at Tans by Kait for a quick and convenient tan just a day before my trip! Here’s how it goes down:

THE PRE-TAN PREP

Kait’s website gives great info on how to prepare for a spray tan, but it’s really quite simple.

1. Exfoliate daily, up to 3 days in advance of your spray tan. This will remove the top layer of any dead skin cells, so that your spray tan won’t come off as quickly
2. Moisturize daily! I moisturized 1-2 times per day. This helps the tan actually absorb into your skin better, plus who doesn’t want to be tanned and silky smooth?!
3. Shave at least 24 hours beforehand. This is to ensure your hair follicles have time to close up before the tan, which could cause sensitivity.
4. DO NOT use any lotions or oil-based product 24 hours before your appointment. Hopefully, by this point you will have exfoliated and moisturized enough that your skin will be ready to go regardless!

THE TAN

Upon arrival, Kait gave me a rundown of the process, and what I could expect over the next 30ish minutes of my appointment. She then asked me a few questions, including why I was getting a tan, what look I wanted to accomplish, and how much colour I was comfortable with. After I explained the look I was going for, the level of colour I wanted to achieve, and my timeline for the rest of the day, Kait decided on one of her 11 custom colours and put together a formula that would work best for me, and advised me of when I should shower off.

She left the room and I undressed, which can be whatever you choose: be it into a bra and underwear, a swimsuit, or totally naked. Kait told me she’s seen it all, so wear whatever I feel comfortable in! I wore a pair of underwear and no top so as to avoid at least some tanlines!

Kait then applied a barrier cream to my skin’s driest areas (hands, knees, elbows, feet), and then I hopped in the tan tent to get started.

Kait sprayed my full body with a PH Balancing Boosting Spray, which gives your skin a shot of moisture before the tan gets applied, to help your skin take to the spray better and enhance the colour. This is something you will not find included with just any spray tan — although it’s standard for Kait’s! — just one of the many reasons that shows how much she really ensures her clients are getting the best, most high quality tan possible.

Then came the fun: the spray! Kait explained every bit of the spray process, including what section of my body she’d be spraying and how to best position myself for each section. I chose to have my face spray tanned as well, but you can easily opt out of this and just get your body done if you prefer. I felt so comfortable the entire time! Something I totally didn’t expect, seeing as you’re standing there (basically) buck naked, but it genuinely felt like we were just friends chatting throughout the whole process!

Side note:I have followed Tans By Kait on Instagram since around the time she started her business, and I fell in love with her sweetness strictly through her stories, and her mission of making everyone feel totally comfortable and confident. Her IG bio says “Every shape. Every size. You are beautiful” and I have no doubt in my mind that this isn’t 100% accurate of her brand!

THE POST-TAN MAINTENANCE

Based on the colour and formula Kait uses specific for your needs, you will rinse off your spray tan anywhere from 2-8 hours later, as advised by Kait. The first shower is strictly water, no soap, to remove all the bronzer from the skin. After this shower, I felt my tan had kind of faded away, but Kait informed me in advance that this would happen, and it was just the top layer of bronzer coming off (which you want, to ensure your tan doesn’t look streaky), and that within the next 24 hours it would fully activate to the colour I would want. She was not wrong! By the next morning, I felt sunkissed already, and as the day went on, my tan kept activating further.

HOW LONG DOES IT LAST?

This varies, depending on your skin and how you care for your tan. Since I got a spray tan in advance of a vacation in which I knew I’d be sunbathing, it’s hard to say exactly how long strictly the spray tan lasted on me, but I do know that week and a half post spray-tan, I can officially say I personally experienced no streaking, or awkward fading, as my spray blended right into my natural tan leaving me looking sunkissed as soon as I stepped off the plane in Mexico!

I would recommend you continue moisturizing daily, and using soaps/lotions without alcohol as Kait recommends, as this can wear at your tan quicker. As I’ve said before, SPF should be your BFF, and this is no different when you have a spray tan! Remember that a spray tan does not protect you from UV rays, so if you’ll be out in the sun, be sure to apply it. It will also aid in protecting your spray tan against chlorine and saltwater. Your best bet is to avoid them, if possible, but I definitely took a few dips on my vacation and had no issues thanks to thorough sunscreen applications beforehand!

ARE THERE MORE SPRAY TANS IN MY FUTURE?

Absolutely YES! Thanks to Tans by Kait, I think I’ve become obsessed with spray tans and likely will be getting them more than just once a year before I go on vacation… It’s such an easy and affordable way to get that extra boost of self confidence before an event, before a special occasion, or even just when you need a little pick-me-up! Plus, it saves your skin from the serious damage caused by tanning beds and even natural sun rays.