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You’ve just shaved and wonder how long you should wait to fake tan after shaving? It’s frequently asked question, and it’s completely valid. Shaving your legs, hands, or other parts of the body right before you go for your tan appointment can give you disastrous results.
If you’ve just shaved and want to apply a fake tan to your skin, you’ll, unfortunately, have to wait. Otherwise, you could risk skin irritation or a nasty rash. It’s advisable to wait 24 hours before a fake tan application after shaving, or at least 4 hours. You should also take a cold shower after shaving to completely close your pores.
Besides potentially irritating your skin, shaving right before applying fake tan can cause a streaky texture. This will leave an uneven, unattractive, and unnatural look after the tan is applied.
What is Fake Tan?
A fake tan is a form of sunless tanning. And it involves temporarily tanning a few upper layers of your skin with DHA. The DHA on the skin reacts with the skin’s amino acids and the oxygen in the air leading to a darkening effect.
The skin cells are renewed in about 4 weeks, and thus, the fake tan goes away on its own. It’s more like shedding of the old skin.
How Long After Shaving Should You Wait to Fake Tan?
The first and foremost reason people are told to wait for at least 24 hours is to avoid getting a rough texture after a fake tan. The second reason is to avoid the chances of any kind of irritation.
Shaving cuts hair from your skin and removes dead skin cells from the top of the skin. During the whole process, tiny, invisible micro-tears form on the skin.
These tears usually go away within 24-48 hours and don’t lead to any kind of problem for the skin. It’s recommended to not apply anything on your skin after you have shaved.
Can You Shave After a Fake Tan?
It’s essential to know how long after shaving can you fake tan, but it’s also necessary to know if you can shave after getting a fake tan.
Many people make the mistake of shaving their skin after a fake tan, which makes some of the colour come off. If you’re soaking your skin in water for a long time before shaving, then this will make more colour come off.
Know that the fake tan is temporary, and anything you do on it only speeds up the process of skin renewal. It’s recommended to not shave your skin right after you get your fake tan.
However, perhaps you prepared your skin for the fake tan, moisturized it properly, and skipped drying yourself with a towel after bathing. In that instance, you may proceed with shaving. Your fake tan after shaving won’t be much affected if you follow the regimen.
How Should You Shave Before a Fake Tan?
It’s crucial to know how to shave before you go for a spray tan; otherwise, you might end up irritating your skin or ruining your beautiful tan.
The follow tips may be of help to you throughout the process.
- First, wait for at least 12-24 hours after shaving to get a spray tan.
- Try to use a new razor as a old razor can be rough on the skin.
- Soak yourself in warm water to smoothen the skin before shaving.
- Apply shaving cream or similar to the skin when shaving.
- Allow your razor to move with the natural direction of hair growth, not against it.
- Use a toner or an anti-septic after shaving to close the pores in the skin.
- Make sure to moisturize your skin.
If you’re shaving after a spray tan, then here’s how you should do it.
- Wait for at least 9 hours to shave your skin.
- Again, use a new razor, not an old one.
- Air dry your skin after washing as a towel can shed the skin.
- Avoid using harsh chemicals on the skin.
- Don’t exfoliate your skin.
- Moisturize your skin as the final step.
Can You Prolong Your Fake Tan?
Yes, you can definitely prolong your tan on the skin. Now that you know how long after shaving can you fake tan, it’s time to learn how you can prolong your tan. Many people lose their tan within days because they fail to follow a routine.
Here are a few tips to help you get the most beautiful tan for more days than you can expect.
Don’t Use Bottle Fake Tan
Don’t mistakenly use a bottle of fake tan on your skin instead of a spray tan. It’s not long-lasting and won’t even give you the perfect tan that you’re looking for. It’s best to make an appointment and go for a spray tan for incredible results.
Exfoliate Before Tanning
Exfoliation before your tanning appointment can shed the old skin cells. By doing so, your new skin cells will be tanned in your session, allowing the tan to stay longer on the skin. Make sure that you’re using the right exfoliating products, as many of them can lead to irritating your skin as well.
Opt for Waxing
If you wax your skin, it’s best to get it done 2-3 days before your tanning appointment. Waxing your skin just before the tan can cause dark spots inside the pores.
Try Epilating
Epilating involves using a small rotating machine to manually remove the hair. Try doing it on your hair growth before tanning.
Avoid Use Towel
Using a towel on wet skin can cause more shedding, so it’s best to not rub your body. Make sure to air dry your skin.
Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize!
It’s necessary to moisturize your skin as much as you can to ensure it remains hydrated. However, do not use any kind of oil on your skin.
Conclusion
You need to wait to fake tan after shaving, and it’s because of all the right reasons. It’s vital to know how long after shaving can you fake tan; otherwise, you might end up wasting your money.
Following all the above tips will ensure you maintain a gorgeous tan for as long as possible. Shaving your skin without taking the necessary measures can also cause small red bumps on the skin, also known as strawberry legs.
If you don’t want to ruin your skin’s texture and wish to enjoy flawless tanned skin in your favourite dresses, then it’s best to get it done the right way. Bear these tips in mind when you go for your next spray tan appointment.
