Spray Tan Removal
Often regarded as the most difficult part of the tanning cycle, tan removal no longer needs to be a chore. With a few tips and tricks up your sleeve you will wonder how you ever found it so hard before. It is important to remember that the only way you can remove your tan is to remove the skin cells which have been stained. There is no magical product to simply reverse the effect of DHA on your skin, therefore with this in mind, the process is all about shedding those unwanted cells. This does not have to be difficult, all you need is a few things to help you along.
Most importantly, you will need to buy a decent exfoliating glove. It does not need to be a fancy brand, and there are plenty to choose from at places like Priceline or your local chemist, it just needs to be rough enough so that it will actually slough off your skin cells. If you are happy to invest in something a little pricier, then you absolutely cannot go past a Riffi Mitt. These gloves are amazing and come in a range of textures and colours. If you have not used one before, it is definitely recommended that you start with a mild texture and work your way up the range as they can be slightly painful if your skin is not used to it.
Next you will need a scrub or body wash that you can use with your glove. There are plenty of tan removal products on the market, in the form of scrubs, gels, lotions, wipes and more. However here we will focus on scrubs and body washes. Some people prefer a scrub as it can feel quite invigorating with small granules of sand or fruit seeds which can accelerate the shedding process. Others prefer the smooth silkiness of a body wash or gel. Regardless of which type you prefer, the best type to use will have Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) and/or Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulphate (SLS) as ingredients. AHA is great as it a natural exfoliant derived from fruit and milk sugars proven to slough off skin cells. SLS is also know to strip back tan so unlike the other phases of the tanning cycle where it should be avoided at all costs, it’s a great time to use a body wash or shower gel which contains SLS. SLS is also the ingredient in cleaning products that causes the solution to lather up. Lather is excellent in combination with an exfoliating glove as it will tone down the “scratchiness” and provide a smooth layer for your skin.
And finally, it is a good idea to have a razor handy. Unless you don’t shave, shaving is a fantastic way to remove tan. Particularly on the legs, it is best done after a serious exfoliation using your glove and scrub or body wash (which will also heed off unwanted ingrown hairs!). Shaving literally shaves the stained dead cells away and will leave you with fresh white skin, ready to start the process all over again! If you do not shave, don’t worry, as most hair removal processes have the same effect such as waxing and epilating.
If you are having problems and are still finding you cannot remove all of your tan from using a glove, razor and AHA/SLS product, here are some tricks that will help speed up the process:
- Go for a swim in a salt or chlorine pool
- Have a long session in a sauna or spa
- Massage baby oil into your skin
- Replace your scrub or body wash with a cheap supermarket shampoo to use with an exfoliating glove
- Replace your scrub or body wash with an anti-dandruff shampoo to use with an exfoliating glove
- Mix up 1/4 cup of lemon juice and 1/2 cup of salt to use with an exfoliating glove
- Mix up 1/4 cup of olive oil and 1/2 cup of sugar to use with an exfoliating glove
- Mix Bicarbonate of Soda with a few drops of water to make a paste, apply thickly over skin and leave for a few minutes, then exfoliate with a glove
- Use a pumice stone for small stubborn areas
- Use Solvol (grey mechanic soap) in the shower or bath
- Use nail polish remover (sparingly!)
- Use Jiff household cleaner with an exfoliating glove (this is only intended for serious tanning mishaps or if you have tried everything else already!)
- Use White King bleach with an exfoliating glove (this is only intended for serious tanning mishaps or if you have tried everything else already!)
- Use Isocol Rubbing Alcohol or Methylated Spirits as an alternative to Jiff and White King bleach
- Use Napisan granules in conjuction with an exfoliating glove
- Pour 1/4 cup of Napisan Liquid Bleach into your bath and soak before exfoliating
- Apply Veet Hair Removal Mousse to your skin, wait 20 seconds, then exfoliate off
Caution should be taken when trying the above remedies. Especially when using harsh household products such as bleach and hair removal creams. It is always recommended to do a small patch test on an area of your skin to make sure that you do not have a bad reaction to the chemicals as the reaction will look alot worse than the tan you are trying to remove. Also, it is absolutely essential to cover your entire body with a rich moisturiser after you have successfully removed all of your tan. A great product to use is your basic sorbolene (available at the chemist or supermarket) which is very nourishing and moisture-rich. Rehydrating your skin is very important as the tan removal process will have removed the top few layers of your skin leaving it dry and vulnerable. Also, your skin will then be prepped to have another spray tan.
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Before your tan
During the tanning application
Caring for your tan afterwards
Tan removal