The Ultimate Guide to Spray Tanning

Everything you need to know before, during, and after your appointment—for your best spray tan yet.

Welcome to The Sunless Edit by Cowtown Tanning—our destination for expert sunless advice, skincare education, insider tips, and everything you need to know about achieving a natural-looking glow without the UV.

And for our first edit, we're starting with the basics.

Whether you're getting your very first spray tan or you've been using the at-home self-tanner for years, what you do before and after your appointment can make all the difference. From proper prep to your first shower, here's our complete guide to getting the most out of your spray tan.

First Things First: What Is a Spray Tan?

A spray tan uses an ingredient called DHA (dihydroxyacetone) to temporarily darken the appearance of the outermost layer of your skin. DHA reacts with amino acids on the skin's surface to gradually develop your tan—no UV exposure required.

But not all spray tans are created equal.

The goal isn't to make you just look "spray tanned."

It's to make you look like you—with a really, really good tan.

Before Your Appointment: The Prep

Great spray tans start before you ever walk into the salon.

For the smoothest, most even development, we recommend completing your major prep the day before your appointment whenever possible.

Exfoliate

Gently exfoliate your entire body, paying extra attention to areas where dry skin tends to accumulate, including your elbows, knees, ankles, hands, and feet.

Removing excess dead skin gives your tan a smoother surface to develop on and will help it fade more evenly.

Shave or Wax

Shaving and waxing should ideally be completed 24+ hours before your appointment rather than afterward.

If you're waxing, give your skin plenty of time to calm down before being sprayed. Shaving immediately before an appointment can also leave the skin more sensitive, so we generally recommend doing it ahead of time (during your prep shower) when possible.

Arrive With Clean Skin

On the day of your appointment, skip products that may create a barrier between your skin and your tan.

That means avoiding:

• Lotions
• Body oils
• Deodorant
• Perfume
• Heavy skincare products on areas being sprayed

Don't worry—we'll take care of any necessary barrier cream and finishing products during your appointment.

What Should You Wear?

Think dark, loose, and comfortable (Adam Sandler clothing).

After your appointment, you'll want to avoid anything tight that could rub against your developing tan.

Loose sweatpants, oversized T-shirts, flowy dresses (with sleeves), and relaxed-fitting clothing are all great choices. We'd skip leggings, tight bras, restrictive waistbands, tank tops, jeans, and other fitted clothing immediately after your spray.

And yes, dark colors are your friend when opting for bronzer-based solutions.

What Happens During a Custom Airbrush Tan?

If you've never had a professional airbrush tan before, there's nothing intimidating about it.

Your appointment begins with a consultation. We'll talk about your natural skin tone, tanning history, desired result, upcoming events, and how quickly you need your tan to develop.

Your spray tan artist will then guide you through the entire application, including exactly how to stand and position your body.

One of the biggest advantages of a custom airbrush tan is exactly that: it's custom.

Your perfect tan may look completely different from someone else's. We aren't trying to make every client the same shade—we're creating a color that complements you.

How Long Should You Wait Before Showering?

This depends on the type of solution you and your technician select.

Different sunless solutions have different recommended development windows, which is why following the specific instructions your spray tan artist gives you is so important.

At Cowtown Tanning, we offer several development options so your tan can work around your schedule—from traditional development times to faster rinse options.

One important thing to remember: your first rinse doesn't necessarily reveal your final color.

Your tan can continue developing after you've rinsed, so don't panic if you initially look lighter than expected.

Give it time to do its thing.

Your First Shower Matters

When it's finally time to rinse, keep that first shower simple.

Use lukewarm water and avoid aggressively scrubbing the skin. You'll see cosmetic bronzer washing away—this is completely normal and does not mean your tan is disappearing.

Gently pat yourself dry instead of rubbing your skin with a towel.

After your tan has fully developed, keeping your skin moisturized becomes one of the best things you can do to maintain it.

How Long Does a Spray Tan Last?

Most professional spray tans last approximately 5–10 days, although longevity varies based on your skin, lifestyle, preparation, and aftercare.

Your skin naturally sheds dead skin cells every day, so a spray tan will gradually fade along with them.

Want your glow to stick around?

Hydration is key.

Moisturize consistently, drink lots of water, avoid aggressive exfoliation, limit prolonged exposure to very hot water, and choose body-care products that are compatible with sunless tanning.

Activities involving frequent swimming, sweating, hot tubs, or exfoliation may also cause your tan to fade faster.

How Often Can You Get a Spray Tan?

For most our clients, approximately once every two weeks works beautifully.

The most important part isn't simply how often you spray—it's making sure you're properly removing your previous tan before applying a new one.

Continually layering fresh solution over an old, uneven tan can eventually create patchiness and inconsistent development.

Think of every appointment as starting with a fresh canvas.

When Should You Spray Tan Before an Event?

For weddings, photos, vacations, parties, and other special occasions, we generally recommend scheduling your spray tan 1–2 days before your event.

This gives your tan time to fully develop and allows you to complete your initial rinse before the big day.

For brides, we recommend taking things one step further and scheduling a trial tan before (at least 2-3 weeks) the wedding so you already know exactly what you love.

A Better Spray Tan Starts With Customization

There isn't one universally "perfect" spray tan shade.

Your skin tone, undertones, desired depth, development time, event schedule, skincare routine, and personal preferences can all influence what works best for you.

That's why we believe the best sunless experience starts with a conversation—not simply choosing a color from a menu.

At Cowtown Tanning, every airbrush tan is customized by a trained sunless artist with one goal: creating a natural-looking result that feels like you.

No UV. No one-size-fits-all formula. No guessing.

Just a better glow.

Your Sunless Questions, Answered

Will a spray tan make me orange?
No - that's exactly what we're working to avoid. At Cowtown Tanning , every airbrush tan is customized based on your natural skin tine, undertones, desired depth of color, and how you want your final tan to look. We also use premium professional solutions formulated with high-quality, carefully sourced DHA rather than taking a one-solution-fits-all approach. Our goal is always natural-looking, customized sunless tan that compliments your skin. 

Can I work out after my spray tan?
Avoid sweating while your tan is developing. Once you've completed your recommended development period and showered, you can return to your normal routine, although frequent heavy sweating may shorten the life of your tan.

Can I shave after a spray tan?
You can, but shaving also lightly exfoliates the skin and may cause your tan to fade faster. That's why we recommend shaving before your appointment whenever possible. We recommend using a Tan-Safe Body Wash or Oil with a fresh razor to protect your tan when shaving. 

Can I get a spray tan before vacation?
Absolutely. Just remember that swimming, salt water, chlorine, sunscreen application, and frequent showering can all affect longevity. Proper aftercare becomes especially important while traveling.

Does a spray tan protect me from the sun?
No. A spray tan does not provide meaningful UV protection. Continue using appropriate sunscreen and sun-protection practices even when you're beautifully bronzed.

Ready for Your Spray Tan?

Cowtown Tanning specializes in elevated, custom airbrush tanning with locations serving Fort Worth and Parker County, Texas.

Whether it's your first spray tan, your wedding weekend, an upcoming vacation, or simply part of your regular routine, we'll help customize the experience to you.

Book your next glow with Cowtown Tanning.

Stay tuned to The Sunless Edit for more expert advice on spray tan prep, aftercare, bridal tanning, sunless-safe skincare, and getting more from every glow.