Before your tan

Tan Prep Guide, the full protocol.

The exact prep routine Fabiola sends salon clients before every appointment. Follow these steps and a six-day tan becomes a nine-day one. Skip them and you'll see streaks, patches, and an early fade — every time.

The week before · moisturize + exfoliate once

Moisturize twice daily with a cream-formulation moisturizer, preferably organic. Exfoliate once during the week prior using a washcloth and liquid organic soap. If you're booking a wax — schedule it at least 48 hours before your tan, not after. Manicures and pedicures are more flexible — the day before or the day after your tan both work fine. Nail polish is fine to wear — even a clear coat helps protect nails from staining.

The day before · exfoliate, shave, moisturize

Exfoliate your entire body with a non-oil, non-aloe exfoliant and washcloth — work top-to-bottom so you're not redepositing debris on skin you've already scrubbed. Shave with a brand-new razor and hair conditioner — Venus or Quattro work well. Avoid shaving products containing alcohol or razors with moisturizing strips. After your shower, rub skin briskly with a washcloth (especially ankles, knees, elbows), towel off briskly, then moisturize heavily with a high-quality cream or organic oil — our Hydrating Oil works well here.

The day of · no products on skin

Do NOT exfoliate or shave. Don't shower right before your appointment and come straight in — leave at least a 2-hour buffer, using an approved body wash or just rinsing with water. That gap matters: showering shifts your skin's pH and leaves it oversaturated with moisture, and it needs time to reset before the DHA can properly absorb. After the shower, apply nothing: no body oil, no moisturizer, no deodorant, no lotion, no perfume, no makeup — even if it was applied earlier in the day. Anything on your skin creates a barrier the DHA can't penetrate.

What to bring · what to wear

Bring small black underwear to be tanned in (disposable thongs are provided too), flip-flops or open-top shoes, and dark loose-fitting clothing for after. No jeans, no leggings, no tight yoga pants — these can affect the outcome of your tan. Bring a large towel for your car seat if you're wearing shorts.

Products to avoid · the week before

Some products strip skin and shorten your tan. Skip these the week of: Dove · Curel · Bath & Body Works · Victoria's Secret · all bar soaps · acne products · retinol · fruit-acid products. Retinol and acids that peel your skin are a huge no-no — and sunburn is just as bad, for the same reason: peeling skin means a patchy, uneven tan. If you're sunburnt, wait until it's fully healed before booking.

After your tan · let it develop

Wait at least 10 minutes before getting dressed, then keep it loose — tight clothing and friction can disturb the color while it's setting. Avoid sweating for the next three hours. Leave the tan on as long as you comfortably can before your first shower: the longer it develops, the darker and richer the color gets. Check your bottle or ask us in-studio for the exact window for your specific formula.

What you'll need

The essentials.

Self-Tanning Mousse w/ Free Applicator Mitt

At-home

The Mousse

$40Add to bag

Pro solution

Clean Caramel

$35Add to bag

Invisible

The Water

$25Add to bag

Pre-tan

Hydrating Oil

$12Add to bag

Ready for your tan

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