Spray Tan Guide: How to Prepare for Your Stage Tan
Kissed by an angel. Your stage tan is one of the biggest things the judges see. This guide takes you through everything to do, from a week out to stepping on stage, so your tan goes on evenly and stays perfect.
Your tan venue, date and tan time are emailed to you before each show.
How your tan works
Base coat: the day before the show, at the tanning venue. Your tan time is also when you register and collect your badge.
Top coat: on show day, at the show venue. You are given your top coat time when you have your base coat.
Arrive at the time you booked. If you miss your tan time, we cannot guarantee we can fit you in. Traffic is often busy, so leave plenty of time.
Your kit list
Get these in before you start your skin prep.
- Exfoliating glovesBuy on Amazon
- pH-balanced shower gelBuy on Amazon
- Oil-free moisturiserSuch as AveenoBuy on Amazon
Ladies, extras you might need
- She-weeFor after your tan and on show dayBuy on Amazon
- Nipple coversCan be used in the tanning boothBuy on Amazon
- C-stringCan be used in the tanning boothBuy on Amazon
Also useful
- Men: a sock to cover your manhood during tanning
- Baggy black socks
- Black bed sheets or a black duvet cover
- Cling film
- Loose, baggy clothes and flip-flops
Your tan timeline
Start your skin prep
- In the shower or bath, put your pH-balanced shower gel directly on the exfoliating gloves.
- Gently exfoliate your whole body, paying extra attention to dry areas and under your arms, where antiperspirant builds up.
- Afterwards, apply your oil-free moisturiser.
- Repeat every other day, right up to your tan.
Consistent skin prep helps your tan go on evenly and last longer. Don't skip it.
Wax, if you are waxing
All body hair needs to go: legs, arms, armpits, stomach, chest, back and groin. Hair stops the tan sticking to your skin and shows up more once you are tanned.
Do a patch test first and follow the product instructions or your beautician's advice.
Hair removal cream, if you are using it
Patch test first and follow the product instructions.
Shave, if you are shaving
Shave the night before rather than the morning of, so any nicks have time to heal.
Arrive bare skinned
- No make-up, moisturiser, perfume or deodorant on your skin.
- Long hair tied up.
- Wear loose, baggy clothing and flip-flops to avoid marks from waistbands and straps. Wash anything new before wearing it, to stop dye transfer.
- No red clothing, however old.
- No satin dressing gowns, as they affect your tan.
- Come alone. Only athletes being tanned are allowed inside for the base coat. Family and friends will be asked to wait outside.
- Allow 30 to 90 minutes in total.
- Your tan is booked to you and cannot be transferred to another athlete.
- Men: bring your own sock to cover your manhood during tanning.
Protect your tan overnight
- Baggy black socks on your hands if you tend to touch your body or face in your sleep. This stops hand-shaped marks.
- Sleep in black bedding. Use black sheets, or get inside an empty black duvet cover (just the cover, no duvet), to stop tan transferring to your bed.
- Cling film over the toilet seat to stop tan transfer. Better yet, squat!
- Men: aim carefully and watch out for splashback.
- Ladies: use a she-wee, or a pint-sized plastic cup with a hole pierced in the bottom.
Top coat at the venue
Come to the show venue at the top coat time you were given at your base coat. Then you are ready for the stage.
See you soon, where you will be kissed by an angel.
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