For the ultimate in bridal glows, there is nothing better than getting a spray tan before your wedding. But many are apprehensive to do this right before the big day. Whether it’s out of fear of turning orange (won’t happen) or having the color rub off on their dress (won’t happen either), some brides-to-be opt for their natural skin tone for the wedding even if they would feel more confident rocking a little color. It’s time to get schooled, ladies! We’ve gone straight to the sources on this topic. Our friends at BlushTan Pittsburgh and Bronze Beauty Spray Tanning gave us their best tips and tricks for avoiding wedding spray tan disasters and we’re sharing their dos and don’ts with you!
Book a Trial Before the Real Deal
Hands down, this might be the most solid piece of advice in this entire post. Spray tans aren’t for everyone, especially if you don’t get them regularly. The first time may be a bit of a shock to you. Whatever you do, absolutely do NOT wait until the week of the wedding to tan. Talk about setting yourself up for possible disaster. Not only will a trial allow you to get to know the person who will be applying the tan, but it also allows you to test drive the color. Then, you can adjust accordingly in time for the wedding. Sarah of Bronze Beauty Spray Tanning takes this tip once step further:
“We always recommend brides book a trial 3 – 4 weeks before their wedding. Another good idea is to book the trial around the time of your last wedding dress fitting. This will allow you to see exactly what your skin tone will look like in the dress itself and you can see if you like it.”
Your Color Will be Customized
So in other words…you won’t turn orange! At both BlushTan Pittsburgh (whose solutions are organic and plant-based) and Bronze Beauty Spray Tanning, the solutions are customized based on the client’s natural and desired skin tones. Trust us…they don’t want you to look like a walking Cheeto either (that would be totally bad for business). They aren’t going to go too dark on someone or suggest a shade that will look unnatural. They have your best interest at heart and are only going to use what will look good on YOU! This is why a trial is so crazy important! It will allow you to work with your spray tan expert to nail down the exact shade that will make you look like nothing but a bridal dream come true!
Get Your Mani/Pedi BEFORE the Spray Tan
In terms of wedding week to dos, think mani/pedi first and spray tan second. The lotions/oils of these nails services can act as a barrier to the skin, impacting color development and resulting in uneven tones. But sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. If you absolutely must get your spray tan done before your mani/pedi, follow this advice from BlushTan Pittsburgh.
“Wait until after your first shower. In this event, you should also avoid the massage portion of the service since their products may degrade your spray tan results.”
Head in 2 – 3 Days Before the Wedding
As far as WHEN to get your spray tan during the week of the wedding, Bronze Beauty Spray Tanning recommends 2 – 3 days before the I dos. If you’re having a Saturday wedding, make an appointment to get sprayed on Wednesday. Why? Sarah from Bronze Beauty says,
“This will allow your tan to fully develop and also allow you to rinse off all the cosmetic bronzer so it will not transfer onto your dress. We want you to have around 2 – 3 rinses before you put on the dress. Also, usually on the 3rd day, your color is at its best.”
Prep Yourself
For the best spray tan results, you need to do a little work ahead of time. The day before your appointment, shower and exfoliate, using a dry brush or exfoliating mitt to remove all the dry, dead skin. Shave or do any other hair removal no later than 12 hours before your spray tan. Then, the day of your appointment, exfoliate again (the secret weapon step). Remove lotions, self-tanners, makeup, perfume, deodorant, and oils. Again, these can impact the development of your tan. If you have incredibly dry skin and must moisturizer, use ONLY a “sunless safe” product like those available at BlushTan Pittsburgh!
Consider Your Dress’s Neckline & Back
Do not make the mistake I did upon getting my first ever spray tan. Right before a big event I was hosting, I headed in to Bronze Beauty Spray Tanning for a little color. I was feeling a bit modest and self-conscious that day, so I chose to get sprayed wearing a bandeau bikini top and bottoms. However, I failed to remember that my dress had a very low cut back until I went to my final fitting the very next day. Yep, I had a really unattractive, pasty white band across my now-tanned back! Not cute! Luckily, Sarah was an absolute life saver and was able to correct my mistake. She matched the color perfectly and no one could even tell that I made a total rookie move. Keep the neck AND back line of your dress in mind when getting undressed for the spray…and maybe leave your modesty at home. These women see boobs all the time and they pass ZERO judgement on anyone!
Will you be getting a spray tan for the big day? What other questions do you have for our spray tan experts? Comment below and tell us! Then go find our favorite Pittsburgh spray tanning experts in the Burgh Brides Vendor Guide!
