Bridal Tan Sheet
Airbrush tans are the perfect complement to your skin, dress, and overall look for your wedding day. Custom spray tans help enhance the natural beauty of your skin, give it a healthy glow of color, while also hiding minor skin imperfections to give you an airbrushed finished look.
Aurose Beauty’s 6 tips for choosing the right spray tan for your wedding
Do your research, and check your local artist’s reviews and photos. Just like a makeup artist, make sure your artist’s style fits the look you are going for!
Don’t use self tanner for your wedding. Have a professional airbrush artist tan you!
Do schedule a trial tan at least a month before the wedding. This will allow the tan to fully fade before you get your wedding day tan. Trial tans are a great time to see if any minor adjustments need to be made for your wedding tan.
Once you get your trial tan, take some photos and dress up in something white and see how the tan looks against a white dress. I recommend getting your trial before a bachelorette party, bridal shower, or makeup trial.
If you plan a trial around a dress fitting, make sure to wait a couple days/rinse twice before your try your dress on. You wouldn’t want to get anything on it before your wedding.
Once you’ve chosen your spray tan artist and correct shade that is going to work best for your skin, time to book your wedding tan ASAP! Many artists book out months in advance, especially for the prime appointment times two days before the wedding.
WEDDING WEEK BEAUTY SCHEDULE PREP
Your spray tan appointment should be one of your last beauty regimes before your wedding. Here is a guideline for when you should schedule all your beauty and spa treatments around your spray tan (for a Saturday wedding).
Get all waxing done 48 hours or more prior to appt.
Moisturize skin daily leading up to the tan, and stop using lotion 12 hours prior to tan.
If you’re getting a massage, do so at least a day before your tan, and make sure all massage oil is removed prior to tan
Get your mani and pedi done before your tan, and make sure to rinse off any remaining lotions or oils from treatments
Facials done 24+ before tan
Shave and exfoliate the day before your tan. I recommend using an exfoliating mitt like this one! Pay special attention to elbows, knees, hands, and feet. Do not shave right before your appointment. Avoid Dove products as they may leave a film on your skin.
Schedule your tan for Thursday or two days before your Saturday wedding. Next best day is Wednesday, followed by Friday.
A quick shower is OK before your appointment, but make sure all body wash, shampoo and conditioner is removed off skin.
Come to your appointment with no lotion, deodorant, lotion , or perfume on, and have loose dark clothes to wear after your appointment. Flip flops are best. Enjoy getting pampered. You deserve it!
AFTER TAN:
No tight clothing until after your first rinse. Avoid leggings, boots, tennis shoes, bras, jeans, or any other restrictive clothing.
First rinse is water only. Use your hands thoroughly to rinse all bronzer off. If you received an express rinse tan, make sure you rinse off during the designated rinse window. You don’t want to be too tan for the big day!
Always pat your skin dry with a towel after getting out of the shower.
24 hours later or at least once before your wedding, take a light body wash shower. Use your hands, lightly lather body wash evenly over skin, and rinse thoroughly. *THIS STEP IS CRUCIAL AND WILL HELP PREVENT TRANSFER ONTO YOUR DRESS. Use a SLS free gentle soap like Dr. Bronners.
No moisturizing until the next day, then use a natural based lotion with ingredients like shea butter and cocoa butter. Avoid straight oils! Wait until after your wedding to use a tan extender lotion.
No heavy sweating or vigorous exercise until after your wedding. You want to preserve the tan as best as possible, especially in areas such as the underarms and chest- sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
Avoid hot tubs, pools, and the ocean until after your wedding.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
When should I get my trial tan?
At least one month before your wedding. This will allow the trial to fully be gone before your bridal glow. I think 1-3 months is a good time frame!
When should I get my tan before the wedding?
Two days prior is best. If you are getting married on a Saturday, book your tan for Thursday. This will allow your tan to fully develop, but also give you enough time to get a couple rinses in to prevent any transfer onto your dress. Plus, you’ll enjoy the first day of your tan at your rehearsal dinner. If Thursday does not work, I would then recommend Wednesday as the next best day, then Friday and Tuesday as a last resort. Be sure to book your wedding tan at least a month in advance to get the best time that will fit into your busy wedding week.
Can you even out my tan lines?
Yes and No. I can definitely even out subtle tan lines, and blend more noticeable ones, but I cannot guarantee I can fully mask them with the tan. I highly recommend wearing a high SPF anytime you are outside in the months before your wedding. IF you decide to work on your tan before your wedding, do so in a strapless top, or untie the straps when tanning your backside. Be very mindful of sports bra tan lines from running outside or T shirt tan lines that can form from being outside too.
Will the spray tan rub off on my dress?
No…IF you follow correct post care instructions. You need to get two rinses in before you put on your dress. First rinse is water only for your initial rinse. Second rinse, after 24hours and before your wedding should be a light soap body wash. Use your hands to evenly work it over skin, and thoroughly rinse off evenly.
Can I tan over a sunburn?
No. The tan will not adhere properly to burned skin, and the tan will make it much more obvious if you start to peel. If you have already started to peel, the tan will not adhere evenly to peeled/unpeeled skin. Wear your SPF!!
Can you tan over an old spray tan/self tanner?
No, and especially not recommended before your wedding. You wouldn’t paint nail polish over an old manicure before your wedding would you? Same concept! It will turn out uneven and patchy.
When should I get my manicure, pedicure, facial, waxing, massage, and other pre wedding spa treatments done?
All before your spray tan! Its best to do these 24-48 hours in advance to ensure the best outcome for your tan. (See Wedding Week Beauty Schedule Prep Above)
Will I turn orange?
No! I am super conservative with my bridal tans. The goal is to enhance your natural skin tone for the big day, not distract. Save the dark tan for the honeymoon :) As always, a trial tan is highly recommended. Also, on the orange topic, make sure your photographers editing style isn’t too warm or too washed out. A warm editing style can look oversaturated and pull orangey tones out. A light and airy photographer on the other hand can wash all your tan and beautiful makeup away. Sad!
