If your face is looking way too dark after a spray tan, it is most likely because too much product was used. This occurs when you use creams, lotions and serums to tan at home as well. If you’ve just come from the salon though, and you see that your skin looks way too dark, the best thing you can do is get into the shower and wash with an exfoliating body wash or use a body scrub to remove some of the excess color. Chlorine will also fade spray tan, so if it’s an option for you, jump into the pool and let the chlorinated water fade some of the color.
Of course there are times when the tan is just way too dark, or it has come out streaky, or orange and you need to remove the color. There are some self-tan brands that make color remover that will take away the tan. If you can’t get a color remover, you can try hair removing cream. Leave hair removing cream on the skin for about 5 minutes and then wash it off to lighten the tan. This works because depilatory creams remove dry skin cells that have soaked up the pigment.
The best thing you can do is to prepare for your spray tan in the days leading up to your treatment. Before you go to the salon it is recommended that you exfoliate, shave and moisturize at least 24 hours before your tan. This allows the spray tan to develop evenly. Certain dry areas such as knees and elbows tend to turn a little orange so apply lotion to these parts of your skin right before you tan to reduce how much of the product is absorbed. There are kits you can purchase that have exfoliating mitts and body lotions to prepare your skin ahead of time so you get the best results possible.