Spray tanning for men; how to do it and why you ABSOLUTELY should
Are you a man tan sceptic? Fear no more. We have spray-tanned tonnes of terrified men and aim to let you know EVERYTHING about fake tanning for men.
We’ve got you covered, from tiny tan knickers to freezing your balls off.
We will cover the following:
- Do guys get spray tans?
- What to ask for at the salon
- What to do and bring beforehand
- What do guys wear for a spray tan
- Essential tanning tips for men, e.g. what to do and what not to do afterwards
- Some tips for beauty therapists providing the treatment
We know precisely why you are worried about going for a spray tan. You are afraid the ladies in the waiting room will scoff at you, you’re panicking about being nude in front of a beauty therapist, and you fear being recruited by Willy Wonka.
None of that will happen (if you follow these steps).
These are modern times, remember. Not once in our eight years in the beauty industry have we thought that men shouldn’t come into our salon for spray tanning. We encourage it.
Beauty therapy is all about making people feel good, whether welcoming you into our salon, having some great banter or giving you a treatment that will make you feel like a million dollars.
A man that false tans are skin health savvy, and I hope they never feel discouraged for wanting a holiday glow without the UV damage. The bottom line is that most beauty therapists would never dream of excluding someone based on gender.
How to book a spray tan
One thing I loved about my male clients was that they were always prepared, if not a little too prepared.
Why? Because, unlike us salon-loving females, they don’t take it for granted.
Most men booking a spray tan would like to phone or chat online before coming into our salon, and we appreciate this. It allowed us to give advice beforehand, discuss what they wanted and generally make it a stress-free appointment for them.
What to do before the spray tan
Spray tans for men are a bit different due to the following aspects:
- beards
- hairy bods
- underwear
- shaved or bald heads
Beards – Don’t bother shaving your beard; there’s no need.
Hair – No need to de-fuzz, but if you want to, you can (do it 24 hours before)
Underwear – Pick underwear replicating the natural tan lines you would get at the beach. You may have to wear a thong if going into a bodybuilding competition. Going nude is not recommended for spray tan sessions.
Shaved or bald heads – Don’t worry; your therapist will spray this area.
Now that that’s covered, let’s go over your pre-tan tasks:
- Exfoliate 24-48 hours before your spray tan
- Bring loose, dark clothing that is easy to put on (check this out what to wear to a spray tan)
- Test your clothing suitability by putting it on beforehand and ask yourself, ‘Was that easy to get on without rubbing any tan off?’
- Bring an umbrella or raincoat.
- Don’t wear deodorant, aftershave, or moisturizer to your appointment, even if you put it on in the morning.
- Sorry! No gym after your tan, I’m afraid.
- Refrain from washing hands or showering after treatment until you can wash it off (usually 9 hours)
What shade to ask for
If this spray tan is for a holiday, a night out, or to feel good, pick a light or medium spray tan for your first-time spray tan.
Are you naturally tanned? Try a medium.
Are you a ghostly shade of pale? Go for light on your first time.
Stage or photography tans differ slightly from a regular male spray tan for everyday events.
For bodybuilding competitions or fitness progress photoshoots, pick the darkest shade they have. This defines your body but also counteracts the stage lights and flash photography.
When to wash off?
Most tans are to be washed off in 9-12 hours. It’s best to check with your therapist before you leave the salon.
If you are getting a rapid spray tan, you wash this tan off depending on how dark you want to get. Find out more about rapid spray tans.
We always recommend rapid spray tans because the colour guide gives you a little preview of what’s to come, and it’s so convenient to wash your tan off in 3-4 hours!
Here are some vital shower tips for after your spray tan to keep you right: how to shower after a spray tan
Tips for therapists when spraying male tanning clients
Top tips to ensure a plain sailing spray tan session.
Make sure your clients feel comfortable and prepared
Give your male clients extra attention; it’s probably their first time using a fake tan, never mind a spray tan. What’s evident to us ladies about false tanning may not be obvious to someone who’s never used it before.
What is the event?
If the tanning session is for a bodybuilding competition or fitness progress photo shoot, it is strongly recommended that they pick the darkest shade, e.g. 16%, 20% or your ‘rapid tan‘ left on for 12 hours. I recommend Nouvatan 20% for these types of tan because it’s a natural-looking tan (non-orange) but dark enough to counteract the flash photography and stage lights.
For everyday use, e.g. holiday, pick an 8% to 10% or light to the medium max for your male client’s first session. You don’t want to frighten them!
The ankles and feet
Ok, this is important! Really hair legs must be sprayed upwards instead of a downward motion that you would typically do. This is to push the hairs out of the way with the airflow so the tan gets under the hair and onto the skin.
This can, however, mean you might overspray the ankles. It’s a little complicated, but let’s explain.
Your tan spray mist should never start directly on the skin; you should always begin spraying the empty air space before hitting the skin because it will thicken at the starting point and look awful.
Start your upward spray in the middle of the shins and then lightly mist the bottom of the legs.
This article explains spray tan flow in more detail: Spray tanning hands and feet.
Remember the head!
Remember, most ladies have a head full of hair, so you can easily forget that a man with no hair will need that sprayed.
Give pre-tan preparation advice
See our full guide to preparing for a spray tan: What to do before a spray tan
Over-explain the aftercare
Don’t leave any client in the dark about aftercare. It could end in tan-streaked tears. When it comes to spray tans for men, we must remember that most are not knowledgeable about fake tanning.
Remind your client not to wash your hands, go to the gym etc. Check out more tips here: Spray tan tips
Straight from the bottle
If you want a false tanner instead of a spray tan, the best fake tan for men would be light and natural. A gradual tanner would be best.