The most prominent step to preparing for a spray tan is exfoliation. It seems like everyone knows that not exfoliating before a spray tan is disadvantageous. Less known is that over exfoliating can be just as unproductive and even damaging. As an industry, we have successfully trained our clients about the need for exfoliation. We say “exfoliate prior to your spray tan to ensure longer lasting results.” Are clients hearing “the more you exfoliate the better your tan will be?” Put some love back into the scrub by educating client on proper exfoliation techniques for sunless success.

There are two methods of exfoliation: chemical and manual. Chemical exfoliation involves the use of enzymes or acids to break down and loosen skin cells and is typically not well suited for sunless. The more appropriate method for sunless is manual exfoliation, which uses a rough material to physically remove dead skin cells. There are so many options for manual exfoliation, from brushes and gloves to crushed seeds and sugar, that clients get the impression anything will work.

Click here to read the entire article in the latest issue of Smart Tan Magazine online.