What To Expect When You Get A Wax and Spray Tan On The Same Day
Whether you’re preparing for a big event or you simply prefer to get all of your beauty appointments done at once, you’ve likely thought about the effects of getting a wax and a spray tan in the same day. Do you wax before spray tan? Spray tan before wax? What should you keep in mind? To answer these questions, I’ve enlisted the help of Sugared + Bronzed founder, Courtney Claghorn, a woman who has created an entire business off of two essential beauty services: sugar waxing and spray tanning. S + B solely offers sugaring services and airbrush spray tans, so Courtney knows all of the ins and outs of scheduling both appointments in the same day.
For starters, it’s important to note that “sugaring” is a type of hair removal service that uses a water-soluble sugar paste to remove unwanted hair, but has the same affect on spray tans as traditional strip wax does. While wax is hotter and uses sticks in strips in the removal process, sugar paste is simply molded to the area where hair removal is desired and then removed in the opposite direction of hair growth to extract the hairs in the direction they grow. What’s more? S + B’s sugar paste is made up solely of sugar, water, and lemon, so no added nasties are used to remove hair on your precious skin.
So, do you wax or spray tan first?
According to the founder, scheduling your sugar appointment before your spray tan appointment is key. Why? Because if you do any hair removal process after your spray tan, it will remove the tan.
Ok, so what about the leftover residue, won’t that affect my tan?
Simply tell your waxing specialist that you’ll be getting a spray tan afterwards and to kindly wipe away any residue and not use any aftercare products.
As for pre-appointment care…
According to Courtney, prior to sugaring appointments, clients should avoid exfoliating within 48 hours of their appointment, hair should be at least ¼ an inch long, and to make sure they haven’t taken Accutane within the last six months. If clients are only getting a spray tan and not sugaring, they can exfoliate and shave 24 hours prior. For both appointments, clients should arrive with clean, dry skin free of any lotions or products.
What do I wear to my appointment?
Loose-fitting clothing is suggested for both, and if you’re getting a tan, then wearing dark, loose-fitting clothing is especially important just in case the tan’s color guide transfers onto the clothing.
Here’s what to know for post-appointment care:
After sugaring, don’t touch the area immediately after and avoid exfoliating and exposing the sugared area to the sun, sweat, pools, hot tubs, and fragrances for at least 48 hours. Also, sorry everyone, but Courtney (and a slew of medical experts) suggest avoiding sex 24-48 hours after getting a brazilian, especially if you’re prone to ingrowns.
After tanning, the usual applies: avoid sweating before the first rinse, and rinse (just water, no soap) between one and eight hours after your appointment (the longer you let it develop, the darker it’ll be).