How long does it take for a tan to fully darken?
Your skin can start tanning immediately after exposure to UV light however if you're after a deeper and darker tan – that's likely going to take 2-3 days to get noticeable. You can, however, speed up this process using a tan accelerator like Base Tan.
It takes as long as 48 hours for your body to produce melanin after your tanning session, so going more frequently does nothing to help develop your tan – it simply dries and thickens your skin, which makes it harder to tan.
Follow instructions on bottle for developing time-frames. Showering in luke warm water for only 1 minute. Pat dry. Tan will continue to develop for 4-6 hours.
Once skin is exposed to UV radiation, it increases the production of melanin in an attempt to protect the skin from further damage. Melanin is the same pigment that colors your hair, eyes, and skin. The increase in melanin may cause your skin tone to darken over the next 48 hours.
The time is takes to tan depends on several factors including your skin color, your climate, and how close you are to the equator. Most people will tan within 1 to 2 hours in the sun.
Most indoor tanning experts recommend three sessions per week until a tan develops, then two sessions per week after that to keep the tan. To avoid skin damage, wait at least 48 hours between tanning sessions.
Your colour will continue to develop and darken for a few hours (and a spray tan takes up to 24 hours to develop fully).
1 hour - For a light and fresh, ever so natural fake tan glow. 2-3 hours - For a medium to warm organic spray tan. 4-5 hours - For a deep, dark holiday worthy gradual tan.
We recommend waiting for 6-8 hours to get the best results from your tan. Our Express Mousse starts developing after 1 hour - leave on for 8 to achieve the darkest shade. WHAT IS A GUIDE COLOUR? The colour you see when you apply the tan - which washes off after your tan has developed.
Be sure to drink plenty of water to nourish your skin from the inside, too, for maximum tan effectiveness. Finally, be sure to wait a full 24 hours for the tanning process to complete before coming back to tan again.
Does showering after tanning make you darker?
There is no reason to shower right away because water does not affect the tan. This is another myth that has been around for ages. The truth is, showering right after getting a tan will not cause staining of your skin.
Please note: the tan will continue to develop even after the shower, so do not be alarmed if you're not as tanned as you expect to be. The tan will continue to develop over the next 12-24 hours.
Many sunbed users wonder if it's okay to shower after using a sunbed. The answer is yes – you can definitely shower after using a sunbed. In fact, showering can actually help to prolong your tan. When you shower, the water helps to hydrate your skin, which can prevent your tan from fading too quickly.
Tanning without sunscreen can lead to faster tanning, but it also increases the risk of skin damage and skin cancer.
A natural tan will usually last for around 7-10 days, although this can vary for each different skin type and colour. However, any exposure to sun during that 7-10 day period could mean that your tan will hang around for longer, so the length of time it lasts really does depend on the individual.
No. Sun tans are not permanent since the skin goes through natural exfoliation. However, this can take time and does not help the other forms of sun damage, which may be more permanent.
Difficult-to-tan areas (e.g. leg skin, palms) are those where the skin has fewer melanocytes than other areas of the body that get more sun exposure. What are melanocytes? They are cells that produce pigment, which is released during a tanning bed session, entering the epidermis.
☛ At Flamingo Bay We offer upto 15 minutes maximum as 10 minutes on our sunbeds is equivalent to 2 hours in the natural sunshine.
I have been tanning, but I'm not getting any darker. Now what? You may have reached a tanning plateau. Everyone has a limit to how dark they can get, but to try to get past your current color we recommend switching the types of beds you use every few tanning sessions.
The Best Time To Tan Outside
For multiple reasons, the best tanning hours are between 10 am to 4 pm.
How can I make my tan darker?
To take your bronze darker, try using a product such as After Glow Gloss or Coconut Water Tanning Mist. You can also use the Coconut Water Mist to prolong your tan, which means your tan will last longer between applications. Otherwise, kick things up a notch over the following days with our Dark 7-Day Tanner.
Find out what the knock-on effects of one day in the sunshine are below. 24-72 hours later: While you sleep your tan really starts to form. Levels of melatonin, the hormone which tans your skin, peak at 3am. It takes your skin cells a few more hours to gather the melatonin and change the colour of your skin.
| Skin type | Maximum amount of time |
|---|---|
| I | 10 minutes |
| II | 20 minutes |
| III | 30 minutes |
| IV | 50 minutes |
Fair-skinned individuals may develop a tan after 10–15 minutes of sun exposure, while those with darker skin may require longer exposure times. Gradually increase exposure time to avoid sunburns.
Lotion is 🗝 KEY!
Without a lotion, this can take up to 3 minutes, meaning that both sunbathing and on a sunbed you are wasting tanning time. Lotion helps to moisturise skin, speed up the tanning process, protect tattoos, lengthen the life of your tan, deepen future results and work as an anti-ageing skincare hero.
