Close detail of lace on the shoulder of a wedding dress

Bridal spray tan in Auckland: how to time it and how to prep

Short answer: book your bridal spray tan for two or three days before the wedding. Not the day before, and not the morning of. Two or three days gives the colour time to settle, gives you a shower or two so the guide colour rinses away and what you see is the real result, and leaves a small window to adjust if you want it lighter or deeper. A spray tan at Verdo Nails & More in Parnell is $50 for a 30 minute appointment.

Second short answer: do a trial tan first, about four to six weeks out, ideally on a day you can wear it around and see how it looks in photos. Skin is individual. The same solution on two people can read quite differently, and the only honest way to know what yours does is to try it once before the day that matters. A trial costs the same $50, and it is the single best thing you can do to avoid surprises.

Why two or three days before, and not the day before?

A fresh spray tan needs to develop, then be rinsed. Straight after the appointment you are wearing a guide colour, which is the tint that lets us see where the solution has gone. That guide colour washes off in your first rinse. What is left underneath is the actual tan, and it usually looks a little softer and more natural than the guide colour did.

If you tan the day before the wedding, you are getting dressed while all of that is still very new, and you have no time to even out anything you are not happy with. If you tan four or five days out, you may be on the fading side of it by the time the photos start. Two or three days sits in the middle for most people.

How should I prepare my skin before a bridal spray tan?

Preparation matters more than the tan itself. The colour sits on the surface of the skin, so it will show whatever the surface is doing.

  • Exfoliate about 24 hours before your appointment, using a plain scrub or an exfoliating mitt rather than anything oily.
  • Pay extra attention to knees, elbows, ankles, heels and the backs of the hands, which are drier and tend to grab more colour.
  • Get any old fake tan off first. Patchy old colour underneath will still be patchy under new colour.
  • Do not exfoliate on the day of the tan. Freshly scrubbed skin can go blotchy.

When should I shave or wax before tanning?

Do the hair removal first, then the tan. As a rule of thumb, wax 24 to 48 hours before your tan so the skin has settled, and shave the night before rather than the morning of. Shaving after a tan takes colour off, so if you are going to shave, get it done first.

We do waxing at the Parnell salon if you want it all in one place: under arms $30, half legs $50, full legs $95, eyebrow $30, upper lip $20. Book the waxing a couple of days ahead of your tan appointment rather than back to back.

What about moisturiser, deodorant and makeup on the day of the tan?

Come with clean, bare skin. No moisturiser, no body oil, no deodorant, no perfume and no makeup. Anything sitting on top of the skin acts as a barrier and can leave lighter patches, especially under the arms where deodorant builds up. Take off rings, bracelets and watches too.

Wear loose, dark clothing to the appointment and bring jandals or slides rather than tight shoes and socks. Straps and seams pressing into fresh colour are the usual cause of marks and lines.

What should I wear after a spray tan?

Loose and dark, for as long as you can manage it. Skip tight leggings, tight bra straps, socks and anything with a firm elastic edge. Sleep in something loose. Avoid long hot showers, spa pools and heavy sweating until you have done your first rinse, and pat yourself dry rather than rubbing. Your therapist will tell you at the appointment how long to leave it before that first rinse, because it depends on the depth you have asked for.

Will a spray tan mark my white dress?

Once the tan has developed and the guide colour has been properly rinsed off, there is no wet colour left to transfer, which is exactly why we like the two or three day gap. Marks on fabric almost always come from a tan that has not been rinsed yet, from sweat and friction, or from body oils and heavy moisturiser applied under the dress.

A few practical things. Rinse thoroughly, and rinse again on the wedding morning. Do your final dress fitting before you tan, not after. Skip body oil and rich moisturiser on the morning itself. Keep a towel over your lap in the car. We cannot promise anything about a particular fabric, and no honest salon can, which is one more reason to run a trial tan and wear something white during it.

Why does a spray tan look different on different people?

Because skin is different. Your natural tone, how dry your skin is, how recently you exfoliated, how long you leave the solution on, how hot your showers are, how much you swim and how quickly your skin naturally sheds all change the outcome. Some people hold an even colour right through the week. Others go lighter around the knees, ankles and hands sooner than the rest. None of that is a fault in the tan, it is just skin, and it is why we would rather you tested it than hoped.

What else should the bridal party book, and when?

From our bridal page, in our own words: "In the depths of bridal season we tend to between 8-15 brides a week. Our salon is suitable for bridal parties of all sizes, and you more than likely will have the salon to yourselves." We do the same for hens parties, birthdays and girls nights.

The Bridal Glow Package is $720 for four people and covers a manicure and pedicure, gel or classic, brow shaping and tint, and a custom airbrush spray tan. It is sold for the bride and up to three others.

Booking separately is easy too. Gel Polish Manicure with The Gel Bottle is $75 for 30 minutes. Spa Pedicure is $85 for 45 minutes and is our most popular pedicure. Builder gel BIAB on natural nails is $80 for 50 minutes and lasts two to six weeks, which suits brides who want their nails done a little earlier. Eyebrow wax and tint together is $50 for 30 minutes. A lash lift and tint is $105 for an hour and 15 minutes, and classic lash extensions are $90 for an hour. If you are thinking about cosmetic tattooing for your brows, the consultation is free and takes 30 minutes, and it is worth having that conversation early rather than in the last few weeks.

Tell us everything you are booking and we will order the appointments sensibly, so you are not soaking your feet in a pedicure bowl after a fresh tan.

How to book a bridal spray tan in Parnell, Auckland

Verdo Nails & More is at 245 Parnell Road, Parnell, Auckland 1052. We are open 7 days and take both appointments and walk-ins, although for anything bridal we would always book you in properly so the timing works.

Book online at verdonails.co.nz, phone 027 559 0837, email [email protected], or come and see us on Parnell Road. If you are not sure how to fit the tan around your fittings, your hair trial and your nails, ring us and we will help you map out the week.

Photograph by Thomas AE on Unsplash.

Frequently asked questions

How many days before my wedding should I get a spray tan?
Two or three days before is the usual timing. That lets the colour develop, gives you a shower or two to rinse off the guide colour so you can see the real result, and leaves a small window to adjust it if you want it lighter or deeper. Tanning the day before or the morning of leaves you no room to fix anything.
Should I exfoliate and shave before a spray tan?
Yes, and do both before the tan, not after. Exfoliate about 24 hours beforehand with a plain scrub, focusing on knees, elbows, ankles and hands, and remove any old fake tan. Wax 24 to 48 hours before, or shave the night before rather than the morning of. Shaving after a tan takes colour off.
What should I avoid putting on my skin on the day of the tan?
Come with clean, bare skin. No moisturiser, body oil, deodorant, perfume or makeup, because anything sitting on the surface can leave lighter patches, especially under the arms. Wear loose dark clothing and jandals or slides rather than tight shoes and socks.
Will a spray tan come off on my white wedding dress?
Once the tan has developed and the guide colour has been properly rinsed away, there is no wet colour left to transfer, which is why we recommend tanning two or three days out. Marks usually come from an unrinsed tan, from sweat and friction, or from oils and heavy moisturiser under the dress. No salon can guarantee anything about a specific fabric, so do your final fitting before you tan and wear something white during your trial tan.
How much is a spray tan in Parnell, Auckland?
A spray tan at Verdo Nails & More, 245 Parnell Road, Parnell, is $50 for a 30 minute appointment. A trial tan costs the same, so most brides book one about four to six weeks before the wedding.
Do you do spray tans and nails for the whole bridal party?
Yes. In the depths of bridal season we tend to between 8 and 15 brides a week, the salon suits bridal parties of all sizes, and you will more than likely have the place to yourselves. The Bridal Glow Package is $720 for four people and includes a manicure and pedicure, gel or classic, brow shaping and tint, and a custom airbrush spray tan for the bride and up to three others.
Why does a spray tan look different on different people?
Natural skin tone, dryness, how recently you exfoliated, how long the solution is left on, how hot your showers are and how quickly your skin sheds all change the result. Some people hold an even colour all week, others fade faster around knees, ankles and hands. That variation is normal, and it is the main reason we suggest a trial tan first.
How do I book?
Book online at verdonails.co.nz, phone 027 559 0837, email [email protected], or visit 245 Parnell Road, Parnell, Auckland 1052. Open 7 days, appointment or walk-in.
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