SORORITY + RECRUITMENT SPRAY TAN FAQ
Everything you need to know for Recruitment Week, Bid Day, formals, white-dress events and sorority events.
From when to book and what shade to choose to nails, lashes, outfits and rinse timing — we’ll help you plan your glow around your schedule.
START HERE: TIMING + COLOR
When should I get my spray tan before recruitment, a formal, Bid Day or a white-dress event?
For most events, 24–48 hours before is ideal.
If you’re wearing white, taking photos, attending a formal or going through recruitment, I usually recommend tanning about 2 days before when possible. This gives your color time to develop, rinse and settle into a natural-looking glow.
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What if this is my first spray tan or I’m really pale?
You do not need to go dark.
Your color is customized to your skin tone, undertone, event and comfort level. For first-time or very fair clients, we can start with a soft, believable glow and build from there.
The goal is still to look like you — just naturally bronzed.
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What if I’m scared my spray tan will look too dark?
Tell me. Your comfort level matters.
We can keep your color soft and natural, especially for daytime recruitment events, first-time tans and fair skin.
Darker does not automatically mean better. Balanced color that complements your skin usually photographs much better.
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Can I go darker and still look natural?
Yes. We can add more depth while still matching your undertone and avoiding a color that looks too warm, muddy or intense.
Your ideal shade depends on your skin, outfit, event and the look you want.
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BEFORE YOUR SPRAY TAN
What should I do the day before my appointment?
Make the day before your tan your everything-shower day.
Exfoliate, shave, wash your hair, deep condition and remove any old self-tanner.
On appointment day, arrive with clean, dry skin unless you’ve been instructed otherwise.
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When should I shave or wax?
Shaving: Ideally 12–24 hours before your appointment.
Waxing: Ideally 24–48 hours before.
Both can exfoliate or irritate the skin, so giving your skin time to settle helps create a smoother result.
Avoid waxing immediately before or after your spray tan.
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When should I get my nails, lashes and brows done?
Whenever possible, schedule these before your spray tan.
Nails: Before your tan, ideally the day before or earlier that day.
Lashes: Before your tan when possible.
Brows: Waxing, tinting, lamination or shaping should ideally be completed beforehand.
Fresh spray tans and beauty appointments involving water, cleansers, tape, oils or rubbing aren’t the best combination.
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When should I get a facial or dermaplane?
Schedule facials and dermaplaning about 2–3 days before your spray tan, especially when exfoliation, acids, peels, extractions or retinol are involved.
These treatments can cause your face to develop or fade differently if they’re done too close to your tan.
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What about retinol?
Avoid retinol on areas you want tanned for a few days before and after your appointment when possible.
Retinol speeds up cell turnover, which can cause a spray tan to fade faster or look uneven — especially on the face, neck and chest.
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Should I get my hair done before or after my spray tan?
Hair color, gloss, toner and other treatments are usually best before your spray tan.
Salon products, shampoo bowls, conditioner and water can affect a fresh tan around the hairline, neck, shoulders and back.
For a big event: hair first, tan second.
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Can I get a blowout after my spray tan?
Ideally, schedule your blowout before your spray tan.
If both need to happen the same day, do the blowout first and tan afterward.
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APPOINTMENT DAY
Can I wear makeup, deodorant, lotion or perfume before my tan?
For the most even result, come with clean, dry skin.
Avoid makeup, deodorant, regular body lotion and perfume immediately before your appointment unless I’ve instructed you otherwise.
These products can create a barrier between your skin and the tanning solution.
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What should I wear during my spray tan?
Whatever makes you comfortable.
Some clients tan nude, some wear underwear or a swimsuit, and disposable options may also be available.
If you’re tanning for a strapless, backless, white or cutout outfit, tell me beforehand so we can plan your tan lines around what you’re wearing.
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What should I bring to a group tan or Roomie Glow Night?
Bring loose, dark clothing, easy shoes or sandals, and anything specific you plan to wear to your event if you want help planning tan lines.
For groups, it also helps to know everyone’s event date and whether each person wants a natural, medium or deeper glow.
Everyone’s shade can be customized individually.
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RIGHT AFTER YOUR TAN
What should I wear after my spray tan?
Choose loose, dark clothing.
Oversized T-shirts, loose pajamas, soft pants and easy shoes are ideal.
Avoid tight leggings, bras, shapewear or anything that rubs against the skin while your tan is developing.
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What should I wear to sleep?
Loose, dark, long pajamas are ideal.
Long sleeves and pants can help minimize skin-to-skin transfer while your tan develops.
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Can I wear leggings, a bra or shapewear?
Not immediately after your appointment if you can avoid it.
Tight waistbands, straps and compression garments can rub the developing tan and create lines.
Once you’ve completed your first rinse and your tan has settled, you can return to your normal clothes.
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Can I wear jewelry after my tan?
Avoid tight jewelry while your tan develops, especially watches, bracelets, rings and necklaces that rub against the skin.
Put your accessories back on after your first rinse or once the tan has settled.
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Can I put makeup, deodorant, lotion or perfume on afterward?
Wait until after your first rinse whenever possible.
Products applied while the tan is developing can interfere with your color or create uneven areas.
After rinsing, moisturize as directed to help maintain your glow.
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RINSING + REAL LIFE
What if I sweat after my spray tan?
A little warmth is okay, but heavy sweating before your first rinse can cause streaking or uneven development.
Avoid workouts, saunas, long outdoor walks and anything likely to make you sweat heavily while your tan develops.
If you have a busy schedule, we’ll plan your rinse time around it.
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What if it rains?
Avoid getting wet before your first rinse.
Water can cause spotting or streaking while the tan is developing, so bring an umbrella and loose long sleeves if rain is in the forecast.
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Can I go out after my spray tan?
You can, but before your first rinse isn’t ideal.
Crowded bars, sweating, rain, tight clothing, spilled drinks and lots of hugging aren’t exactly fresh-tan friendly.
If you have plans afterward, tell me. A rapid-rinse option may make more sense for your schedule.
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Can I shower or wash my hair after my tan?
Follow the rinse time you’re given for your specific solution.
For your first rinse, follow your personalized instructions. Hair washing is usually easier before your spray tan so shampoo, conditioner and extra water aren’t running over freshly developed color.
After your tan has settled, return to gentle showers and tan-friendly aftercare.
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RECRUITMENT + EVENT OUTFITS
Will my spray tan transfer onto a white dress or recruitment outfit?
The greatest transfer risk is before your first rinse, while guide color may still be on your skin.
Once you’ve rinsed properly and the tan has settled, transfer is much less likely.
For white dresses, white sets, recruitment outfits and formalwear, tanning 24–48 hours beforehand gives your color time to develop and settle before you get dressed.
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Can I wear a white dress after my spray tan?
Yes — timing matters.
Ideally, your tan should be fully rinsed and settled before you put on white.
For important white-dress events, I prefer planning the tan ahead rather than tanning at the last minute.
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What if my outfit is strapless, backless or has cutouts?
Tell me before we spray.
Tan lines, bra lines, straps and blending can affect how the finished color looks with your outfit.
If you know what you’re wearing, bring a photo or tell me about the neckline, straps and cutouts so we can plan accordingly.
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What if recruitment is the morning after my tan?
Wear loose, dark pajamas after your appointment and follow your exact rinse instructions.
The next morning, shower gently if needed, moisturize lightly with a tan-friendly lotion and avoid last-minute shaving, exfoliation, heavy oils or tight shapewear for long periods.
Your glow should already be the easy part of your morning.
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BEAUTY APPOINTMENT ORDER
What’s the best order for my beauty appointments before recruitment or a formal?
When possible:
Waxing or facial
Hair color or treatments
Nails and toes
Lashes and brows
Everything shower
Spray tan
Hair styling, makeup, outfit + event
Your spray tan should generally be one of the last major beauty appointments before your event.
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EVENT DAY
What should I do the morning of my event?
Take a gentle shower if needed, moisturize with a tan-friendly lotion and use sunscreen if you’ll be outside.
Avoid aggressive exfoliation, last-minute shaving and experimenting with new body products.
Event day is not the day to let TikTok convince you to try something new on your skin.
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What if all my friends are getting darker than me?
That’s completely okay.
Your color should match your skin, not the group chat.
Different skin tones develop differently, and what looks natural on one person may look too dark on another.
The goal is for everyone to look great together — not identical.
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What’s the biggest recruitment spray tan mistake?
Waiting until the last minute or stacking too many beauty appointments around a fresh tan.
Plan ahead, prep properly, wear loose clothing, follow your rinse time and let your tan settle before white outfits, tight clothing and event-day chaos.
Your spray tan should be one less thing to stress about during Recruitment Week.
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STILL NOT SURE WHAT TO BOOK?
We’ll figure out your color, timing and rinse plan based on your skin and schedule.
FIND MY PERFECT SHADE