Spray Tan and Bridal Hair: The Order That Actually Works

This is the question that causes more last-minute panic than any other, and the answer is almost always the same: spray tan first, hair after, and never the reverse. Here is why, and how to schedule it so nothing goes orange or brassy.

A spray tan needs a clean, exfoliated, product-free surface to develop evenly. If you wash and blow dry your hair the morning of your tan, the runoff and the products in your hair can interfere with the solution, especially around the hairline, ears, and neck. Worse, the tan solution itself can stain light hair at the nape and along the part if it is applied carelessly. We have seen blonde brides with an orange tideline for a full week.

The workable sequence for a Saturday wedding: spray tan on Wednesday evening, shower and wash hair Thursday morning, preview or color touch-up Thursday or early Friday, and a fresh blowout Friday night or Saturday morning depending on how your hair holds. That gives the tan two full days to set and the color four days of settling before photographs.

If your preview is Thursday and your tan is Wednesday, tell your artist. We will protect the hairline with a light barrier and we will not pull the style tight against freshly tanned skin, because the tan is still developing and a tight pull can leave a mark.

Brides with very light or highlighted hair should also be careful with tan boosters and any product containing DHA in a high concentration near the face. Ask for a barrier cream at the hairline. It takes ten seconds and saves a season of photographs.

For scheduling help, our investment page lists what a preview includes, and the inquire form is the fastest way to lock a date.