How to Shave Without Removing Fake Tan

Getting a fake tan is a great idea and it’s recommended to apply fake tan at least 24 hours AFTER shaving.  The good news is that if you forgot to shave before a spray tan, you can still shave after a spray tan without ruining or removing your fake tan.

In order to provide you the best tips on this topic, I connected with beauty experts and Dermatologists and asked them to provide for me their best tips and advice for shaving after a fake tan.

According to the experts, the best way to shave without removing your fake tan is to apply a gentle moisturizer before shaving, use a new razor, use light pressure, pat dry when you’re done, and finish with some daily self-tanning lotion. You can also use an epilator or at-home laser hair removal device to make the job easier.

Here’s How to Shave Without Removing Fake Tan

Tips from a Dermatologist

Erum Ilyas, MD, MBE, FAAD, is a Board Certified Dermatologist focusing on adult and pediatric medical dermatology, cosmetic dermatology, and skin cancer treatments.

Dr. Ilyas explains that spray tans deposit pigment in the superficial layers of skin. If you shave or wax, some superficial exfoliation will occur which will remove the pigment from the spray tan. To minimize the chances of this, try to follow these tips.

Tip 1 – Do not use a shaving cream- this may remove some of the pigment from the spray tan

Tip 2 – Avoid shaving the first day you get the tan

Tip 3 – Use a new razor. A dull or older razor may be more abrasive and result in more exfoliation

Tip 4 – Consider applying a moisturizer as a layer of protection on the skin to protect the superficial layers of skin from exfoliating with the shave. This may not give as close a shave but would be less likely to disrupt the tan

Tip 5 -Gently glide the razor across the skin. Avoid applying deeper pressure on the skin.

Tips from a Professional Makeup Artist

I also wanted get advice from beauty experts in the field so I connected with Victoria Jameson, a Professional Makeup and Airbrush Tanning Artist from Dallas, Texas.

In addition to Dr. Ilya’s suggestions, Victoria shares the following advice:

Tip 1 – If you want to minimize shaving throughout the duration of your spray tan, consider waxing or using a Depilatory Cream like Veet or Nair.

Tip 2– Do not use shaving cream, opt for a conditioner instead.

Tip 3 – Shave with warm water. Using very hot water to shower will shorten the life of your tan.

Tip 4 – Avoid pressing hard to preserve your tan as much as possible. The goal here is to avoid excessive exfoliation which will remove the skin cells that have absorbed the tanning product.

Tip 5 – Once you’re done shaving, rinse and pat dry. Do NOT rub – the friction will exfoliate your skin and remove your tan.

Tip 6 – Finish with some daily self-tanning lotion like Jergans Natural Glow or any products your airbrush artist or salon have on hand. The key is to use a gradual tanner and not a full-strength self tanning product to even out any of your tan that you’ve removed by shaving.

Try Epilators

Margina Dennis, a talented celebrity makeup guru with over 15 years of experience, suggests that using an epilator is a great way to remove body hair without exfoliating the skin and disturbing the self-tanner tan. The epilator grabs the hairs and pulls them out of the hair follicle.

Here are 2 at home epilators you can try:

The Braun Epilator Silk-épil 5

This epilator works wet or dry, remove hair to the root, and leaves skin silky smooth for up to 4 weeks. It uses a precise micro-grip tweezer technology (28 tweezers total) that can remove very short hair.  It comes with a high-frequency massage cap with pulsating vibrations to help reduce pain. The device is small enough to reach difficult areas like the knee and underarm. It comes with 2 different speed settings.

Flawless by Finishing Touch Flawless Legs 

This device uses a spinning motion called Butterfly™ Technology to remove hair instantly and leave it smooth. Hair does not grow back darker or thicker. The shaving heads are 18k gold plated and the ergonomic design makes this device perfect for the legs, ankles, and knees.

**Note: This machine is not designed to be used under your arms.

The device is rechargeable and can work for approximately 1 hour on a full charge.

Try At-Home Laser Hair Removal Devices

At-home laser hair removal devices are a good longer-term option for removing facial and body hair. These devices use IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) to remove hair. It takes about a month to see results because hair grows in cycles but results can be long-term. If you experience any hormonal fluctuation you can potentially see a return of hair.