How to make your sunbed tan last longer

A sunbed tan can typically last 7-14 days, depending on your skincare routine and skin type. Moisturising daily, using a tan extender, avoiding long, hot showers, and exfoliating gently rather than vigorously are the four biggest factors that could help extend your tan.

How long does a sunbed tan actually last?

On average, you’re looking at a base tan lasting around 7-10 days without a top-up, but this could extend anywhere between 2-4 weeks if you’re building your tan up gradually, as your skin produces more melanin this way. A well-maintained tan, with the right aftercare and regular moisturising, can retain visible colour for 2-3 weeks between top-ups. On the other hand, if you dismiss any aftercare, you could notice it fading as quickly as 5-7 days after your last session.

Why does your tan fade?

Your skin’s outer layer (the epidermis) naturally sheds and regenerates roughly every 28 days. As your tan sits in the outer layer and your skin cells shed, you could notice that your colour goes with them! So, anything that speeds up shedding, like hot water, dehydrated skin, or scrubbing, will speed up fading, while moisturising, gentle cleansing, and tan extenders will hold your colour longer.

What makes the biggest difference to how long your tan lasts?

Let’s look at four factors that could help keep that bronzed glow a little longer.

The bed you use

The sunbed you choose can also have a huge effect on how long your tan lasts. There are those beds with UVA rays and little UVB, which can give you a fast colour but a tan which can fade within two weeks. Mostly used by those with skin types that tolerate shorter sessions than longer ones. Beds with a higher UVB ratio tend to produce deeper melanin stimulation, which can result in a longer-lasting colour, possibly lasting up to four weeks between sessions. Full-LED beds take this further, offering even light distribution and consistent output from the first second, meaning your session time is fully productive, and the coverage across your body is more uniform, which, in practice, can mean fewer patchy spots and less uneven fading.  At The Tan Station, our range of full-LED beds offers the latest-generation sunbed technology.

Hydration 

Protect your glow by drinking water and hydrating before and after your tanning sessions. Dehydrated skin flakes and sheds much faster than hydrated skin, so keep up the hydration!

How you shower

Also, be careful not to take showers that are too hot, as they can dry out your skin and cause your tan to fade much faster. So, lukewarm is key, along with a gentle wash, ditching the harsh soaps. Pat dry and don’t rub when drying after a shower, and wait at least 2-3 hours (preferably longer) after your session before showering. 

Aftercare

Keep exfoliation to pre-tanning only; post-session, scrubbing your skin will remove the top layer (where your tan sits), removing the colour. Avoid your skin drying out, and moisturise daily. The key to keeping your tan is consistency, and there are plenty of tanning products on the market designed to extend it, such as tan extenders, which contain low-level DHA or melanin-support ingredients to top up colour between sessions. Some products focus on keeping your skin moisturised, which may, in turn, help keep you bronzed for longer. The Tan Station stocks a range of tanning creams and accelerators, ideal for dry or tattooed skin, so ask our staff which one is most suitable for you on your next visit.

What you really should avoid?

Long hot baths have the same effect as a hot shower, but are worse because you soak for longer. Avoid harsh exfoliation after tanning and alcohol-based skincare products, too, as these dry the skin and speed up shedding. Swimming in chlorine is a big no-no and will strip your colour fast, so if you are a regular swimmer, you might expect to top up more and have a robust moisturising plan in place. Even tight clothing after a session on the sunbed may cause friction on the skin and lead to uneven fading, so make sure you keep your skin-tight wear for the gym!

Does your tan keep developing after you leave the salon?

Yes, your tan can continue to develop 24-48 hours after your session, as your skin continues producing and darkening pigment, which is why it can often look darker the day after. Which is why we always recommend 48 hours between sessions, so you can see how your skin reacts – it’s part of our approach to responsible tanning at The Tan Station.

If you’re gradually building your tan, our guide on how many sunbed sessions you need to build a tan covers what to expect and looks at each skin type.

A simple post-session routine that works

The best sunbed routine takes into account how your skin behaves after a session and what you need to do to maintain your tan. 

Immediately after a session: Drink water to hydrate. Don’t shower for 2-3 hours. When you do shower, use lukewarm water, use a gentle wash, and pat dry. Apply a rich moisturiser to your skin, or use a tan extender. 

Daily between your sessions: Moisturise each morning and evening. Use a tan extender, if you have one, 2-3 times per week to space out visits. Not sure how often to book your next session? Our guide on how often to use a sunbed breaks it down by skin type.

Before your next session: Lightly exfoliate the night before to remove any dead skin so your next session tans fresh, even skin. Check out our session pricing, or walk in any day of the week if you’re passing by.

Frequently asked questions