Start with the first rinse
How far before departure should you book?
A useful starting point is roughly 24-48 hours before departure. That can leave time for the instructed first rinse, normal colour development and packing without wearing tight travel clothes over fresh guide colour. It is a planning range, not a universal rule. An early flight, a rapid option, a long drive or another event can change the best appointment time.
Send Francesca the departure date, approximate time, destination plans and when you want the colour at its best. She can then discuss whether The Standard or The Deluxe and its rapid option better match the available rinse window. The website's example timings never replace the instruction given for the actual solution used.
Avoid making the airport your development window. Completing the instructed first rinse before a long journey reduces the risk from tight clothing, heat, moisture and rubbing.
Work backwards
A simple holiday spray tan timeline
Several days before
Confirm the appointment and travel, then plan exfoliation and any hair removal without leaving everything to the final evening.
The day before the tan
Finish gentle exfoliation and prepare loose, dark clothing, loose footwear and a calm development window.
Appointment day
Arrive with product-free skin. Share any sensitive-skin concern, recent treatment, sunburn, open cut or allergy before the application.
First rinse
Rinse at the exact time advised, use lukewarm water, avoid scrubbing and pat the skin dry.
Departure and holiday
Moisturise regularly and expect swimming, hot bathing, rubbing and exfoliation to affect how long the colour lasts.
The full preparation and aftercare guide explains skin preparation, product-free appointment day, the first rinse and everyday fade care in more detail.
Keep the journey comfortable
What to wear for the appointment and travel
Choose loose, dark clothes and loose footwear after the application. Tight leggings, fitted waistbands, restrictive straps and closed shoes can rub while guide colour develops. If you travel the following day, keep friction in mind even after rinsing: comfortable clothing is kinder to freshly moisturised skin than a tight outfit worn for hours.
Pack before the appointment where possible. Carrying bags, trying on clothes and rushing through final jobs can create unnecessary heat and rubbing. If rain is forecast, cover the skin without using tight layers and avoid open footwear that leaves developing guide colour exposed to drops.
Use the detailed what to wear after a spray tan guide for summer, winter, bedtime and travel options.
Plan around the first important holiday event
Departure is not always the date that matters most. Tell Francesca if the colour is for a dinner, party, photograph, cruise embarkation or another fixed event shortly after arrival. Working backwards from that event as well as the journey helps avoid squeezing the appointment, development window and first rinse into an impractical evening. It also leaves room for the normal guide colour to rinse away before the outfit or photographs that matter.
Keep the first day realistic. A late appointment followed by packing, an early alarm and fitted travel clothes creates more opportunities for moisture and friction. If the available timing is tight, ask which service and rinse window are suitable instead of choosing a rapid option without discussing it. Francesca will confirm the instruction for the solution actually applied.
A holiday changes the fade
Swimming, moisturising and sun protection
Chlorinated pools, sea water, long hot bathing, towelling, exfoliation and frequent showering can all shorten wear or make fading less even. Rinse after swimming where practical, pat rather than rub dry and moisturise regularly. A pool or sea holiday may naturally fade a cosmetic tan faster than a quiet week at home.
A spray tan changes appearance; it does not provide reliable protection from ultraviolet radiation. Continue to use suitable sunscreen, shade and protective clothing. The current NHS sunscreen and sun-safety guidance is the appropriate public-health reference.
If you are already sunburnt, have broken skin or develop a skin concern before the appointment, tell Francesca rather than trying to cover it. If there is uncertainty about a health condition or treatment, obtain advice from an appropriate healthcare professional.
Quick answers
Holiday spray tan questions
How many days before a holiday should I get a spray tan?
Many holiday appointments are planned roughly 24-48 hours before departure so there is time to complete the instructed first rinse and let the colour settle. The best time still depends on departure, solution, rinse window and your diary, so share the travel details when booking.
Can I fly before rinsing a spray tan?
It is usually more comfortable and predictable to complete the instructed first rinse before travel. Tight clothing, heat, moisture and friction during a journey can disturb guide colour, so plan the appointment and rinse around the departure time.
Will swimming make a holiday spray tan fade?
Frequent swimming, long hot bathing, rubbing and exfoliation can shorten wear or make fading less even. Rinse after swimming, pat dry and moisturise regularly, while accepting that a pool or sea holiday may fade colour faster.
Does a spray tan protect skin from the sun?
No. A cosmetic spray tan is not reliable sun protection. Use suitable sunscreen, shade and protective clothing in line with current NHS sun-safety guidance.