How to Self Tan | A Step by Step Guide to Natural Results

What Is Self Tanning

Self tanning is a cosmetic process that gives skin a bronze look without UV exposure. Most formulas use DHA to react with proteins on the outer layer of skin. Color develops in hours and fades as your skin renews. You get control, speed, and even results without sun damage. Remember, self tan does not include SPF. Wear sunscreen any time you are outside.

The History of Self Tanning

Tans became fashionable in the 1920s. The first mass market self tanners appeared in the 1950s. Early versions could look orange and streaky. Formulas improved through the 80s and 90s. Today, textures, shades, and skin friendly ingredients make sunless tanning a safe, modern routine at home and in studios.

How Does DHA Work

DHA is a sugar derived active. It reacts with amino acids in the stratum corneum in a Maillard type reaction. That creates melanoidin pigments that look like a tan. Development typically takes 2 to 8 hours. The tan fades over 5 to 10 days as dead skin sheds. Some products pair DHA with erythrulose for a softer fade.

How to Self Tan Step by Step

Our co-founder Toni has been self tanning for over a decade, and her routine has stayed simple the entire time. She showers and exfoliates about 10 minutes before she plans to apply, then makes sure her skin is completely dry before she starts.

For product amounts, she sticks to roughly 2 to 3 pumps per body part. That means 2 to 3 pumps for each leg, 2 to 3 for each arm, and 2 to 3 for the lower back, upper back, chest, and shoulder area. She always starts by rubbing the product in using a circular motion. Covering more ground initially makes it much easier to see what you have missed and go back over it before the formula sets.

• Exfoliate about 10 minutes before applying and make sure skin is fully dry.
• Use 2 to 3 pumps per body part as a general guide.
• Work in sections with a mitt. Arms, legs, torso, back.
• Start with circular motions to cover ground, then smooth and blend.
• Blend wrists, hands, ankles, feet with leftover mitt product.
• Let skin dry fully. Dress in loose, dark clothing.
• Keep skin dry while it develops. Avoid sweat and water.
• Moisturize daily to keep your glow fresh.

If you are using your tan to build color over time rather than starting fresh, you do not need to exfoliate every single application. But for that first use, Toni never skips it.

Prep and aftercare guides: how to exfoliate before tanning.

What You Need to Self Tan

Build a simple kit. It saves time and keeps results consistent.

• Exfoliating mitt or scrub and a razor.
• Self tanning mousse for full body coverage.
• Body tanning mist for touch ups and hard to reach areas.
• Face tanning mist for gentle, acne safe color.
• Gradual tanner to extend your glow.
• Men's tanner for thicker body hair and skin.
• Loose, dark clothing, a clean mitt, and a small blending brush.

Keep tools clean. Here is how to clean your self tanning mitt. Toni says this is one of the most overlooked parts of a good tan. A mitt with built up product from old applications will give you uneven, streaky results no matter how good your technique is, so she never reuses a dirty mitt.

How to Apply Self Tanner

What to apply self tanner with matters. A soft velvet mitt gives the smoothest finish. Pump product onto the mitt, not your skin. Start at the ankles and move upward. Use light pressure and keep a steady pace so the guide color stays even. Save hands and feet for last and use only what is left on the mitt.

Our co-founder Toni spray tanned professionally for years before MAKAI, working with hundreds of clients from Dallas to Utah, and that experience shaped how she approaches self tanning at home too. One thing she always tells people: unlike a spray tan or many other self tanners on the market, you do not need to apply a barrier cream or lotion to your elbows and knees before using MAKAI. The formula is built to develop evenly without it.

How to Apply Self Tanning Mousse

Mousse is fast and beginner friendly. It spreads easily and dries down clean.

• Exfoliate the day before. Lotion dry spots just before you start.
• Apply in long sweeping motions with a mitt. Do not oversaturate.
• Use leftover mousse for hands and feet to avoid heavy edges.
• Buff wrists and ankles with a small brush for a seamless fade.
• Rinse after 2 to 6 hours based on desired depth. Pat dry.
• Moisturize every day to keep color even.

If you have never self tanned before, or your skin does not normally tan on its own, the color can feel drastic right after you apply. That is completely normal. A well formulated tanner like ours will settle into a more natural tone once you rinse it off. Most formulas give you instant color on application, but the real development happens after that, which is why so many people notice their tan actually looks deeper and more natural the day after they rinse, not the moment they apply it. Waiting it out instead of judging the color too early makes a big difference.

These steps work for everyone. Our self tanner for men follows the same process — formulated for thicker skin and body hair with the same streak-free result.

Applying Self Tanning Lotion

Lotion gives more slip and extra hydration. It is great for dry skin and newbies.

• Squeeze a small amount onto your mitt, not your hands.
• Start at ankles and work upward in circular motions.
• Blend lightly over joints and dry zones to prevent dark patches.
• Let it absorb fully before you dress.

Using Tanning Mitts and Applicators

A mitt gives the most even coat and keeps palms clean. If you do not have a tanning mitt, use tight fitting disposable gloves plus a soft microfiber cloth. For edges and small areas use a dense makeup brush or a kabuki brush. For your back use a back applicator or a long handled brush.

If you do not have a back applicator yet and there is nobody around to help, Toni's advice is simple. A back mitt is genuinely the easiest option if you can get one, but in a pinch you can attach your regular mitt to anything long enough to reach, a flat spatula works surprisingly well. Pump your product onto the mitt, check your coverage in the mirror as you go, and keep applying until you are happy with how it looks.

How to Self Tan Your Face

Facial skin needs gentle formulas. Look for non comedogenic options that hydrate and will not clog pores. If you want a self tanner for face that will not cause breakouts, choose light mists with aloe and jojoba oil.

• Cleanse and exfoliate lightly. Pat skin dry.
• Apply a thin barrier to brows and hairline to avoid buildup.
• Hold mist 6 inches away. Spritz evenly across forehead, cheeks, chin.
• Blend with a sponge or mini mitt, especially along the jaw and hairline.
• Let it develop before makeup.

Shop Makai Face Mist →

How to Use Body Tanning Mist

Use body mist for fast top ups and hard to reach spots like shoulders and back.

• Hold the nozzle 6 inches from skin and spray in light passes.
• Blend with a mitt to smooth any edges.
• Use on hands and feet for quick color correction.

Shop Makai Body Mist →

Self Tanning for Different Skin Types

• Dry skin: Choose hydrating lotions and gradual tanners. Moisturize AM and PM.
• Oily skin: Use oil free, fast drying mousse. Tone before you tan.
• Sensitive skin: Choose fragrance free and hypoallergenic formulas. Patch test.
• Combination skin: Use lighter textures on oily zones, richer ones on dry areas.

How to Choose the Right Self Tanner

Pick by format, shade, and lifestyle. Mousse for full body control. Lotion for dry skin. Mist for speed and reach. Face mist for gentle glow. Men's tanner for quick dry and thicker skin. Use the shade range below to match your goal — and if you are not sure where you fall, use our Find Your Glow shade quiz for a personalized pick in under a minute.

Browse the full self tanner collection or visit our sunless tanner guide to compare all formulas side by side.

Pro Tips for a Flawless Tan

The single biggest mistake Toni sees first time self tanners make is not letting their tan dry fully before getting dressed. Skipping that step is the fastest way to end up with transfer on your clothes. Once you have applied, wait until your skin is completely dry, then put on something loose and breathable. Toni's go to after tanning has always been one of her husband's old dri-fit football shirts, lightweight, breathable, and exactly what your skin needs while it develops.

She also never skips exfoliating beforehand and always waits a few minutes afterward for her pores to close. That small pause keeps the application seamless and helps the color go on far more naturally.

• Use leftover product on your mitt for hands and feet.
• Make claw hands to avoid pale knuckles.
• Sleep in dark clothes if you tan at night.
• Buff wrists and ankles with a kabuki brush for seamless edges.
• Wash palms with soap after each section.
• Wear loose, breathable fabric like dri-fit while your tan develops to avoid transfer.

How to Make Your Self Tan Last Longer

Keep color even and resist fade from sweat, showers, and pools.

• Shower with cool water. Pat dry, do not rub.
• Moisturize morning and night with tan safe lotion.
• Limit hot tubs and chlorine. Rinse before and after swimming.
• Top up with gradual tanner every 2 to 3 days.
• Exfoliate lightly on day 3 to 4 to avoid patchy fade.

Toni treats maintenance as its own small routine. She uses the self tanning mist for a little extra build between full applications, and reaches for the gradual self tanning lotion daily along with her regular moisturizer to keep color topped up without committing to a full reapplication. Both the Medium and Dark mousse are genuinely buildable, which is why the color fades evenly instead of wearing off in patches.

Get the full plan in how long does self tanner last?

Removing Self Tanner

When it is time to reset, be gentle. A self tanning bath soak helps loosen old color. Use a tan remover or a mild exfoliating mitt after a short soak.

• Soak 10 to 15 minutes in warm water. Add a tan remover or a gentle bath oil.
• Buff in circles with an exfoliating mitt. Do not scrub hard.
• Spot correct with a baking soda paste or micellar water on a cotton pad.

How to remove self tanner from hands →

Troubleshooting and Common Mistakes

Quick fixes keep your glow on track.

• Common mistakes: Skipping exfoliation, applying too much, tight clothes too early, soap in the first rinse, no SPF.
• How to fix missed spots: Mix a pea size amount of tanner with lotion and blend over the pale area. Feather the edges with a brush.
• What to apply with: A velvet mitt. No mitt on hand — use gloves and a microfiber cloth, then finish with a brush.
• Patchy fade: Warm soak plus gentle exfoliation resets patchy areas.

FAQs

• Can I swim after tanning? Wait at least 8 hours and rinse after pools or the ocean.
• Will it stain clothes? Let skin dry fully and wear loose, dark clothing.
• Is it safe in pregnancy? Check with your provider and choose lotions or mousses.
• How often should I reapply? Every 3 to 5 days. Use gradual tanner between full applications.

Shop the Makai Collection

Conclusion

Self tanning should feel easy and look natural. Prep well, apply with a mitt, blend edges, and hydrate daily. Our co-founder Toni has spent over a decade perfecting her own routine, including years spray tanning professionally for hundreds of clients across Dallas and Utah, and everything in this guide comes straight from what actually works. At Makai, our founders built this line after their mother faced skin cancer. The goal is simple — get your glow without UV damage.

Ready to glow? Shop the Makai Collection →