How to Self Tan With Body Hair on Your Legs, Chest, and Arms
The Short Answer
Yes, you can self tan with body hair, whether it's on your legs, chest, or arms. Apply your tanner the same way you would on smooth skin, but plan on using a little more product so it reaches the skin under the hair, work from your ankles up, make sure your body hair is completely dry, and check your work after a few minutes for spots the hair may have hidden. For the smoothest, most even result, shave and exfoliate first. If you'd rather keep the hair, you can still get a tan you feel great in.
Table of Contents
- Can You Self Tan With Body Hair?
- What Body Hair Changes About Your Tan
- Should You Shave Before Self Tanning?
- How to Self Tan With Hairy Legs, Chest, and Arms
- Will Self Tanner Stain Your Body Hair?
- Aftercare for a Tan on Hairy Skin
- Real Results: What We've Seen With Hairy Clients
- Myths About Self Tanning With Body Hair
- FAQs
I'm Patt, co-founder of MAKAI, and I've been studying self-tanning chemistry and formulation for about nine years. I have dark skin, I tan my arms, chest, and upper body to add definition, and I've watched my wife Toni spray tan everyone from 21-year-old groomsmen to 60-year-old fathers of the bride. This question comes up all the time, especially from men, so here is everything we know about self tanning with body hair.
Can You Self Tan With Body Hair?
Absolutely. Hair should never be the reason you skip a tan. Self tanner works on the outer layer of your skin, and the hair on top of that skin doesn't stop it from developing. It just changes how you need to apply it.
Think of it like getting a tattoo. Your artist shaves the area first, not because ink can't go through hair, but because a smooth canvas gives the cleanest result. Self tanning works the same way, minus the pain. A smooth canvas is ideal. A hairy canvas still works, as long as you know what to expect.
What Body Hair Changes About Your Tan
Whether you're a man tanning hairy legs, a guy with a full chest of hair, or a woman tanning an area with a little regrowth, the differences come down to three things.
- You'll use more product. The tanner has to get past the hair to reach your skin. The thicker and coarser the hair, the more surface area you're working through, so a man with very hairy legs or arms will go through more tanner than someone with no body hair.
- You may see some unevenness or streaks. Hair grows in different directions, and product can catch on it instead of landing evenly on the skin underneath.
- Your hair may look darker for a bit. The bronzer in your tanner can sit on the hair itself, especially if your hair is light. More on why that's usually nothing to worry about below.
None of these are deal breakers. They're just things to plan for.
Should You Shave Before Self Tanning?
If you want the best possible tan, yes. Shave and exfoliate first. Toni has spray tanned plenty of repeat clients who tried it both ways, and the men who came back with shaved areas consistently liked their tans better, even though they were happy with their tans on hair too.
As for shaving versus waxing versus trimming, I honestly don't have a strong opinion. Do whatever gets your skin smooth. What matters more is that your skin is exfoliated and has had time to settle after hair removal so your pores have closed up before the tanner goes on. If you're working on the chest or more delicate areas, our guide to applying self tanner to armpits, chest, and sensitive areas walks through prep for those spots.
And if you'd rather keep your body hair? That's completely fine. Keep reading.
How to Self Tan With Hairy Legs, Chest, and Arms
Here's the part that surprises people: the technique is basically the same one you'd use on smooth skin. If you've never self tanned before, start with our full guide on how to self tan, then use these adjustments for body hair.
Make Sure Your Body Hair Is Completely Dry
Do not tan with wet or damp body hair. Hair holds onto water long after your skin feels dry, and tanning over damp hair is the same as tanning on wet skin. It can dilute the product and cause patchiness. Towel off, give yourself extra time, and make sure every hairy area is fully dry before you start.
Start at Your Ankles and Work Up
If your legs are hairy, start at your lower ankles and work your way up your body. Two reasons. First, you won't have tanned chest or arm hair brushing against areas you haven't done yet. Second, your legs become your test run. You'll see how the tanner is sitting on your hair before you get to the more visible areas like your chest and arms.
Use a Few Extra Pumps Per Section
On smooth skin, two to three pumps of mousse per section is a good starting point. With body hair, plan on three to four pumps per section, adjusting for how thick your hair is. Apply with a velvet mitt in the same smooth motions you normally would and focus on getting the product down to the skin, not just coating the hair.
Pause for Three to Five Minutes, Then Check
After your first coat, stop. Give it three to five minutes so you can actually see where the guide color landed. Light can bounce off body hair and make it look like an area is covered when it isn't. Once you can see it clearly, go back over anything you missed.
Wear Very Loose Clothing
Give your tan the time it needs to dry and develop. Throw on your loosest clothes so nothing presses into the tanner or drags it across your hair while it sets.
Pick a Formula Made for Body Hair
A mousse is my go-to because it spreads easily and you can work it down through the hair. Our Men's Self Tanner was formulated with thicker skin and body hair in mind, so it's the one I'd reach for if you're tanning hairy legs, chest, or arms.
Will Self Tanner Stain Your Body Hair?
This is the fear I hear most, and it's usually a non-issue. When your hair looks darker after tanning, what you're typically seeing is the bronzer, the instant guide color sitting on top of the hair. It's not the DHA, which is the active ingredient that develops your tan in the skin. Bronzer is cosmetic, and it typically rinses off in your first shower.
Toni is a great example. She has very fair skin and very blonde hair, and when tanner gets on her hair you honestly can't tell. She uses our Face Mist and doesn't do anything extra to protect her eyebrows. It works perfectly fine. If your hair is lighter, you might notice the bronzer a little more before that first rinse. If your hair is dark, you'll probably never notice it at all.
Aftercare for a Tan on Hairy Skin
Nothing changes here either. Treat it like any other tan.
- Let the tan fully develop before you rinse.
- Rinse with lukewarm water and pat dry instead of rubbing, especially over hairy areas.
- Keep your skin moisturized every day to help the tan fade evenly.
- If you look in the mirror and want a touch more color, go ahead and add another light application.
At the end of the day, it's putting on self tanner. This is not rocket science.
Real Results: What We've Seen With Hairy Clients
My Own Experience
I tan from time to time to add more definition to my arms, chest, and upper body. I don't have a lot of leg hair, but I do have some, and on the rare occasions I tan my legs, I notice the difference right away. I use a good mousse, a fresh mitt, and every best practice we recommend. The tan still goes on well, but I use more mousse on my legs to make sure everything is covered, and it doesn't glide quite as smoothly as it does on my hairless areas. That's the trade-off, and it's a small one.
And yes, I have dark skin. If you've ever wondered whether self tanner is "for you" because your skin is already deep, it is. It's one of the easiest ways I know to add warmth and definition.
Toni's Wedding Clients
Toni has tanned for years, and she's tanned dozens of men before weddings, from guys in their early 20s all the way up to men in their 60s getting ready to walk their daughters down the aisle. We've seen burly, blue-collar, wood-chopping types come in with all the hair in the world and walk out with a great tan.
Her biggest takeaways from spray tanning hairy clients:
- It takes a little more product to tan someone with body hair.
- The results still look good, especially with a skilled hand.
- Repeat clients who tried tanning after shaving liked their results even more.
If you're a guy figuring out where to start, our post on how to choose the right self tanner for men covers formulas and shades.
When Life Gets Busy
Toni is a weekly tanner. Tanning helps her feel confident, strong, and good about herself. But we're all human, and sometimes life gets busy and her legs grow out a little. When that happens, she puts more tanner on and moves on with her day. She doesn't love the way it tans over hair as much as on freshly shaved skin, but it's okay. That's really the point. Use what works best for you. If you feel confident, tan, and good, that's all that matters.
Myths About Self Tanning With Body Hair
"You Have to Be Fully Shaved to Self Tan"
Not true. Shaving gives you the most even result, but hair should never stop you from tanning. Thousands of men tan with their body hair every season.
"Self Tanner Will Turn Your Body Hair Orange"
What you see on your hair is typically the bronzer, and it usually washes off in the shower. Choosing a shade that matches your undertone, and not overloading product on light hair, keeps this from being an issue.
"If It Doesn't Come Out Perfect, It's Ruined"
It's not the end of the world if your first try isn't flawless. Self tanner fades, and you can always touch it up. More than likely, you'll end up darker than you started, and you'll feel good doing it.
FAQs
Can you self tan with hairy legs?
Yes. Use a little more product than usual, start at your ankles and work up, and make sure your leg hair is completely dry before you begin. Shaving and exfoliating first will give you the smoothest result, but it isn't required.
How do you apply self tanner to a hairy chest?
Apply it the same way you would on smooth skin, using three to four pumps of mousse and a velvet mitt to work the product down to the skin. Wait three to five minutes, check for missed spots, then go back over anything the hair may have hidden.
Does self tanner stain body hair?
Your hair can look darker right after tanning, but that is typically the bronzer sitting on top of the hair, not the DHA developing in your skin. It usually rinses off in your first shower.
Should men shave before self tanning?
For the most even tan, yes. Many of Toni's repeat male clients preferred their results after shaving. If you'd rather keep your body hair, you can still tan, just plan on using a bit more product.
How long before tanning should I shave?
Shave or wax ahead of time and exfoliate so your skin has time to settle and your pores have closed. Shaving right before you apply tanner can lead to irritation and dark dots around the follicles.
Do you need more self tanner if you have body hair?
Usually, yes. The more body hair you have, the more surface area the tanner has to work through to reach your skin, so expect to use a few extra pumps per section.
Can I self tan my face if I have facial hair or thick eyebrows?
Yes. A face-specific tanner like our Face Mist works over brows and facial hair. Toni uses it without covering her eyebrows at all.
What's the best self tanner for men with body hair?
Look for a lightweight mousse that spreads easily through hair. MAKAI's Men's Self Tanner is formulated with thicker skin and body hair in mind.
Hair or no hair, you deserve a tan you feel good in. Explore the full self-tanning lineup at MAKAI and find the formula that fits you.
