7 Expert Self-Tanning Hacks You Need to Know

By Klaudia Tirico / April 25, 2018

There are many ways a self-tanning job can go sour. Muddy hands, uneven color, and streaks; you name it; we’ve all experienced it. Now that summer is here, we can’t risk visible mistakes while we rock our short shorts and tanks. So we asked the world’s leading self-tanning expert, James Read, to hook us up with some hacks to make the process swift and easy, with a glowing, mess-free result.

You’re probably asking why we should trust Read with out self-tanning techniques. Well, for starters, as the US’s first tanning expert, he’s developed quite the celebrity clientele. Beauties like Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Ellie Goulding, Jessie J and Rita Ora rely on Read to give them a flawless glow. He is also a pro spray-tan artist at editorial shoots and backstage at fashion shows in London, Paris and New York. His unique line of self-tanning products, James Read Tan, is one of the best tanning product lines we’ve ever used. What other brand do you know that combines self-tanning with skin-beautifying ingredients? We love his Sleep Mask Tan for Face and Body to get us a luxe Mediterranean based glow and hydrated skin at the same time.

Here are seven genius tips to perfecting your self-tan courtesy of the maestro himself. You’re going to want to bookmark this.

1) To mitt or not to mitt?

Read says, “Always use a tanning mitt for a flawless application.” A mitt also protects your hands from turning a yucky shade of orange.

2) Don’t forget your hairline.

“After applying self-tan to the face, dip a cotton bud into some makeup toner and rub into your hairline, this will stop you getting the tan line.”

3) A fix for elbow disasters.

“If you have over tanned elbows, cut a lemon in half, sprinkle some baking soda on each half, rub together to fizz. Then rest your elbows in each half for 15 minutes,” says Read.

4) Kitchen essentials come in handy.

“When it comes to tanning your back, put a tanning mitt onto a wooden spoon and wrap an elastic band around it and then you are ready to tan your back.”

5) SPF protects your tan, too!

“Use a waterproof SPF to protect your tan from sweating at the gym, also while on holiday, it will protect the tan from the sea and swimming pool.”

6) Soak up the sweat.

“After applying your self-tan, brush some talcum powder under your arm pits and under your breasts, this will soak up sweet and stop it affecting your tan,” says Read.