The Real Reason Your Tan Gets Dots: Shaving and Shower Timing Explained

 

If you’ve ever applied fake tan and ended up with dark dots across your legs, patchy areas around the ankles, or bronzer settling into tiny pores, the cause is almost always preparation — specifically, shaving and shower timing.

Shaving or showering too close to your tan are two of the biggest reasons for:

• Dotty, speckled legs

• Uneven colour

• DHA sinking into open follicles

• Patchiness while the tan develops

• Faster fading

Most people don’t realise that both shaving and showering heat the skin, open the pores and temporarily disrupt the skin barrier.

This blog explains why you should shave 24 hours before tanning, and why you should avoid showering within 1–3 hours of your appointment to ensure your pores close and your tan develops evenly.

How Shaving Affects the Skin (And Why It Causes Pore Dots)

Shaving isn’t just hair removal — it alters the skin at a microscopic level.

1. Shaving opens your pores

Warm water + friction + razor glide = open pores.

If you apply tan while pores are open, the bronzer and DHA settle into each hair follicle, creating:

• Dark dots

• Speckled legs

• “Strawberry skin”

• Dirty-looking pores

This is one of the most common complaints salons receive.

2. Shaving creates invisible micro-cuts

Even the smoothest shave leaves behind hundreds of tiny abrasions.

Applying tan over freshly disturbed skin means:

• DHA absorbs too deeply

• Skin stings or feels irritated

• Colour grabs unevenly

• Tan fades patchy

3. Shaving removes natural oils

These oils help regulate DHA absorption.

Without them, the skin can become:

• Dehydrated

• Tight

• Over-absorbent in some areas

• Resistant in others

This results in uneven colour from the very first rinse.

Why You MUST Wait 24 Hours After Shaving Before Tanning

The skin needs time to recover.

After 4–6 hours:

Pores begin to close.

After 12–18 hours:

Barrier function starts to recover.

After 24 hours:

• Pores are closed

• Micro-cuts are healed

• Skin texture is smooth

• Natural oils have returned

• DHA can bind evenly

This is why shaving the night before your appointment always delivers the smoothest, most even result.

Now Let’s Talk About Showering: Why Showering Too Close to Your Tan ALSO Causes Dots and Patchiness

This is something clients rarely understand, but it makes a huge difference in their results.

Even if a client shaved the day before, showering too close to tanning can still cause:

• Pore dots

• Blotchy legs

• Tan “sliding off” wet areas

• Under-developed colour

Here’s why:

1. Hot showers open the pores

Just like shaving, a shower — especially a hot one — warms the skin and opens the pores.

Open pores behave like tiny wells.
The guide colour and DHA settle inside them, creating:

• Dark dots

• Speckled appearance on thighs and calves

• Patchiness on shins

The warmer the shower, the longer your pores stay open afterwards.

2. Steam increases skin softness and follicle visibility

Steam softens the top layer of skin and temporarily raises the hair follicles.
This makes the skin absorbent and highly reactive.

Applying tan while the skin is still warm or damp leads to:

• Dark lines

• Uneven development

• DHA pooling in damp or softened patches

3. Showering strips natural oils right before tan application

Water (especially hot water) removes the skin’s natural surface oils.

Without this protective layer, DHA:

• Penetrates inconsistently

• Grabs too strongly

• Dries out quickly

• Develops unevenly

This is particularly obvious on the shins, ankles and knees.

4. Showering too close to your tan lifts the skin’s pH temporarily

Healthy skin sits at a pH of ~5.5.

Showering — and washing products — shift the pH upward, which affects DHA development.

DHA prefers a slightly acidic environment.
A raised pH leads to:

• Slower development

• Patchy colour

• Pale spots

This is why clients who shower right before an appointment often report “My tan didn’t take properly.”

So How Long Should You Wait Between Showering and Tanning?

For best results:

• Avoid showering within 1–3 hours of your appointment

• Avoid hot showers completely on tan day

• If you must rinse, take a quick cool shower and avoid all products

Cold water helps pores tighten back up — hot water keeps them open.

Best Practice Pre-Tan Routine 

24 Hours Before Tanning

1. Shower with Naked Tan Body Cleanser

2. Exfoliate with Naked Tan Body Exfoliator + Mitt

3. Shave legs gently

4. Hydrate with Crème de la Crème

On Tan Day

• Do not shave

• Avoid hot showers

• Avoid sweating

• Keep skin clean and dry

• If showering is necessary → quick cool rinse only

• Avoid deodorant, moisturiser and heavy products

Right Before Your Appointment

Your skin should be:

• Cool

• Pore-tightened

• Free from products

• Completely dry

This gives the smoothest, most even DHA development.

What Happens When You Follow These Rules?

Your tan will develop:

✔ Smoothly
✔ Evenly
✔ Without dots
✔ Without streaks
✔ With a long-lasting fade
✔ With deeper and more natural colour

Shaving and shower timing are two of the most important factors in achieving professional-level tanning results — both at home and in the salon.

Timing Is Everything for a Flawless Tan

Shaving the day before and avoiding showering too close to your tan are essential for preventing:

• Pore dots

• Patchy legs

• Dark follicle marks

• Uneven development

• Fast fading

Giving the skin time to recover, rebalance and close its pores ensures that DHA binds evenly and beautifully.

When combined with the right prep products — Naked Tan Body Exfoliator, Exfoliating Mitt, Body Cleanser and Crème de la Crème — your tan will be smooth, streak-free and long-lasting every time.