Maintaining a spray tan on holiday

[MyVegasBaby]

My beautician has suggested a spray tan before I go on holiday and says I will tan through it and not end up paler than I start off with as long as I maintain it correctly.
I've never done this before but like the idea.
I have googled and it seems what she is saying is true but I'm confused over what suntan lotion and after sun to use as some say must be non oil based and others oil based.
Has anyone done this, is it a good idea and what do i need to use to avoid ending up a patchy mess??

I wouldn't bother if I were you. Maintaining a spray tan when you're on holidays is pretty much impossible I'd say. And much more difficult that maintaining one at home. Suncream, showers, sweating, swimming all mean your tan will more or less be gone after three days or so.

While your tan develops (for the first 12-24 hours depending on the brand) you need to avoid sweating and/or using any lotions and potions.

After that, all you really need to do is stay out of the pool as chlorine will make your tan either go a funny colour or fade off patchy.

Other than that I tell my clients to moisturise, moisturise, moisturise, which is easy when you're on holiday, using whatever they like.

WickedWax are you a beautician? I don't go in the pool much so chorine not a huge issue. It's FakeBake.
Is it a good idea or a lot of hassle? Like you say with suntan lotion and after sun there will be lots of moisturising going on!

It will look terrible (especially around the belly button) as it fades and you'll have to cover up.
I've done it as have lots of friends and we've all said never again. You're better off with a gradual tan that you can take with you and top up while you're there.

Agh, totally confused now!

Well I've had lots of different spray tans and I have to say that fake bake lasted the longest and went less patchy than all the others. It lasted about 4 days. Why not have it done and take some decent gradual tanner to apply each night (St Tropez is the best I've found)?

I have done this in the past and come back paler with red patches, not a good look.

A bit of gradual tan as pp suggested is a much better idea.

I love a spray tan before holidays, but realistically, you can't maintain it for longer than about 5 days.

I only have one if I''m going somewhere where I can top it up after the first week (so when we went to Florida for three week, i had two additional spray tans while there).

Otherwise, you do will probably up pale and possibly patchy by the time you're going home.

I don't spray tan but use a gradual tan - mostly San tropez everyday on body and clarins on face, to build up a few days before going on hols, then when on hols I exfoliate ;lightly but daily or every second day tbh (as sun cream is just oiler and I find my skin needs it.) I put on Gradual tanner lightly every second day then to maintain the tan until my own comes in.
I don't get patches or streaks I find it works really well. Have been doing this for years, when I tried spray tan it didn't work as nicely, and when I tried other types of tan they didn't work for me (vita liberata was too pale, cocoa brown or any mousse I couldn't get on with, clarins worked well)
I Use usual high SPF sun block, and if aftersun has tan developer in it I don't use the gradual moisturiser.
Tbh I find spray tans are darker and the contrast to my normal skin colour is so great and it often fries my skin out, that I find the streaks and patches are harder to prevent and more more obvious as it fades and my own tan doesn't come in as quickly. Oh and I swim almost daily on holidays and 4-5 times a week usually and don't find chlorine a problem with fading or tan development with this routine.
Enjoy your holiday :)

Turquoise do you build up with the St Tropez gradual tanner and then use it instead of after sun or in addition to?

Myvegas yes I build it up - use it before we go, but not 'heavy'.
I m pale anyway and whilst I tan well would never really aim for dark tanning (though I do use the medium/ dark version of the gradual tanner - simply because I picked it up by mistake one day and then found it takes less applications and gives a nicer tan than the light version).

I use it every second day maybe on holiday, for say the first 5-7 days to maintain it but then I wouldn't need to really after.
I wouldn't use it if the after sun has a tan developer in it. This year my skin s been extremely sensitive and I only used an aloe after sun (no developer) and the gradual tan alternately.

I assume different regimes work for different skin types etc but that seems to work for me plus I continue it now I m home (I find my wobbly bits and cellulite are slightly less unsightly with a tan than than pure milk bottle white .....)

Thanks Turquoise and that's why I fancy a bit of colour, will feel far better in a bikini!
Off to Boots tonight!

Had it done tonight! Only time will tell if it was a good move or not ????