Dear fellow redheads and friends who are also exceptionally pale, this blog post is for you! Over the past several years I’ve been playing guinea pig trying to achieving that natural, beautiful glow with at-home tanners. Lemme tell you, I’m at most confident when I look tan. If you feel the same way, then this blog post featuring the BEST self tanner for redheads is for you!! P.S even if you don’t have red hair, this tanner will look AMAZING on you! This at-home tanner takes the gold medal in every category. Trust me!

{Quick brand shoutout! Check out this New England brand, NavyBleu and make sure to follow them on IG! Make sure you get on their email list for updates on when my exact coverup launches (est. March 2022). I did my at home self tanner routine the day prior to this photoshoot to give you an idea of how natural and amazing it looks! All photo credit belongs to the amazing Mindy Briar.}

Do redheads look good with a tan?

Is the sky blue?! Here’s the thing, no one looks good with a bad, fake tan. No one. It doesn’t matter if you have red, black, blonde, purple, or brown hair, bad fake tans are always going to look bad. That’s why it’s so important to use a good self-tanner/at-home tanner and to practice that way you can achieve that beautiful, natural sunless glow.

And YES, of course redheads look good with a tan! I personally get compliments all the time after applying my fake tan. I look better in my blog photos, in real life, and most importantly, I feel better with a tan. They key to having a natural looking fake tan as a redhead is not going too dark. And lucky for you, I’m going to walk you through the entire process step by step!

What’s the difference between a spray tan and an at-home self tanner?

I’ll never forget my first spray tan experience. Back in college my friend Catie and I were about to head down to her grandma’s house in Palm Beach. The day prior to our trip we both agreed spray tans were a must! We went to the local tanning salon down in VA and after contemplating how dark we should go, we stepped into our respective automated spray tan booths. It was so weird! This spray tanning robot talked you through the process of how to stand and when to turn around. When Catie and I both exited our booths, Catie started laughing at how grey I looked compared to her brown-ish hue. I won’t bore you with the rest of the story, but please just avoid going to an automated self tanning salon!

I’ve had plenty of great spray tans by actual people who are professionals and experts in their field. While I have only great things to say about those spray tans, I personally now exclusively use self tanner at home.

If you’re not keen on the idea of getting naked in front of a complete stranger, than spray tans definitely aren’t for you, ha! In addition to the awkwardness, I find that spray tans leave you feeling more “sticky” after versus an at-home self tanning mousse. That’s yet another reason why I prefer self tanning! It’s also more convenient! Being able to control my tanning experience and not having to leave my house is a huge plus! (I prefer to apply my self-tanner right after a shower or bath prior to bed, which wouldn’t be possible if I went to a salon, seeing as they aren’t open at 11pm at night).

To sum it all up for you, in 2022 I don’t think a spray tan is any better quality than a great self tanner. Maybe there used to be, but not anymore. The only BIG difference is if you’re self tanning yourself you might not be able to reach every inch of your back. If you’re getting a spray tan, the technician will make sure your entire body is covered. Personally, I never think twice about my back having a few pale spots.

Will self tanner cover up my freckles?

Not really. Sunless tanners are going to obviously make your skin tone darker so your freckles might look a little faded, but it’s not going to cover them up the way a good concealer would. Side note: freckles are awesome! You should embrace your freckles and love them, not cover them up!

Finally! Time to reveal the BEST self tanner for redheads with fair skin!

Now it’s time for the BEST self tanner for redheads In 2022. Yep, that’s right, I plan on continuing to update this blog post as I continue to try new self tanners. While I don’t see myself falling in love with a different at-home tanning mousse anytime soon, I’m always testing other brands out of curiosity!

Drum roll please… and the Oscar goes to… Coco & Eve Self Tanner in MEDIUM!! I’d recommend purchasing this under $50 starter kit here, which includes the self tanner, an applicator mitt, and a brush. If you just need the tanner itself, I’ve linked that here (*just make sure you purchase the “medium” shade!) Not only is Coco & Eve the best self tanner for redheads, it’s also all natural and cruelty free!

All self tanners are going to have a scent to them. This one is pretty subtle comparatively! With best practices, one self tanner application should last you a week. If you go in a hot tub or take a bath it will definitely fade your tan faster, if not completely. You can certainly maintain this tan and build it over time. I typically reapply every 10-14 days. Play around with it though to find your best routine!

Lastly, some self tanners can leave you looking streaky. I’ve found this Coco & Eve self tanner is the MOST forgiving. Make sure you follow the application instructions that come with the self tanner to avoid this, but really, I think you’d have to mess up badly to look streaky with this stuff. My best advice, follow the “always in motion” rule once the applicator mitt makes contact with your skin. You can always go back over a spot you might have missed.

Tips for beginners looking to achieve the best natural looking sunless tan:

Sunless Tanner Application Tips:

1 // Make sure to shave and/or exfoliate prior to applying your self tanner.

2 // Apply your sunless tanning mousse in front of a mirror and use the applicator mitt. Make sure the lighting is good so you don’t mistake a shadow and miss a spot!

3 // During application, make sure you curl your knuckles, toes, knees, and elbows to ensure your tan is evenly applied. If you don’t do this, you’ll end up with pale wrinkles and tiger stripes!

4 // Have a dedicated “tan” towel that you use to dry off from your first shower after application.

5 // IF you decide to apply Coco & Eve mousse on your face, rinse off with warm water immediately after application. This is to avoid being too dark! (Disclaimer, if you have sensitive skin or problem skin then you probably don’t want to use Coco & Eve on your face. I’ve used it on my face before. and it stung a little, but after rising with warm water I was fine. I have another product for your face though… use THIS sunless tanning serum for your face and mix it in with your moisturizer every night. You’ll be golden… literally!)

General At-Home Self Tanning Tips:

6 // Apply lotion each day to preserve your tan!

7 // Game plan it! To achieve my ideal shade I prefer to marinate in my self tanner for at least a day after application. Marinate is just my not fancy way of saying, leave it on, let it soak in, don’t sweat, don’t shower. So here’s my typical timeline… Monday night shower, sleep, Tuesday go about my day (no exercise so I don’t sweat), then shower Tuesday night.

8 // Wear long sleeves, pants, and socks to bed. Make sure you tuck in your shirt and tuck your pants into your socks to avoid tanning marks on your sheets.

9 // To keep your sunless tan from fading as long as possible, after all showers, PAT yourself dry with a towel.

10 // Avoid wearing white while you marinate. This should be obvious, but in case it’s not! Try to wear dark colors or clothes you don’t care too much about when you’re letting your self tan soak in. The Coco & Eve mousse definitely transfers from skin to clothing. In my experience it comes out in the washing machine just fine.

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P.S. If you love cashmere, check out NavyBleu’s
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keywords – the best self tanner for redheads // fake tan // sunless tan redheads // fair skin // pale skin // gingers // red hair // natural sunless glow // how to look tan // at-home tanning tips // beginner self tanning tips