Our top recommended Spray Tan Milwaukee Salon for a Long-Lasting Gorgeous Glow (discount code included!)
Whether you’re attending a wedding, have an upcoming event or vacation planned, or just want a natural-looking tan without the harmful UV rays, finding a spray tanning salon that delivers natural, streak-free results and uses high-quality, skin-safe products is key.
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The Glow Doctor Luxury Spray Tans
If you follow me on Instagram, you’ve probably heard me talk about The Glow Doctor before. They’re a luxury sunless spray tanning salon located in Brookfield, WI, which is about 20 minutes outside of downtown Milwaukee.
They specialize in long-lasting, customized spray tans that provide a natural and flawless golden glow (no streaky orange sprays here)!
I started coming here in the Spring, right before my bridal shower, and now I’m absolutely obsessed. As someone who has naturally fair skin, having that beautiful, post-vacation glow gives me an immediate confidence boost. I mean who doesn’t love being tan?
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I’ve gone to the Glow Doctor many times since and am always so impressed by the results.
So, if you’ve been thinking about getting a spray tan for a special event or just because, this post will share everything you need to know. What to expect at your first appointment, pre and post-tan care, what to wear, when to book and more.
Let’s dive in!
Spray Tan Prep: Before Your Appointment
For the best results, you’ll want to take your spray tan prep seriously and don’t skip any steps!
Shower the night before or the morning of your appointment
- Shave! (you’ll want to do this first before you exfoliate)
- THEN, exfoliate your whole body. You’ll want to use an exfoliator mitt like this one to remove all your dead skin cells. This provides you with a smooth, even canvas for your spray. This is by far the most important step.
Do not apply any lotion, makeup or deodorant after your shower or before your appointment. These could all potentially interfere with the tanning solution.
Lastly, wear (or bring) dark, loose-fitting clothing and a pair of sandals to your appointment.
The Glow Doctor – Luxury Spray Tan Milwaukee Salon
What to Expect at your Spray Tan Appointment
I want to walk you through the entire appointment process so you know exactly what to expect for your first spray tan. I also posted a Come with me to get a spray tan reel on Instagram detailing the process as well if you’d prefer to watch the video!
Overall, plan for your appointment to take about 20 minutes. Here’s a breakdown.
Appointment Overview:
- Arrive and check in at the front desk (usually you’ll never have a wait time for your appt)!
- Discuss your tanning options and preferences with your tan specialist
- Custom skin color-match – whoever is spraying you will color-match your skin and create a personalized blend of their tanning solutions for your skin tone
- Undress – most people spray naked, but do whatever you feel comfortable with.
- SPRAY TIME! This takes about 10 minutes I’d say. You basically just stand there and do different positions with your arms, while your tan specialist talks through everything she’s doing.
- Get dressed, but do not put on your bra, underwear, or jewelry! Slip on your baggy sweatpants, oversized sweatshirt/t-shirt, and sandals.
- Discuss post-tan care and rinse time (this is different for everyone depending on your desired color)
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That’s it! You’re in and out so fast. It’s the best tanning experience. They’ve got great customer service, a professional and knowledgeable staff, and amazing high-quality tanning solutions. Trust me, once you start coming here, you’ll get addicted!
Tanning Options: Rapid Tan Vs Overnight
The Glow Doctor offers two different tanning options, a rapid tan and an overnight tan. I’ve only ever done the rapid tan because I prefer to rinse it off before I go to sleep. So, below I’ll compare the two options they offer, however just know, I’ve never done the overnight tan.
Rapid Tan
- Processing time before first rinse: 1-6 hours
- Color depth: you control the depth
- Color revealed 24 hours after rinse time
The Glow Doctor – Luxury Spray Tan Milwaukee Salon
Since I loved the results from my first rapid tan, I’ve continued to get the same exact spray every time I come in. Rapid tan with a rinse time of 3.5 hours. I’ve found that to be the sweet spot for my skin type. It gives me a beautiful, natural tan that isn’t overly dark.
Also, after your first rinse, the color you see won’t be your final color. It takes a full 24 hours after showering for the color to develop.
Overnight Tan
- Processing time before first rinse: 8-12 hours
- Color depth: ultra light to ultra dark
- Color revealed after your first rinse
Again, I haven’t done their overnight before, but this is a great option if you prefer to tan at night.
Post-Tan Care: After Your Appointment
Since I’ve only done the Rapid tan, I’m going to specifically talk about my post-tan care for that specific tanning option.
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Best Spray Tan Milwaukee Salon – The Glow Doctor
After your Rapid spray tan:
- Stay in dark, baggy clothing until your first rinse (mine is 3.5 hours)
- Do not wash your hands until your first rinse!
First Rinse
- Hop in the shower and rinse off the tan until the water is clear again (should only take 5 min.)
- Don’t use any soap and pat dry with a towel
After Rinse
- Sleep in long pants and a long-sleeve top the first night after your spray tan
- Moisturize your face and body the next day after rinsing (don’t moisturize any sooner)
- Continue to apply moisturizer all over your body 1-2x each day. This is important! If you don’t rub lotion onto your skin daily, your tan could crack/fade faster.
- During future showers, only shower using your hands (no washcloths), and don’t use drugstore body care/skincare
That’s basically everything I think! You’ll notice that your face fades MUCH faster than your body, so to extend your tan, you can use this Tanning Facial Mist. It makes a huge difference!
Answering your most asked spray tanning questions
Here are some of the questions that a few of you have asked about The Glow Doctor and their spray tanning process. Let me know if you have any more!
How long does the tan last?
The tan can last anywhere from 10 to 14 days depending on how well you take care of it. Mine typically lasts the full 14 days before I’m back to my usual color. The tan is obviously not as dark as it was the first couple of days, but still considerably darker than what my skin usually looks like.
And actually, on day 13 of my tan, my mom said I still have a lot of color. So, if you follow good post-care practices, your tan will last a pretty long time.
Will the tan make me look orange?
Nope, you do not have to worry about looking orange at all. You can read more about The Glow Doctor’s tanning solutions on their website, but they carry over twenty different shades of the highest quality solutions to guarantee you achieve the most natural, beautiful glow.
Will the tan stain my clothes or sheets?
Nope! We have all white bedding and I wear white clothes ALL the time and my tan has never stained my clothes or sheets. Right after you get your spray, some of it will transfer onto the dark, baggy clothing that you’re wearing, but it washes right out.
When you go to sleep that first night after your spray, you’ll also want to sleep in loose-fitting pants and a long-sleeve top, just so the tan develops evenly without any weird creases from sleeping.
How soon before an event should I get a spray tan?
2-3 days before your upcoming event is what’s recommended. My bridal shower was on a Sunday, so I scheduled my spray tan for Friday. Same for our wedding. Our first event started Friday morning, so I went in for my spray tan on Wednesday evening.
Is it awkward getting sprayed by a tan technician?
Not at all! Before my first time getting sprayed, I was a little nervous because I wasn’t sure if it would be weird having another person spray me vs. having it done by a machine. But, I shouldn’t have been worried because it’s not awkward at all. The staff is so professional and talks you through the entire process while they’re spraying you.
Special Discount Code!
For all my local girls, I’ve got a discount code for you. For $10 off your spray tan use code CASSIE10. You can use this code as many times as you want, so take advantage of it!
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I hope this post gave you a good idea of what you can expect from your first spray tan. The Glow Doctor is the only place I will go for a spray now!
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- Best Milwaukee Wedding Photographer for Timeless & Romantic Photos
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- Over Fifty Awesome Wedding Gift Ideas for Couples
This post shared the Best Spray Tan Milwaukee: Where to go for a Natural, Sun-kissed Glow.
