How to avoid streaky self-tan, actually.

Streaks are almost always a prep failure, not an application failure. Dry skin patches absorb DHA at different rates than well-hydrated skin, and the result is a darker streak where the dry area was. Solve the dry-skin problem and streaks mostly disappear. The application technique helps but it's secondary.

The steps.

Step 1. Exfoliate the night before, not the day of

Day-of exfoliation strips the skin barrier just before applying DHA, which causes the colour to absorb unevenly. Exfoliate the night before with a body scrub or exfoliating mitt. By morning your skin is back to its natural pH and the moisture barrier is intact. Don't shave on the day of tan either — freshly shaved follicles take up DHA differently.

Step 2. Moisturise the dry zones — but only the dry zones

Knees, elbows, ankles, the backs of the hands, knuckles, eyebrows, and the hairline are all higher-friction or drier than the rest of the body. Apply a thin layer of fragrance-free moisturiser to these areas only, immediately before tan. Don't moisturise the rest of the body — too much moisture diffuses the DHA and lightens the colour everywhere except the spots that needed it.

Step 3. Apply with a quality mitt in long strokes

The mitt prevents palm-staining and produces a more even spread than bare hands. Apply mousse in palm-sized doses to the mitt, then sweep in long, overlapping, light strokes — never circular motions. Circular motions deposit product unevenly. Cover one limb at a time. Do legs first, arms second, torso last (the area you'll have most contact with the mitt).

Step 4. Blend down to the extremities

Use the residual product on your mitt — don't add fresh product — to blend down the feet, ankles, hands, and wrists. These areas should be 30-50% lighter than the rest of the limb to look natural. The residual mitt has exactly the right amount of product for this. Pay particular attention to the tops of the feet (high streak risk).

Step 5. Wait the full develop window before showering

Express tans need their full 1-2 hour develop time before water contact. Overnight tans need 6-8. Showering before full develop washes off the surface bronzer (the temporary cosmetic tint) and reveals an unfinished colour underneath. The first shower should be water-only — no body wash, no exfoliation. Pat dry, don't rub.

If streaks still happen.

The fix depends on where they are. Streaks on legs and arms can be smoothed with a long warm shower and exfoliating mitt — the high points of the streak fade faster than the surrounding tan, evening it out. Streaks on the chest or stomach are harder; oil-based body washes are the most effective remover. For severe streaks, a tan-removal product like St Moriz Tan Eraser or Bondi Sands Self-Tan Eraser will lift more product than exfoliation alone.

The full removal guide is at /guides/how-to-remove-self-tan.html.