If you’ve ever finished your tanning routine only to notice patchy orange palms or stained fingertips, you’re not alone. Fake tan on the hands can be one of the trickiest areas to get right—and the most obvious when it goes wrong. The good news? There are plenty of gentle, effective ways to remove tan build-up without irritating your skin.
Let’s walk through why it happens and how to get the best tan.
Why Do Fake Tan Stains Appear on Hands?
Fake tan works by interacting with the top layer of your skin to create colour. Because your hands are naturally drier and have more texture, they tend to absorb more of the product, often unevenly. Washing your hands frequently also affects how tan develops there.
Why Are Hands the First to Get Stained?
We wash our hands often, which dries them out. That dry skin holds onto self-tanner more aggressively, especially around knuckles and cuticles. The rougher the skin, the more it grabs the pigment—leading to patchy, darker spots.
How to Remove Fake Tan from Hands
There’s no need to panic if your hands go a little too dark or streaky. Here’s how to remove fake tan without damaging your skin.
Use a Tan Removal Mitt or Scrub
A good tan removal mitt—like our Sunescape option—does more than just exfoliate. It’s made from specialised fibres that actually lift old tan from your skin. For best results, use in circular motions on damp skin.
Want to boost the effect? Use a scrub that combines both physical exfoliants and AHAs (alpha-hydroxy acids) to speed up the process.
Try a Self-Tan Remover Product
Tan remover products work by breaking down dead skin cells, taking the tan with them. Look for ingredients like glycolic acid or lactic acid paired with gentle exfoliators.
These products are ideal if you’re trying to fade stubborn spots without scrubbing too hard—just follow with moisturiser to keep your skin soft and smooth.
Use Household Items Like Baking Soda or Lemon Juice
If you’re caught out without a mitt or remover, household ingredients can do the trick:
- Mix lemon juice with bicarbonate soda and apply it to the stained area.
- Soak your hands in magnesium salt water and gently scrub.
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Even a light mist of Windex can work (though it’s best kept as a last resort).
Lemon juice does help lift fake tan, but it’s acidic—so avoid using it on large areas or broken skin.
Preventing Fake Tan Stains on Your Hands in the First Place
The easiest way to fix fake tan hands is not to let them happen. Here’s how to stop stains before they start:
Always Wear Gloves When Applying Fake Tan
Gloves are your best friend. Whether you’re using a mousse, spray or cream, gloves stop your palms from absorbing too much product. We recommend our tan mitts with built-in glove lining—designed to keep your application smooth and your hands stain-free.
Apply Tan to the Body First, Then the Hands
Your hands don’t need much product to match the rest of your body. After you’ve tanned your arms, use the residue left on your mitt or brush to gently buff the tan into your hands. Don’t forget to blend over knuckles, fingers and wrists—and wipe palms and creases after.
At Feeling Smooth, we offer professional streak-free spray tanning in Moonee Ponds and Port Melbourne.
What If the Fake Tan Stain Doesn’t Come Off?
If your hands still look stained after trying these tricks, don’t over-exfoliate. Instead, hydrate the area and give it a day before trying again.
Moisturising helps loosen the colour and softens the skin for easier removal. Most fake tan will fade naturally in about a week, especially if you avoid harsh soaps or drying products.
Achieve a Perfect Tan Without the Stains
It’s totally possible to get that golden glow without sacrificing your hands in the process. With the right prep, tools, and a few clever tricks, your fake tan can look fresh and flawless from top to toe.
Need help with stubborn patches? Pop into Feeling Smooth Moonee Ponds or Port Melbourne, and our team can recommend the perfect remover or treatment to get your skin back on track.