When To Avoid Applying Self-Tanner, From A Hair Removal Expert

If you shave your legs but they never look that smooth, you could be dealing with what many people call strawberry legs. This is caused by a number of factors, from keratosis pilaris (KP) to a dull razor and beyond—so no, it’s not necessarily something you’re doing wrong. 

According to laser hair removal expert and founder of Romeo & Juliette Laser Hair Removal, Christian Karavolas, you should actually wait a full 48 hours post-shave to apply your self-tanner. 

“This would allow the pores to close and the skin irritation to subside,” Karavolas explains. “Otherwise, tiny dots may appear, as the cream would seep through the pores.”

The end result: Legs specked with tiny dots, looking like hair even if there’s no actual hair to be found. 

And if you have a laser hair removal appointment booked, just know this: “You should stop applying a self-tanner for at least two weeks prior to having laser hair removal performed for best results,” Karavolas notes. “If you apply a self-tanner prior to treatment, since the laser is attracted to pigment and melanin, it will pick up whatever is on the surface of the skin (epidermis) and cause mild pigmentation and/or blotchiness."