The four things you really NEED to know before a DIY tan

I'm not sure what it is about a tan but getting a (fake) bronzed glow just makes everything look better.

It's probably a lot to do with the fact that in my mind, tanning is intrinsically linked with holidays so even if I'm not going somewhere, I can try and look the part. While a spray tan is great for a big occasion (side note, I'm currently crushing on Moroccan Tan), it's not exactly an expense one can justify on a regular basis. That's where DIY tanning at home comes in. Now, maybe it's just me, but I have a certain amount of fear when it comes to self-tanning because between streaky hands and patchy legs, there's so much that can go wrong. To help out with this particular quandary, I decided some expert help was needed and chatted to none other than celebrity tanning master, Mr James Read. James recently launched his tanning line in Dublin salon Callan & Co and he knows everything there is to know about fake tanning. My main question for James on this particular occasion was what are his top tips for anyone looking to perfect their tan at home. A wealth of information on the topic, he had lots to say. Face tanning is first and these tips are gold as it's such an awkward area to tan without any streaks:

1) When tanning the face, put an ice cube over the face first to close your pores. Use your hands when applying it to the face, start from the hairline and work down the face and down the neck. 2) To avoid tan coming off on your hairline, put a little moisturiser on a cotton bud and rub it into the hairline. 3) Rub your eyebrows with some moisturiser too so the tan doesn't rub off on them and clean it off afterwards. 4) Also, always drink with a straw after tanning the face so you don’t get a white top lip which is a big no-no.

When it comes to body tanning, James was vocal about the need to exfoliate and although you may have heard this one before, it can't be reiterated enough. See below for James's rule for pre-tanning prep:

"Always exfoliate the night before, moisturise on the day especially the dry areas like the hands, elbows, knees".

His other top tip for body tanning might surprise you...

"Rub left over product from the arms onto the hands and from legs onto the feet so it naturally fades".

The above is a game-changer as not only are you guaranteeing a gradual, natural fade, you're also getting value for money. I gleaned a couple of more tips from the tanning guru, (who looks after Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Rita Ora's tan to name but a few), but I'll leave for those for part two.