How to do the self-tanning thing right!

You've probably heard some pretty horrendous stories about at-home self-tanning or maybe you've even experienced them first-hand. (Can you say, Tangerine Hands?) Either way, we're here to help you figure out the crazy world of fake baking, from the plethora of products to the perpetual process. When the weather heats up, you'll already be sun-kissed.

The Products
There are tons of self-tanners on the market, but not all will work for your skin type. There are basically four different types: lotions, gels, sprays and mousse. Lotions tend to make your tan longer lasting because of the richness of the formula. They also go onto the skin really smooth and have a moisturizing effect that other self-tanners don't.

Gels, on the other hand, work nicely for people who tend to have oily skin. The gels are hydrating but light, so your pores won't be clogged by a heavy cream. Sprays are made for those who have never self-tanned before. If you spray in even consistent stokes, your tan should be very subtle and natural looking. (Spray products also work great for touch-ups.) Mousse is sort of like a combination of lotion and spray (the control of lotion with the subtlety of a spray) and works for those who don't know how to choose about the two. Mousse is also fast drying, so you'll be ready to show yourself off, lickety-split.

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The Process
Make sure that you have a private area where you can self-tan you will be naked (or semi-naked) for a good chunk of time. You should begin the process by exfoliating the skin.

Take a quick shower and use a loofah or exfoliating soap, making sure to gently scrub dry-skin spots like the knees, elbows and feet. Exfoliating will get rid of all the dead skin cells that would make you look like a giraffe, but there's no need to overdo it. You don't want to inflame your skin before self-tanning.

Start the fake bake. Apply all products in vertical, even stokes if you massage the product into your skin as you would with a normal lotion, the tan may appear blotchy and inconsistent. Start with the legs and arms, leaving all the really dry parts (like elbows, knees and feet) until the very end. Because dry areas have natural cracks, they will appear darker when the self-tanner is applied, so you'll only need to use half of the product that you have been using on all the other parts of your body.

Also, don't forget to apply your product to all the little hidden spots, like behind the ears or the throat this will give you a more natural look. Afterwards, make sure you thoroughly wash your hands or else you may wind up with orange splotchy fingers and cuticles. (If you're really concerned, wear plastic gloves.)

Moisturize! Applying moisturizer after you tan will help keep your skin looking and feeling healthy. You should moisturize every couple of days, so your tan doesn't get dry and flaky.

The Secrets of self tanners
Try a test run on your inner thigh, or somewhere else that can be easily hidden. This way you can see what the color will look like and you'll know of any allergic reactions you may encounter.

Wear a loose fitting robe or a dark colored swimsuit when applying self-tanner — any type of self-tanner can stain clothes permanently.

Wait six to eight hours before you jump in the shower, pool or ocean. Self-tanners must have time to soak into the skin or else all your hard work will be washed away.

Make sure you break out the SPF. Even with self-tanner, you're skin isn't protected from harsh rays.

To get your hands bronzed without involving your innocent palms, squirt some tanner on the top of one hand, smush the top of the other hand over it and rub them together as best you can.

Swab ankles, knees, toes and undersides of arms with a slightly damp Kleenex after applying tanner so they come out a bit lighter than the rest of your bod.