NWR: Tanning 101 I feel dumb asking but....

I can't help, but I'm almost 26 and have never tanned either! So don't feel dumb! I bet someone here knows something about tanning.

Im a pro tanner, I use white to black tanning lotion (gets you very dark) You can wear underware if you want.. I dont. Shower after cause its stinky. Tan maybe 2 times a week then when your closer to wedding 3-4 for 4/5 weeks. NOT EVERY DAY! start out maybe 5 min in the bed and work your way up to 15 or 20 depnding if its a high pressure bed

My Maid of Honor got me a spray tan before trying on dresses, and it was awesome. I did it a few days, so no worries about staining the dresses, and it made a HUGE difference in how they looked when trying them on!

You don't HAVE to use lotion..but it's highly recommended (it helps the tan), and they say don't shower afterwards, but I always do anyway because it's stinky like Soon to be Mrs. Z said. I wear my underwear but no bra. I usually do the lay down ones because I like to take a nap (it's the only time I can nap haha) but every 3 or 4 times I'll do a stand up one just to try and even out some lines

I went through a tanning phase when I was 19...

I always used lotion, I would burn and turn blotchy if I didn't. I used just am accelerator, not one with a bronzer in it.

I also always wore underwear, but no bra; I preferred lay down booths to stand up ones. Stand up ones never tanned my legs, don't know why.

I always showered after I tanned to a) get the lotion off - this may be different if you use a bronzer one and b) because tanning made my skin smell awful ( the burning smell should have probably been a sign I shouldn't have been tanning, but I digress).

Wear eye protection.

At some point you need to ask someone about the strength of the beds/booths to find out how long you should go in. The first time I ever tanned I went for 20 mins in a lay down booth (same thing it was at my gym) and I got horribly burnt. Asking someone at the tanning salon got me the right amount of time.

This being said, I don't tan anymore... I've embraced my paleness haha

I'll be 31 on Wednesday and have never tanned. But then, I'd probably get sunburned just standing next to a tanning bed. I'm pale every other day of my life, so I'd look weird if I managed to be tan for my wedding. good luck!

Well I'm a college golfer so i get really goofy tan lines, they're pretty awesome, not really and I still have them left over from this summer and I just wanna even it all out, I tan pretty nicely, I think I've burned once or twice out on the course but we spend like 8 hours a day outside and I dont wear a hat because I'm a slacker and always forget it and it makes my hair sweaty so I've already conquered the fear of skin cancer since I'm not planning on tanning as much as I'm outside for golf

Isn't that really bad for your skin?

What do you mean by conquering the fear of skin cancer? Its a pretty serious concern. I also am involved in a sport where I am outside 9+ hrs a day and wear a hat,glasses, and am always slopping on the suncreen.

All you need to know is that it's horrible for you. Go with a spray tan. It's not worth risking your health for it.

I saw Iman on TV this morning, and she says that even though she is African American, she always wears a 50 spf. The woman's skin in amazing.

I usually wear sunscreen but I'm not overly concerned... I'm not going to not tan out of fear of skin cancer... i dont think I'm invincible I was just saying for how much time I spend out in the sun a little tanning to even it all out doesn't seem like such a bad idea to me

I think skin cancer is a pretty darn good reason not to tan personally. Your tone is pretty disrespectful towards anyone who has been effected by cancer, like its no big deal. Trust me, its a pretty big deal.

I say go with a spray tan, too. Yes, I used tanning beds in the past. Never again. The risk of skin cancer is too great.

My ex used tanning beds far more than I did. He has had many skin cancer cells show up since. He has scars that will never go away and will always fear more cancer scares, all due to vanity.

Spray tan is the way to go.

I tan naked too, I tan in a bed to get rid of the lines!!

Also make sure the lotion is indoor tanning, and I agree start off only 5 mins because you will burn, and move up slowly! Spray tanning is nice, but it can cause streaks and the last time I went I wasn't all that thrilled with how it covered me.

I started tanning when I was 16. It started off as a mother/daughter thing where we would go tan, and then go next door and get mani/pedis's. However, I went to my dermatologist about 2 months after I started tanning (and this was in the winter, when it was too cold to even go outside) and they found 2 moles that were melanoma. I still have scars from where they had to cut deep to remove all of the cancer cells on my chest and on my upper arm.

To make the story short, IMHO please do a spray tan. I just wouldn't risk it .

Tanning in a bed also can cause streaks. IF you tan in a bed, you do need to move during the tanning cycle.

@Nancy C. I'm really sorry that happened to you And I can definitely understand where some people are coming from, but I do understand the risks and am willing to do this, obviously not excessively but its something I've been wanting to do... seriously my tan lines make me look like I'm wearing a t-shirt when I'm topless lol and I just want to be able to go out with my fiance and wear a little black dress without having to wear a cover up because of embarrassing lines across my biceps... I only get a few days this year to spend with him... I want to look as absolutely perfect for him as I can, I know he'll love me no matter what but something about only getting to see him next month and then again at the wedding makes me want to look super special

I agree with Kathy. You will have to cycle between putting your arms up so you can get your underarms and underside of your arm tan and then put your arms back down. Flip on your stomach and back, and even spread your legs to get your inner legs tan as well.

Thanks Kathy! Good to know, getting rid of awkward line on my body is kind of the point of this whole thing lol thanks!

I tanned back in college to get ready for special events, and now (at age 26), I realize how silly that was. Not only do you risk getting cancer, but you're aging your skin...I stopped tanning at age 20 or so, and I'll never do it again.

A spray tan is fine, but brides beware, I've heard horror stories about lotions and spray tan sweat ruining wedding dresses.

The best thing is be active and be outside, but use sunscreen. If you're outside and using sunscreen, you'll still get a little color while still protecting your skin from harmful rays.

PS-With a summer wedding, you should be able to pull this off with no problem.