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

Oh its not for the wedding, although I plan to stay off the course this spring just so I dont have crazy bad tan lines, its for next month, my FH was planning on surprising me and taking mid-tour leave and coming to see me for my birthday... surprise not all the way ruined cause I dont know when he'll be here but Im not getting a spray tan to go out to dinner with my fiance when I have a gym membership with tanning... So I plan to do it until he gets here so I can look nice in a sleeveless dress...

and then back to casper the friendly ghost

and then probably spray tan for the wedding just so its all even and I dont look like I'm wearing a whtie t-shirt under my wedding dress lol... stupid golf polos

Don't feel dumb, it's very smart of you to never have tanned! But I know that's neither here nor there, so I'll let the other ladies help you . . .

I know I'm completely opposite of a lot of people on here, and I fully understand the risks of tanning beds but I do not reccomend spray tanning for anything that is important! I have spray tanned many times, both using a booth, and having a technician spray by hand and it is almost impossible to keep it looking perfect for long, and there is always the chance of the tan rubbing onto your clothing!

I don't know if you have spray tanned before but I saw that you said you were planning on that for your wedding, please be wary! Try the same tan out well before hand so if you have those issues you will know in time to tan in a bed. I personally cringe at the thought of having a spray tan in my wedding dress!

I've heard different things, my MOH has done it before and said good things about it...

I've used a coppertone spray tan that worked very well to cover tan lines. It was a mist that I applied at home. No orange, no streaking, didnt rub off.

Use at your own risk but I just have to say, I've lost people to cancer and think they looked so much better with their tan lines then bald and puking from chemo.

Oh also, I have used a spray tan that is called "3 hour to shower" unlike most spray tans where you can't shower for many hours after, with this one you have to shower between 2-3 hours after. I've had much better luck with it, theres not as long of a time frame to mess it up before you rinse the developer off.

Like I sad, Just make sure you check it out well before hand so if it does or doesnt work for you, there is still time to have options! Good luck!!

When you first start, go in for 2 minutes max. Then you can work your way up. If you feel itchy AT ALL, don't bump up the time, lower it a bit or wait. Never tan for more than 20 minutes in a row.

If in the lay down bed, look for the disinfectant and a clean cloth. These should be available in the room so you can clean the bed yourself before you lay down on it. If not available, ask. You don't want a skin condition. Once clean, set the timer, put on the little goggles (you need these, because UV is dangerous through your eyelids too). Then relax...for a couple minutes. I like to move around a lot in the bed to avoid stripes.

I never tan for more than a month, and I like to tan a little and let it fade for two weeks so I look more natural than fake baked. You will want to make sure you apply lotion after. I have never needed to wear tanning lotion in a tanning bed...regular hydrating body lotion amplified the tan just as well.

Hey Megan, I used to tan quite a bit, haven't in a while but will start after I give birth as a little pick me up that makes me feel better

My tips would be -

Start at 5-7 minutes and only go up 2 minutes at a time each visit. If you go 7 minutes and see no results please don't jump to 15 or 20 minutes, you really have to start slow to not burn.

I used a lotion without bronzer and no tingle because I dont like the feeling of the tingle stuff and I do like to shower afterwards (you will smell like burnt skin) I have never had an issue with showering after just don't shave or exfoliate your skin, which would take off yuor top layers of skin cells and take away the tan.

Once you get to 20 minutes in a bed I usually flip once during my proceess. I start face up with my arms at my sides (not touching your sides you want those tanned too) and then flip in the middle and lay on my stomach with my arms over my head.

My tanning salon has the face tanner that you can turn on or off

My tanning salon has the face tanner that you can turn on or off, and I usually only put that on for 5-7 minutes as I dont like the direct tan on my face.

I hate spray tan and have never got one that I was totally satisfied with, but thats just me.

Wearing the eye glasses may seem silly but its worth it and if they are the small alien looking googles you really wont see a ring around your eyes, promise!

I tan naked, I would bring a wipe with me and clean the bed before I laid down for a while, but I have seen the cleaners come into the room and clean up as soon as I leave so I stopped and just trusted it.

My first time I went 20 minutes I burned on my butt BAD. My butt had never seen sun and it was awful, so you could lay a washcloth over just that area the first time or wear thin underware the first time to avoid that.

Well...I work part time at a tanning salon right now so I can answer almost anything you need. First, do the stand up booths not the lay downs. You will get 360 degree coverage rather than coming out with the pressure point marks on your butt/shoulders/no tan under armpits. They are also much quicker in length of time that you are in there. Only downside is you can't sleep while in there then, but our stand ups all max out between 8-11 minutes anyways. Lotion does truly make a difference! They can be anywhere from $20-$120. Try a lotion before you buy it, especially if you have sensitive skin. Lotions with silicone are nice because they feel super soft on your skin. Lotions with a lot of DHA can cause streaking if you do not rub it in well. Accelerator lotions will not add any "fake" color to your skin. You do go naked. No one can see you in there! Do wear goggles as going without can cause serious damage to your eyes. Also, I know the huge hype over tanning and skin cancer, however

The truth is, like anything else in moderation, it is not harmful. If you were going every day for the max time then yes you will probably have a problem. Going three times a week is not harmful. Many dermatologists even recommend tanning for psoriasis as well as Vitamin D deficiencies. It is healthier to tan in a booth three times a week than it is to lay out on the beach. You will smell after tanning. Nasty. It's the UV rays getting rid of bacteria in your skin. Work out before you tan and shower whenever, it really doesn't make a difference. We have the Mystic at our salon, which is the spray tan booth that sprays you itself(no person involved.) It works for a lot of people..some who are super fair it just looks stupid on. I have tried it and it always looked nice on me...it's worth trying out just to see if you like it. I don't really do either..just tan every now and then to keep me with some color.

Thanks Sam that was really really helpful!!!!

I am 24 and have never been tanning and never want to! Gross!! It looks tacky, cheap and it is horrible for you! It causes cancer, ages you faster... Personally I do not want to look like a member of the Jersey Shore, especially when it is extremely dangerous!!

@Sam, are you freaking serious??? That is a terribly inaccurate and irresponsible thing to say.

Personally, I covet neither skin cancer nor looking like a leather bag, but that's just me.

I agree with Amy V.

I used to tan years ago. You'll like the stand up bed to get the places that are harder to tan in a bed (I used to use that once in a while-not all of the time). I'm interested in the spray tan-I've never done that. Healthier than tanning, but I DO NOT want to be yellow. I will say, I am fair skinned, and when I used to tan, I would go every day in the beginning for just a few minutes until I built a base tan (so I didn't burn), and then I backed off of the everyday thing.

Don't feel dumb asking them questions though. That's what they're there for. When I would tan again for the first time of the season, I would always ask for suggestions on accelerators.

While I've since sworn off tanning beds from when I was younger, I will be going before our wedding. It's in March so there's no hope in trying to get a tan outside. Normally, I would recommend a spray tan. They've come a loooong way since the orangish skin days when they first hit the market, but I really don't want to risk ruining my expensive dress. Otherwise, I would totally recommend spray tans, I've gotten them for a few events in the past and couldn't be more pleased with how they turned out. My engagement photos on my profile are spray tan

I appreciate everyone whom seems concerned with ny well being but I'm not really asking for permission more just looking for a crash course on how it works. I'm not stupid I understand there are risks, I'm guessing 5 minutes in I'm not gonna coming out looking like snooki. But thanks for the concern.... I understand not everyone agrees with tanning but that wasn't my question I'm just wondering how it works and what to expect not for your permission. For people who've had or know people who've had skin cancer, or any cancer really, cancer sucks and I'm sorry to hear that...but I know plenty of people who tan and are just fine and don't look like a leather hand bag or jersey shore so I think ill be alright

I think that IS part of how tanning 'works.' You should know and understand the risks. I, for one, am happy to see so many people against tanning beds and understanding of the repercussions of a short time of being tan.

Leanna...I'm not sure where you have gotten your information from, but what I said is not inaccurate? And tanning does not make you look like a leather bag when doing it in moderation like I said. Going tanning 3 times a week for one month out of a year will not make any difference in the appearance of your skin. It is better to do that than go straight to the beach and fry yourself because your skin is not prepared for the sun.

I dont think i look tacky, like a member of jersey shore, or like a leather bag...just saying