When should I start tanning?

I recommend going to a Sun Tan City. They will tell you how to start out, how often to go, etc. If you want to go sunless they have the Versa Pro which is awesome and all natural ingredients (I used to work there in college).

I personally have an issue with tanning for more reasons on top of the skin cancer risks but those issues aside, the whole idea behind tanning (especially paying to lay in a tanning bed) is stupid. You said that you don't tan. You burn. So why try to force it? You're just going to continue to burn and get annoyed. You're not tan any other day so why frustrate yourself trying to look like something you're not on your wedding day? This is the same idea as a bride wanting to cover up her tattoos for the wedding. If you think you rock your pale skin, then rock it on your wedding day too.

Start with a level one or level two. just go for about 3 weeks before. those levels will give you more of a natural suntan.

My one friend is extremely pale and even when she is tan looks pale. I have always found that if I tan for about a month before I'm outside more that I don't burn. She tried this and it worked for her. She generally starts about a month before summer and starts out with 3 minutes and works up to 5 or 6 in the lowest level beds. However if you are in Hawaii, the sun is brutal there so even if you do this you are going to need extremely strong spf when you are there

Don't do the tanning bed. They are soooo awful for you. Especially if you are pale. I'm super fair skinned and used to go to the tanning bed in high school. I've already had precancerous skin cells removed. Plus people that use the tanning bed look like leather couches when they age. Embrace the pale. It is beautiful!

If you do not tan and stay white, why would you even bother using a tanning bed?

Spray tan.

FFS, no tanning beds. And I say that as someone who used to love to go tanning. I get it, I hate being pale too.

But after working in a cancer clinic, where multiple women came in with chunks of themselves missing because they had to be cut out to remove the melanoma, squamous or basal cell carcinoma, DON'T DO IT. I know multiple patients who have lost their noses to sun-related cancers because what's the first to burn usually? Parts of your face. So these women have to wear masks all day unless they want to be stared at.

Spray tans can look super natural and are safe. Please don't risk your health just to look good while ignoring the safer options.

Tanning is really bad for your skin, but I don't think spray tan will stay on after being in the ocean long periods of time. I would call around or do some internet research. Definitely spray though!

Just lost my dad to melanoma. It's not worth it. Go with the spray tan.

If you are insistent on using a tanning bed I would just recommend that you start out with only a few minutes your first time, especially if you are very pale. Level 1: 5 minutes. You don't want to burn. You can gradually go up from there. I would recommend trying a spray tan and tanning lotion first. I've done all three and the tanning lotion looks natural as long as you don't apply too much. And be safe if you decide to go in a tanning bed!

With your skin type, it doesn't sound like a tanning bed will help. You have a lot of time to try all sorts of different tanning foams, creams, spray ons, etc before your trip and see how you like them.

I got a professional airbrush spray tan before a cruise once and it looked great in pictures/real life. We did a lot of beach stuff and it didn't come off more than it normally would've. (I've done lots of fake tanning and real tanning in my days)

If it's for the color, get a spray tan. H will burn super easily and so we had a doctor once tell him to go in beds before any trip so he can get a little base as to not fry in the sun. Which, I mean, I don't think is terrible because it does prevent some really really nasty burns that he's bound to get. But, if it really is just color wise, get a spray tan. They are great!

I am very fair (and have a family history of melanoma so perhaps I'm biased...) but being pale doesn't bother me because ya know, I was born this way and can't help it. I did find that certain gowns with a little color to them, as opposed to white or even ivory, flattered my pale skin and gave me the illusion of a glow. I personally think spray tans on especially fair skinned people look fake, particularly in photos. Embrace your natural skin tone. I would also bring these concerns to the attention of your makeup artist who can probably use makeup to enhance your features / further prevent you from looking washed out.

Also, half your body or more will be covered with (I'm assuming) a long gown, so it's not at all like being in a swim suit in direct, bright sunlight at the beach. I wouldn't judge by that photo you saw of yourself.

Listen. I'm German & Irish and have more Irish in me, so I don't tan. I burn and go back white in the sun like you. A tanning bed won't help you tan. I love the FakeBake Dark self tanner if I want a little color and don't want to do a spray tan. I love my pale skin, but I get where you're coming from when you say you want a little color for your big day. Please, PLEASE don't use a tanning bed. It won't help if you don't already tan.

I CAN tan but I'll freckle faster than I'll tan. I end ever summer having more freckles than I did before it started so I just kind of accepted it. Haha. I used to tan in tanning beds but I could never get over the popping noise they made when you would move, and after watching the Final Destination movie where the two girls die in the tanning beds, I would have very mild anxiety attacks and just stopped. Also, the tan always looked really weird afterwards. My stomach got to where it had this really dark, almost black tint to it while the rest of my body looked more 'sun kissed.'

If being pale bothers you so much for your wedding, I do agree with the others about doing a spray tan. Especially if you don't tan in the sun. You're only going to be miserable in a tanning bed and after because the burn from a tanning bed generally stings more than a regular sun burn.

You should not start tanning at all. It is bad for your skin. I am fair skin and avoid the sun as much as possible. Do a spray tan if you must do something. Really I think you should just accept your skin color the way it is.

Helpful hint from a HI resident: Even if you pre-tan in a tanning bed, please use sunscreen when you're here. The sun here is much stronger than you'll be used to (even with tanning beds) and almost every Caucasian bride I've seen here looks burnt on her wedding day.

That said, tanning beds are bad! Spray tanning is a good option. Just being in the sun on a regular basis for short intervals without intending to tan is still harmful to the skin but is a much better option than tanning beds. Caucasian people here who wear daily sunscreen (SPF 30 or so) still tend to be pretty tan.