fake&bake vs spray tan -- MAUI

aprilgh

So I live in rainy Seattle....I will arrive to Maui on a tuesday and the wedding is on a friday (35 days!!!!!!!!!!!) ... I am pasty white like all washingtontonians...... and I am SUPER opposed to tanning beds for so many reasons but I feel like I need some color before the big day. I have never spray tanned, any recommendations for spray tanning on Maui? Does it work? Will I melt? lol. Will it get on my dress? Or should I just bite the bullet and go a few times here before I leave? Mahalo!!

kimmykupcakes

I HATE spray tanning. You know how they make fun it in the movies? That's no joke. That's the exact experience I've had every time. Plus, it won't protect you from burning. I think it's better to slowly build up a base tan before you get there and not burn then it is to get over there and fry. The sun is much more intence on Maui and us NW whities can burn really quickly over there. FI and I did base tans before we went over last time and didn't burn at all. We are  doing the same this time around, too.

mauigirl2012

I am an irish girl with skin cancer in the family history, so I love Spray Tans and they have really improved over the last 10 years IMO. I got one before I left for Maui and I was not orange at all - It should be noted that the good tanning places actually at least 3 levels of tan. I went with the lightest since I was not looking to be super dark.

Also just a note...cheap drug store do-it-yourself spray lotions will turn you orange. Try St. Tropez at Sephora.

carrieoz_76

I tried to build a base tan before our first Maui trip in 2008, and on my fourth time in the bed I burned so much that I decided it wasn't worth it, and stopped going.  I didn't get burned on that trip because we were vigilant about sunscreen.  For the second trip (for the wedding) I didn't want to risk getting sunburned in a tanning bed before my wedding (ugh!), so I just went as is, and it was all fine.  When we snorkeled I wore a white long-sleeve swim shirt and swim shorts b/c that's when you can get burned really bad - laying face down in the water for hours.  I definitely recommend the swim shirts.

And I'm also from the PNW and super white, so it can be done. 

By the way, apparently the evidence does not support the idea that getting a base tan  protects you fron sunburn.  The bottom line is that repeated exposure to UV rays, through sun or a tanning bed, increases your chance of premature skin aging and skin cancer.  Check it out - http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/tanning/AN00589

allisonpickup80

As a 32 year old who has already had one surgery becasue of a melanoma.... I beg you to NOT GO TANNING in a taning bed. I myself am also VERY white, blonde hair blue eyes and freckles. After I foudn out I had a melanoma I decided that white is the color I will be from now on... I'm not even doing any type of spray tan becasue of the chemicals.... the good news is, when I look back on our wedding pics years from now, I wont be jelous of the tan bride in the pic, it will just be the same old normal me, i'll look more like myself if I dont tan Whichever you choose good luck!!!! but dont do tanning beds it's not worth it!

Tanq&Tonic

If your only goal is color, I say skip it all together.  Your FI is marrying you, even in all of your PNW pastiness.  Embrace it!  I always think it's odd when people try to transform into something they are not for their wedding anyway.  And the ladies above have given you some good suggestions on how to keep yourself safe in the sun regardless of your color.

If color is some sort of "must have" for you, I would recommend anything besides tanning beds or "base tanning".  UV exposure is harmful no matter how gradual and it's really not worth it.  Why potentially risk your life when you're just starting the best part of it with your husband?  I would personally test out some non-UV alternatives ahead of the wedding to see what worked for me and how it looked.

FSForever

@Allison, I hear yeh sister. I was dx a year after meeting FH and he went to all of my treatments and surgery with me. I think I doubly fell in love with him at that time, but we were really scared that we wouldn't have a future together. Melanoma is no joke and I now embrace my whiteness. I also have a 5 inch "sharkbite" scar on my upper arm, from my surgery, that is a constant reminder of that time. Of course along with the chest xrays, 3 mos. checks, and labs. 

Now this doesn't mean that we don't play in the sun. I wear hats, rash guards and a lot of sunscreen. Embrace your color and just be careful. 

allisonpickup80

So funny Stephanie, my friends called it a shark bite after surgery...it's on my calf. Looks much better, only about a 4 inch scar. It also happened to me about only dating my now fiancé for about 7 months and was so afraid he wouldn't want to be with me knowing this may be an ongoing battle, but of course he does! I also always wear sunscreen....everyday and have it with me always! We're both lucky! Hopefully others will be safe !! Ok....that's my public service announcement back to fun wedding stuff! Lol

aprilgh

thanks girls

marriedonmaui

Just to add- I am incredibly pale and I was considering tanning before our wedding but I didn't and I don't regret it. I also wore super high spf the whole time we were there (mostly because I had a second degree burn taking up much of my thigh that needed as high of an SPF as I could get and I didn't want to use two different spfs) and I didn't burn at all.

jessj336

I spray tanned before our wedding as did the group and others in the wedding and it looked completely natural. We did it about 3-4 days before so the color could settle in.
The tan gave me enough to have a bit of color.

A woman from the 4 seasons in Maui came to us (she came highly recommended from my WC) and did the airbrush tanning.

If you would like the info pls email me jessj33@gmail.com and I can give you her info.