Tanning

squirrly

So, I don't want to look like Casper for the wedding, but I'm not going to lay in the tanning bed.  I'm just not.  The whole cancer thing is part of it.  It's also kinda gross to me.  And, expensive.  Andplus I usually burn more so than I tan.  Tanning bed tans in the past have always looked kinda fake to me, especially in pictures.

Please explain this whole spray tan deal to me.  What do I need to know, how do I prepare, how long does it last, all that jazz.  I have used the aerosol stuff from Bath and Body Works once.  It was ok.  Not great.  If I'm going to do this, it would have to be professional, I think. 

I assume I should test it out now and see, but I am so out of my element.  Halp!

AmoroAgain

Rock the pale!!! I did and itr's beautiful, and more immportantly-- It's you!

Kati0105

I just had an airbrush trial (where they custom spray you to the level of tan you want) and I really loved it.  I didn't have to do anything to prepare other than ready myself to stand buck naked in front of a stranger for 10 minutes.  I am not in love with how it is fading (blotchy) but it looked really, really good for about 5 days. 

CA2MT4EveR

I got something from B&BW last summer that worked really well.  I would have to find what it was called at home and get back to you though. It was in a blue tube and was a brown lotion, so you could see where it was going on.

A friend of mine does spray tanning and she recommends exfoliation and no shower for 24 hours.  the time I had it done (not from her) I felt pretty orange.  Then when it faded the backs of my arms faded splotchy and I had orange freckles. 

Whatever you do, start trying it a few months before your wedding. (idk when your date is).  I would hate for you to be Anne Hathaway as Emma the orange girl walking the streets of NYC the week before your wedding. 

shellydiane820

There's nothing wrong with pale people.

I've gotten compliments on my transparency, and how cool it is you can see my veins.

Kati0105

My experience has been that you can't shower for 6-8 hours post-application so I usually shower and exfoliate right before. 

squirrly

Amoro, my favorite version of me is when I'm out in the sun, naturally, in the summer and have just a little color.  Not a lot, but some.  I just want to take the "oh, dear god, she sits in an office with flourescent lights all day!" edge off.   

Kati - was that really expensive?

CCBelle

I spray tanned once years ago, and it was a mistake.  I carefully dried/rubbed where they told me, but I still ended up looking like I had been wearing gloves and socks at the beach.  Not a good look.

Also, I've heard that the color can rub off on your gown.  Also not a good look.

agk0125

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_tanning?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:55708ac9-c54b-462b-a1e1-4df9ece03b3cPost:58f90407-55fd-46c1-8fb6-07442f57e63a">Re: Tanning</a>:
[QUOTE]I just had an airbrush trial (where they custom spray you to the level of tan you want) and I really loved it.  I didn't have to do anything to prepare other than ready myself to stand buck naked in front of a stranger for 10 minutes.  I am not in love with how it is fading (blotchy) but it looked really, really good for about 5 days. 
Posted by Kati0105[/QUOTE]

I believe that if you exfoliate really well in the days leading up to the spray it will fade more evenly. I've never done it, that's just what I've read.

AmoroAgain

Wow. My typing really goes downhill when I'm writing one-handed, while shoving popcorn in my face.

I guess I'm just way used to being paley mc palerson.

Kati0105

Kati - was that really expensive?

It was actually a lot less than I expected.  It was $59 for one time or $135 for a 3 pack.  I only purchased the one time but I wish I had bought the package.  I would definitely recommend it over Mystic even though it is slightly more expensive - I've had mixed results with Mystic.

scoetto

I don't tan, and as Amoro said, rocked the pale. My friend (who was born the same skin tone as me) is addicted to tanning. (PS - this pic was taken at the end of Oct).

The spray on tan sounds like it will work. And they should have all the answers to your questions when you go for your tial.

goheels05

Shower and exfoliate before, and don't wear lotion.  You will smell like butthole afterwards, but the longer you can go without showering, the longer your tan will last.

I've done Mystic Tan Level 1 and Level 2 and liked both results.  Level 1 is probably better if you have no existing tan whatsoever.  It cost between $18-$25 depending on if they are doing a special.  I think airbrush is a little higher but from what I've heard, it looks better.

shellydiane820

Orange people scare me.  As a child I was scared of oompa loompas.  Real life ones freak me out even more.

squirrly

Shelly, I have a friend who is that pale, and she has super blonde hair.  I don't think she CAN tan.

scoetto

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_tanning?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:55708ac9-c54b-462b-a1e1-4df9ece03b3cPost:304744be-0500-4327-9648-53c7c06db75c">Re: Tanning</a>:
[QUOTE]Orange people scare me.  As a child I was scared of oompa loompas.  Real life ones freak me out even more.
Posted by shellydiane820[/QUOTE]

She's as tall as an Oompa Loompa. But not as wide. People often mistake her for different races. She gets Asian and African American a lot. But she's from German and Polish decent.

shellydiane820

I can surprisingly get a pretty good tan in the summer, if you look in my bio and see a picture of my dad, you'll know where I get it.

All his family is dark like that.  My sister got the skin tone as well.

squirrly

I do NOT want to be orange - thus my plan to try this early.  If it's a flop, I'll be casper. 

Thanks, heels.  I know it works for some and is horrible for others.  I hope it's good for me. 

Sarah-Jean

I went & had a professional spray me for a wedding last year.

It lasted about 4 days. I would definetly go two days before the wedding because I looked like an oompa loompa the day I got it done. (I say two days because you don't want to do it right before the rehersal dinner-i'm guessing).

They told me to wait at least 8 hrs to shower, and don't freak out if you see it going down the drain, it's normal for some to wash off during the first shower. After that, it looked great, like a healthy normal tan.

tlv204

I understand wanting a little color, but honestly I'm just not a fan of spray tans. They just look so fake to me. What about just making sure you put bronzer on your face and collar bones? Would that be enough color?

Kati0105

Squirrly, if you can get a decent natural tan I think it will look good on you.  As PPs have said some people are just NOT meant to have a tan (like FI) and it will never look natural.

BostonBride919

I'm not sure about an actual spray tan, but Mystic tan comes off when you sweat. The last thing you want is orange stuff coming off onto your wedding dress during your reception when you dance. Just think about it...

Personally, I did a few sessions in the bed - I don't typically do it but that way I knew it wouldn't ruin my dress so it's the only occassion I'd do it for

squirrly

tlv, I'm not sure they make bronzer that is pale enough for me.  Seriously, It has taken me 15 years to find a foundation the right shade. 

I think I'm going to exfoliate in the shower and try the spray tan that's close to the house one night next week, while FI is out of town.  I have to work from home one day because of a delivery, so prob. the night before.  Then I can see if it's awful, how long before it fades, etc.

When to do it right before the wedding is a HUGE question.  Our rehearsal is actually on Thursday, and we have stuff going on all day Friday too.  So. . . if it fades fast, it might be out b/c of that. 

Sarah-Jean

Wednesday afternoon/evening would probably be best (based on my experience).

evabee

I actually do airbrush tanning (like I'm the one spraying people) and I would NOT recommend it for your wedding day!

It can be slightly unpredictable, and it can rub off on your gown no matter how often they say it will not! It's a fact of the fabrics used to make wedding gowns and the oils in your skin, especially your underarms and the super-soft underside of your biceps. Also, they don't always tell you this but it changes with how much you sweat and actually your skin will be significantly different right before your wedding because of stress!

Plus, when you go on your honeymoon it will start to come off blotchy, especially if you need to apply sunscreen.

The best looking airbrush you can get is if you come in with a pre-existing tan, and part of the reason people look so beautiful in the summer is that their natural skin undertones come out along with freckles... which will not come out with an airbrush.

I would look into graded self tanners. Ashido or something is normally great although it is not available everywhere (try Sephora). Experiment with tinted lotions, you can actually go to an airbrush person and pay them to apply a self-tanner (or a VERY good friend).

Pale is beautiful!

fallbride1109

I did the Versa Spa tan at Palm Beach Tan.  I did it 2 days before the wedding.  Like PP said, you exfoliate, don't wear lotion, wait as long as you can before showering, etc.

I did 2 airbrush tan trials and wasn't happy with either of them and I had used Versa Spa before so I just did that.  I wasn't going for golden bronze or anything but I needed to cover my tan lines.  Definitely try it out well beforehand whatever you choose.  Oh and a little did come off on the inside of my dress, which surprised me since I had done it 2 days before. 

ETA:  One of my trials was where I did like PP suggested and went to a professional and had self tanner applied.  But it didn't get dark enough to cover my tan lines.

Mrs_AF

Have you ever tried the Jergen's lotion that does a natural tan? I've used that on my arms, chest and legs and it works really well. It's gradual color, so you won't get it all at once and you can build it up to what you want.

thesuninherhead

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_tanning?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:55708ac9-c54b-462b-a1e1-4df9ece03b3cPost:0014c662-08bc-4972-b1ba-1a0f48584a52">Tanning</a>:
<p>[QUOTE]So, I don't want to look like Casper for the wedding</p><p>Posted by squirrly[/QUOTE]</p><p> </p><p>Are you insulting my moon tan?!?!</p>