Tanning turmoil!

a_spinhirne · August 2010

o.k. I know this topic has been discussed extensively, but here goes. I am very fair-skinned (which I've always hated). I love when I have a tanned look (especially because its soooo slimming for me!) and planned on doing a spray or airbrush tan for my wedding. So over the past several months, I have tried two spray booth tans...I absolutely love the color, but hate the terrible darkness/streaking on hands, feet, etc. So then I tried the airbrush tan with an actual person doing it ( I had this done for a friend's wedding two years ago and loved it...however it was in a different city than where I currently live). I tried this last week (for my bachelorette part) and had the same problems...feet and hands ended up looking terrible the next day, and the tan started peeling off altogether after only a few days, its now blotchy everywhere. Needless to say, I never planned on not being satisifed with one of these tanning methods for my wedding. However, I am now unwilling to go the spray or airbrush route because of all the issues with them. So..............I am 16 days away from my wedding and now freaking out!! I am a very organized person and did start doing these tanning trials months ago, but have now realized it's out of the question. So I am considering using a tanning bed just for the wedding (because I know how dangerous they can be!) However, I haven't used one since highschool and am not very knowledgeable about the process. So my questions are: 1.) Is two weeks enough time to get a reasonable tan via tanning beds? How often and for how long would you recommend going?(FYI: I burn very easily) And 2.) Will it be ok to "tan over" top of this spray tan crap as it is still peeling off (I am in the process of exfoliating it off as much as possible daily). Any advice is greatly appreciated!

jenn.daniel · August 2010

Have you tried self-tanners? I'm also very pale (I'm 1/4 Norwegian!), and that works for me. I've never used a tanning bed, and I go straight from white to red in under an hour in the sun. I think the tanning beds emit more radiation, so it would definitely be a lot less time than that. If you're already peeling, I would think you'd end up more blotchy if you tanned though.

mandi921vh · August 2010

If I was you I wouldn't do any kind of tan this close to my wedding in fear something would go horribly wrong, but if you really want that sun kissed glow I would wait until the spray tan is completely gone before you make your next move.

vm_andrews · August 2010

I had never used tanning beds before but I decided to use them before the wedding--I figure a few tanning sessions can't be TOO bad for my skin in comparison to the many bad sunburns I had as a child and teen. I've done three sessions in the last eight or nine days and I already look significantly tanner! The guy told me I could come every day if I wanted to, so you should have plenty of time to get tan. I don't have any experience with airbrush tanning but I would go into a tanning salon and ask them about tanning on top of your fake tan--the people at my place seem pretty knowledgeable about stuff like that.

knj92107 · August 2010

If you burn easily, don't go to a tanning bed. This close to your wedding, you don't want to take any chances getting burned or having anything go wrong.

That said, if you decide to go anyway, DO NOT ask for advice on how long to go on a message board. I used to tan a lot and every salon has different beds/booths with different strengths and maximum times. I've been in beds that have a max time of 20 mins and ones that have a max of 8. The amount of time you would go in each would vary significantly so no one can advise you how long to go except for the salon itself.

JZags · August 2010

I agree with PP on all accounts. I wouldn't go in a bed this close to your wedding especially if you burn easily. In a regular 20 minute bed you'd most like have to start at 5 or 6 minutes and depending on how fair you are that may make you burn and then you wouldn't be able to go back the next day. So you lose a day there.
If you're stuck on being tan for your wedding and decide to tan in a bed, your spray tan will not affect it. It will not create a barrier and contains no SPF so it won't block the rays. I work in a salon where I am an airbrush tan artist as well as the person that works the tanning beds. If you truely decide to go to a bed take it slow on your first few days. Getting burnt will set you back, and NEVER tan ontop of burnt skin. However, as an Esthetician, I totally advise against tanning beds.
If your spray tan artist is doing everything properly you should have absolutely no streaking or discoloration on your hands and feet. I'd go to your local board and see if you can find advice from someone on where to get the best spray tan in your area. Always ask if the spray tan tech uses Barrier Cream. This should go on your hands, feet, elbows, and knees (the area of your body with the thickest skin). With this on, it will ensure you don't have any weird spots.

JenO24 · August 2010

if your hands and feet were dark from the spray tan then you didnt apply or didnt apply enough of the lotion that the salon is supposed to give you to avoid this exact issue.

ive very fair skinned and burn easily. ive been going to the tanning bed since july and have had significant success with it WITHOUT burning but thats becuase I only for for 5 - 7 mins at a time. ive done the spray tan once and it turned out great...you can tan like normal after a spray tan. im going to get a spray tan tomorrow and then once more before my wedding with continued tanning sessions in between.

CrysMarie12 · August 2010

Try using Neutrogena's micro-mist airbrush tan. I think it works really well, you just have to have someone help to spray you down while standing in the shower. I'm fair too and I use it all the time and love how it comes out.

HeatherBob · August 2010

Personally, for a nice healthy bronzed look I use Loreal Sublime Bronze. You can get it at Target for like $9. It's not like the typical "tan in a can". I call it bronzing from the bottle because literally it bronzes you instantly. It doesn't give you an orange color. I seriously live by this product and I use it everyday to keep a constant color. When I get out of the shower, I put regular body lotion on to moisturize & then put the bronze color all over. Try it!

nolderog · August 2010

Having worked in the tanning industry for over 3 years, I can say that even with fair skin you can get some color without overexposing. You will want to make sure you're using a bed that has more UVA rays than UVB rays. All tanning beds have both kinds of rays, but the amount in which the bed contains will determine whether or not you will overexposure. Your basic beds contain a higher amount of UVB rays which leads to higher chances of overexposure. When using a bed with higher UVA rays you can typically go for longer sessions earlier than with UVB beds since there are fewer 'burning' rays. My suggestion would be try 7 minutes. Most of these beds are 48 hour beds, but after about 3-4 sessions you should see a good amount of color developed.

Using a lotion with a tanning excellator and a bronzer will also help with gaining more color than without using a lotion. My suggestion is using a natural bronzer as opposed to one that have a DHA bronzer. DHA brozers are what you will find in a spray tan or moisturizers and there is a better chance of streaking if not applied correctly. Also, DHA lotions you will have to wait 4-6 hours after tanning before being able to shower if you wanted to get the color from the brozer, otherwise you would simply be washing it away.

Tanning turmoil!

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