Lost my tanning virginity last night!

toomanychoices17 · May 2012

So after seeing some of the pics from my first shower and how I practically blended in to my white dress- I decided to start going tanning- eek!

Has anyone else started tanning just for the wedding? I know a lot of people do it, but it was such a new experience for me! None of my close friends go- we're all pretty nerdy. Not that you can't go if you're nerdy, but I have kept this idea since high school I guess that only the "popular" girls go tanning. Totally do not want to be offensive here, just saying that none of my close friends have done it and I never thought I would either. It really did remind me of losing my virginity, it was just such a new experience. And when I walked in to work today and was wondering if people could tell that I had gone and was all paranoid about it.

It's all so new to me! Anyone have any advice? How often should I go? I'm pale, so the lady suggested 4 minutes for yesterday. I am maybe a little pink.

mbody · May 2012

Well, first things first, do you tan in the natural sunlight? If not, you're not really going to get tan from a bed.

I actually get pretty dark in the summer, but really pale in the winter. So, to begin my tanning regimine, if you will, I usually use a tanning bed about two times a week for 2-3 weeks before I'm outside. I will start around 10 minutes for the first time or two. Beginning at 4 minutes seems a bit extreme to me.

How dark do you want to be? Are you using any lotion? If you're going to keep tanning indoors, then I would recommend getting a tanning lotion with bronzers.

k8888 · May 2012

Are you doing a bed or a standup?

Go with the time they suggest... if your skin only turns a little pink and doesn't burn, you're probably on the right track. Add a minute to that time every week to every 2 weeks, depending on how quickly you tan. Go 1-2 times a week since you're fair.

Use an indoor tanning lotion (clicky). Tanning beds dry the sh*t out of your skin and are specifically formulated for the beds.

I bought a 3 month unlimited package in March because I was in a wedding in April so I'm nice and tan currently. This is my last week so I'm going almost every day to milk it hahaha. I haven't been to a tanning salon since prom. I hate to say it but I really enjoyed it.

k8888 · May 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_july-2012-weddings_lost-my-tanning-virginity-last-night?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:066005ef-215f-48b1-8655-328b41e07c52Discussion:f43d6f3d-0309-48bf-9b6b-3352ed7dd6f4Post:527f3df0-daed-4374-8ccf-04f88a75db4b">Re: Lost my tanning virginity last night!</a>:
[QUOTE]Well, first things first, do you tan in the natural sunlight? If not, you're not really going to get tan from a bed. I actually get pretty dark in the summer, but really pale in the winter. So, to begin my tanning regimine, if you will, I usually use a tanning bed about two times a week for 2-3 weeks before I'm outside. I will start around 10 minutes for the first time or two. <strong>Beginning at 4 minutes, seems a bit extreme to me. </strong>How dark do you want to be? Are you using any lotion? If you're going to keep tanning indoors, then I would recommend getting a tanning lotion with bronzers.
Posted by mbody[/QUOTE]

I thought the same thing... but I'm not sure how powerful the beds are that you are using.

I am also extremely fair (but tan in the summers) and started around 7 minutes in the standup beds.

LADY324 · May 2012

With the warm weather coming I would not pay to go tanning just go outside and be sure to use sunblock! I used to tan indoors during the winter months but as I have grown older and wiser I don't go anymore. I will however layout at the beach but I will be using at least an spf of 15 sunblock if not higher.

LADY324 · May 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_july-2012-weddings_lost-my-tanning-virginity-last-night?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding Club BoardsForum:066005ef-215f-48b1-8655-328b41e07c52Discussion:f43d6f3d-0309-48bf-9b6b-3352ed7dd6f4Post:3dc4a4a1-5d50-4835-8c85-a3c4596b5c8f">Re: Lost my tanning virginity last night!</a>:
[QUOTE]Are you doing a bed or a standup? Go with the time they suggest... if your skin only turns a little pink and doesn't burn, you're probably on the right track. Add a minute to that time every week to every 2 weeks, depending on how quickly you tan. Go 1-2 times a week since you're fair. Use an indoor tanning lotion (clicky). Tanning beds dry the sh*t out of your skin and are specifically formulated for the beds. I bought a 3 month unlimited package in March because I was in a wedding in April so I'm nice and tan currently. This is my last week so I'm going almost every day to milk it hahaha. I haven't been to a tanning salon since prom. I hate to say it but I really enjoyed it.
Posted by k8888[/QUOTE]

When are we laying out at your pool :)

butterflyjumper1 · May 2012

Welcome to the cancer club, hahahaha (joke). My fiance (oncology pharmacist) gets SO mad at me for going but I keep insisting to him I will stop for good after the wedding. However, I am sure, like mbody, I will continue to go for pre-vacation purposes and to start off my summers since I get so pale in the winters.

I would recommend going in the "super" or "mega" beds. They are a different type of UV ray, and I get darker much quicker in them.

Mbody gave really practical and helpful advice, though. If you are pink from 4 minutes in the tanning bed, I am worried that you may just have skin that does not tan. Which bed did you go in? Because 4 minutes in one of the instant/mega beds is a lot different than 4 minutes in the "traditional" bed.

I am quite pale in the winter, but tan very easily in the sun and hardly ever burn from full time in the tanning bed. You definitely need to gradually work up to spending more time in the bed.

Have you ever spray tanned? One of my friends has VERY pale skin and cannot stay in the tanning bed for any longer than 5 minutes, so she gets spray tanned almost every week and it looks fabulous on her.

bells24412 · May 2012

Just a word of the wise becareful ladies going into these tanning beds, Trust me. I rather lay out in the sun then go into a tanning bed ever again even though it is probably the same exposure of UV Rays.

mbody · May 2012

I can't imagine the tanning salon person would put someone who has never tanned in a bed their whole entire life into any bed over the 'weakest' (for lack of a better word.) Most stand-up beds are more powerful than the weakest lay down bed.

But, yeah, I wear at least 15 spf, if not over that, in the summer. We're out on our boat a lot. I don't always do tanning beds before summer, but I did this year b/c of my showers. But, it also helps with not getting dramatic tan lines. Which I won't really anyway, b/c I bought 4 new bandeau tops b/c my dress is strapless. I'm actually going to wear spf 50 a lot this summer b/c I don't want to be too dark. (Looking back at pics of me in the sample dress at the end of last summer, I think I'm too dark.. so yeah.)

butterflyjumper1 · May 2012

yea good call, I bet she was in the weaker bed. hmm.

Totally agree about not being too dark. I had an accident a few weeks ago and went 2 days in a row and everyone thought I had been on vacation. I just want to have a healthy glow, so 1/week seems reasonable to me. Oh, and I never get into the tanning bed without SPF on my face. I tanned once the week before my shower, about 2 days before, and it was the right amount of color for me.

mbody · May 2012

And actually, my sig pic is from my friends wedding on July 9th of last summer. Mine is the 13th, so it's basically the same weekend in the summer. I actually started to peel a bit on my chest and shoulders a few days before her wedding. It wasn't the super gross peel where the skin under it is totally white, but it was flaking off a bit. Annnnd, I don't want that to happen to me this year right before the wedding. So, sign me up for the spf 50 please!

colleenm18 · May 2012

So I am a redhead yet surprisingly I do get very tan in the summertime. I also use the tanning bed. I go to a hollywood tans and use the stand up and I started last week.. I went in for 6 min the first time and was too red so I dropped that down to 5 and then slowly went back up to 6 and you can still see the difference

As people said if you dont normally tan a tanning bed will not help you. If that is the case I would suggest a good spray tan (go somewhere with good reviews and that is professional) If you do normally tan I would keep at the 4 minutes for the first week and go 2-3 times a week and then slowly increase your minutes each week.

bridetobe71412 · May 2012

Spray tan, fo sho.

I used to get really dark in the summer. Now that I'm old and don't lay out for days at a time, I just get red and then flake and then white again. It's really attractive.

k8888 · May 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_july-2012-weddings_lost-my-tanning-virginity-last-night?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:066005ef-215f-48b1-8655-328b41e07c52Discussion:f43d6f3d-0309-48bf-9b6b-3352ed7dd6f4Post:ca8035ad-fd84-4431-a666-0bd8a62c7ad8">Re: Lost my tanning virginity last night!</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Lost my tanning virginity last night! : When are we laying out at your pool :)
Posted by LADY324[/QUOTE]

We're opening my pool this weekend! I'll def invite you over one of these weekends for a lazy tanning day.

toomanychoices17 · May 2012

Thanks for the advice! Yes, it was the standard bed. Though the lady did ask if I wanted the stand up and I thought she was crazy.

mBody- No I don't tan outside often. I hate spending hours laying in the sun. I run and bike and get somewhat tan from that, but I don't want those tan lines with my wedding dress.

When I lifeguarded for a few summers I tanned, so I think this has the possibility of working. I probably wasn't tan compared to some people, but I'd be happy with that level of darkness.

4 minutes probably was low, but I figured I'd rather go more often than stay in for a long time. It's at the gym so it's convenient enough to go frequently.

I have used self-tanner before. But only my legs/stomach for summers. My arms and face always got a little more tan naturally so I'd try to balance it out. Has anyone had this professionally done? Does it come out well on your face?

AllyG303 · May 2012

Tanning is so so bad for your skin! Have you considered an alternative? Spray tan? Lotion?

With that said, tanning beds never worked for me. I got more of an orange hue than a natural tan color. Since I live in AZ, I started tanning on the weekends a few months ago (yep...I was outside by the pool in February). Just a couple of hours at a time with spf 30 on, but enough so I'm not ghostly white.

dawnleanna1 · May 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_july-2012-weddings_lost-my-tanning-virginity-last-night?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:066005ef-215f-48b1-8655-328b41e07c52Discussion:f43d6f3d-0309-48bf-9b6b-3352ed7dd6f4Post:527f3df0-daed-4374-8ccf-04f88a75db4b">Re: Lost my tanning virginity last night!</a>:
[QUOTE]Well, first things first, do you tan in the natural sunlight? If not, you're not really going to get tan from a bed. I actually get pretty dark in the summer, but really pale in the winter. So, to begin my tanning regimine, if you will, I usually use a tanning bed about two times a week for 2-3 weeks before I'm outside. I will start around 10 minutes for the first time or two. Beginning at 4 minutes seems a bit extreme to me. How dark do you want to be? Are you using any lotion? If you're going to keep tanning indoors, then I would recommend getting a tanning lotion with bronzers.
Posted by mbody[/QUOTE]

<div>This exactly. IMO, 4 minutes is a waste of money and you won't see results. 10 min in a "normal" bed sounds about right.</div>

toomanychoices17 · May 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_july-2012-weddings_lost-my-tanning-virginity-last-night?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding Club BoardsForum:066005ef-215f-48b1-8655-328b41e07c52Discussion:f43d6f3d-0309-48bf-9b6b-3352ed7dd6f4Post:1eae9497-e90c-4b13-9434-0dfc7dc8fe6d">Re: Lost my tanning virginity last night!</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Lost my tanning virginity last night! : This exactly. <strong>IMO, 4 minutes is a waste of money and you won't see results</strong>. 10 min in a "normal" bed sounds about right.
Posted by dawnleanna1[/QUOTE]

I should have said before- it's an unlimited number of times per month. I'll go up from 4 minutes gradually and maybe go 3 times a week. I'm scared to go for 10 minutes!

Lost my tanning virginity last night!

Re: Lost my tanning virginity last night!

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