Tanning

[giffy231]

Will you be tanning before your wedding?

I tanned once before a prom in high school and liked the look, but since then I have embraced my pasty skin and avoided the sun at all costs. Due to recent events (wedding gown alteration disaster) I am now going to be wearing a stark white dress instead of the ivory dress I had planned to wear. I am looking a bit casper like.

Is there anywhere close to Walt Disney World to go tanning? I am not trying to get super dark or burn myself pre wedding, but I thought a few trips might be in order.

 

[sambycat]

I d not tan for the wedding. I don't like the spray tan/expensive & important white dress combo (stressful to me) and , not seeing you, I think "a few quick trips" to a tanning salon youve never been to prior to such an event is a recipe for disaster!

Ideally, you work what you got but if you want color you'd be much better off with several short sessions building a bit of color before the fact. Like starting 2 months before so there is time and absolutely no burns (which of course still isn't safe).

Good luck!

 

[ready123go]

Long response, but I wanted to give you my experience.

I tanned for the first time this year. Pre-cruise. I am normally fish-belly white. I decided I was tired of glaring white legs and the fear of burning while on vaca. I didn't want to look like a baseball glove, I just wanted a little "glow". I started about a week prior to our cruise. I will start at least two weeks next year. A month would be better. I hate burning (ow)!

Based on my skin type (somewhere between I & II) http://www.darksideoftanning.com.au/reduce_risk/skin_type.aspx and the recommendations of the girls at the salon, I decided to go every other or third day for five minutes (total of 4 sessions in about 7-10 days). I started at a Level III in their system. Level I is the most likely to burn (and cheapest) and IV (most expensive) is the least likely to burn. Remember this is their system - your local salon may be different. I also alternated between booth and bed - they seem to tan differently. Again, my salon kept records and made suggestions on times, etc.

I was happy with the results. I really watched how "burny" I felt after each session and if I needed to push my session back a day, I did. I tried their moisturizers. They moisturize well, but made me orange (like "Tanning-Bed Mom"). I switched to Hawaiian Tropic lotions and I also used a couple brands of after-sun aloe gels. No more Tangerine effect.

While on vaca I saw some people with spray on tans. The tans were all blotchy and had run and reset with the drips down the legs - they looked bad (and orange).

Good luck!

 

[princesswendy720]

I'm pale and tanned in high school for prom and am pretty much terrified of getting skin cancer now. I have to go to the dermatologist every year for a skin check and my
Mom recently had to have something removed. The risks associated with tanning beds and skin cancer just aren't worth it in the long run IMHO. I'm scheduled to try out spray tanning next week before our PS trip. If it doesn't work, I'll just be my natural fair self on the wedding day.

 

[lurkyloo]

I'm white as a sheet and wore a white dress and didn't care a fig if I looked like a ghost, for all the health reasons mentioned by previous posters. (Plus, I'll always have my mother's voice in my head telling me I don't wanna look like a leather handbag when I'm 50 ).

 

[peachydreamyxx]

I know exactly what you mean. Im extremely white, hardly ever tan. Last year we were going on a southern Caribbean cruise, and Im used to burning, Ive had sun poisoning.. it isnt fun! Needless to say I didnt want to pay all this money for my skin to see the sun, burn to a crisp and spend the week in pain instead of enjoying myself. I went to a tanning salon, started a month prior to the cruise and went every 2 days. In total I think I went 14 times. It was the best money I EVER spent. You start off slow, 5 minute sessions.. than a week later 8 minutes.. etc. I havent gone tanning since that trip, so Im really not worried about skin cancer. Honestly I feel that me burning is pretty equivalent to going tanning for a month. Both are horrible, but I choose the route that caused me the least amount of pain!

If I were you, I would start well before the week of your wedding.. you'll just be red if you do that! Give yourself at least 3 weeks if possible. Whatever you do, dont do a spray tan! Ive yet to see anyone who didnt look orange the next day!

 

[jenbear25]

I'm asian with fair skin and tend to burn red then tan. It usually takes 4+ months for a tan to fade. After going to the Flower & Garden festival a few times in March, I have a farmer's tan on my arms...and my dress is strapless!

For my wedding next week, I've enlisted the help if a mobile airbrush tan company. My trial run was last week and the result was awesome. The tech came to my house, put up a tent in my foyer and applied the airbrush tan in 20 minutes. She was able to even out my farmer's tan. The end result is natural looking. My next session is scheduled for the day before we leave for the cruise ship.

Prior to this experience, my biggest concern about airbrush tanning was looking un-natural, streaky and orange. I would never consider going to one of those stand-up booths for a spray tan or using a tanning bed. At-home airbrush tanning is definitely the way to go.

 

[Evi]

I can't relate I tan super easy and am naturally tan. But most women in my family are extremely fair skinned and burn easily. I do suggest you tan very slowly like some suggest at least a month or more out just spending a few minutes in a tanning booth. Separately I think its really bad for your skin so even though you want to get some color wear a high spy sunscreen especially neck, decollate, face and hands.

I will have the opposite problem I need to hide from the sun for a few days before the wedding since I'll be coming from north I won't have a tan so I should be good.