To Tan Or Not To Tan

[VelvetGloves]

Until I saw multiple tanning vendors at a recent bridal show, I never would have though to tan. I have never gone tanning before, but I'm starting to think that maybe it is necessary. My dress is strapless, and we will be in WDW for a few days before the wedding. Should I tan up here(NW PA) before I go? Any one else gone tanning? Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance,

VelvetGloves

 

[Fantasia Sam]

Well the safest and newst way to add a little natural colour is to go with the spray tan booth. It works very well and the good ones will also moisturise your skin too. Make sure you exfoliate very well before hand.

I have to say that I still like the sunbeds and normally take a course before I go on holiday to give me a base tan especially as I don't want to burn when I get to WDW before the wedding. I'll be having factor 25 on as it is

 

[D&R love Disney]

I'm planning on tanning. I thought about doing the mist on tan but the closest I'd be able to do it before the wedding would be 5 days and by then most of it would be gone. I'm starting my tanning tomorrow since I'm very pale and burn easily.

 

[hmp2z]

I used the sunless tanning lotion, and it looked great in the pictures! I don't use tanning beds, as I want to avoid premature wrinkles.
Cheers!
Heather W

 

[inloveindisney]

one thing to keep in mind is that for some people, it takes several sessions to get the tan that you want. I wouldn't go the day before and expect that your tan will be perfect. sometimes, you may even burn the first time if you don't go to a decent salon. Most of the time, they will do a skin analysis and determine the amount of time you can stay under the lights, but I have been to some before that don't do that. so, be careful.

 

[VelvetGloves]

What exactly are the spray tanning booths, and how long do those last?

VelvetGloves

 

[Fantasia Sam]

Well basically you go into a booth not disimilar to a changing room. You then stand centrally in the booth - then when you're ready you press a buttonquickly get back into position and then some appropriately positioned nozzles will spray you with a lotion in the form of a light mist. Sometimes you have to turn around to then get the other side done - but it depends on the type of booth that the salon has to offer.

Normally you are in the booth about 90 seconds - and it really depends on your skin type and colour as to how long the actual tan will last.

 

[Laura]

I didn't tan beforehand and didn't use sunless tanning lotion because I was afraid of a mishap. I'm one to stay out of the sun, myself. So I was very pale for my wedding day, which is how I usually look. But it's all about personal preference, isn't it?

 

[ahutton]

I'm a strong believer in looking like you on your wedding day (only fancier) so if you are fair skinned, then be fair skinned. My compromise for that day was the ladies who did my makeup had a little sparkly bronzing powder. It didn't look like a tan, but gave my skin a nice, soft finish that looked great in the pictures. Plus the stuff they used (makeup too) never ran, did not get on my dress, but washed off in the shower without feeling heavy or gross on my skin.

 

[Mymatisse]

If you do decide to tan just make sure you do it strapless. Nothing worse than having an unwanted tanline on the big day.

 

[Firefly Girl]

I'm a big fan of tanning, skin cancer be damned. There's nothing nicer than relaxing for 20 minutes in a nice hot cave. Yeah.

 

[Fantasia Sam]

LOL Kami and amen to that

 

[lucky_bunni]

I have two points of advice for you on tanning. I too have pale complexion...

1) Don't be pressured by the tanning salon people to go in longer than you feel comfortable. Many times they will start you off at a safe amount, but then try to get you to go up to the max really quickly in subsequent visits. Don't fall for it, you'll burn. You know your skin and you'll know when you're ready to stay in a few more minutes.

2) Buy one of the good lotions the salon offers. They can be pricey, but they are good. I like one with a built in bronzer. It just highlights the color you get from the actual tanning and makes it look like your making some progress. Usually the lotions with bronzer are designed for us pale people, and include a cooling, soothing element to them.

 

[VelvetGloves]

Will tanning help keep me from burning while I'm down there? We check in three or four days before the actual wedding, and I don't want any tan/burn lines because my dress is strapless.

Thanks in advance,
VelvetGloves

 

[Fantasia Sam]

Well I'm quite fair skinned and that's why I use the tanning salon befor I go and go on the beds. I usually do a short course before I go and then when I get there I tend to wear just factor 15 and I have never burned. I think you may be fairer than me so I would suggest a higher factor. I'm gonna wear sun block when I go to Typhoon Lagoon as I don't want strap marks either and this way whilst I'm on the rides the sun won't give me any.

 

[JC Butterfly]

There are several different types of tanning beds with varying degrees of UVB (B for burning) and UVA rays. The "traditional" beds have a higher degree of UVB and that is why it is soooooo important to build your tan time gradually.

If you are pale or somewhat pale, you might only go for 5 minutes the first time. And you will want to wait 2-3 days before going again. Then you start to build up the amount of time you are in the bed and the frequency per week that you go.

At this rate, it could take you a month before you achieve the color you like. Using the lotions is great for your skin as tanning is very drying.

The "traditional" beds maximum amount of time is about 20 minutes. For price comparisons, it costs me about $6 per single session to do this type of bed. Then they came up with "super beds" that have a max time of 15 minutes. These have a lower concentration of UVB therefore a less chance of burn. these sessions are about $10-$12 for a single time. Now we have beds called Matrix where the maximum time is like 10 minutes but they have the lowest amount of UVB available in my area. The session cost is $25 but supposedly it will only take 2-3 sessions to develop my tan and then 1 time per week to maintain it. Just used it today for the first time so I can't comment much more than that on it.


For the Spray Beds Choice. you might check out www.mystictan.com for an example of what is being talked about. I did this last summer for a wedding I was going to be in. I had mixed reactions on the results. It costs about $25 and the process takes less than 5 minutes. You are sprayed with a fine mist. It leaves an instant "bronze" on your skin but the true color develops within 24 hours.

They had me watch a video for proper procedure doing a dance moving your hands and legs up and down to make sure the spray hit all areas. The first time I tried it the results were terrible! I had streaked color and some bare spaces. They warn you this may happen. I went in again 3 days later. The results were more even although it was nearly impossible for me to make my back look truly even. In the first couple of hours afterwards the color can rub off on your clothes. I thought that it looked nice in the photos but it just didn't look like a "real" tan. I'd say the color looked great for about 3 days afterwards but then faded quickly. Also you have to be careful when shaving as this is not a true tan and offers no sun protection.

Having a base tan offers you *some* protection from getting burnt but you will definitely want to wear sunscreen religiously because you don't want to tan unevenly after you worked so hard to acheive your tan! (no funny white lines).

I just responded to your nail question too so I want to assure you that you don't have to do all of these things outside of what you "normally" do. If you don't normally tan, don't think that you have to to be beautiful on your big day, I PROMISE you will be glowing and amazing no matter what!!

Brenda