Tanning

[Shaved Yeti]

I learned a long time ago the wisdom of getting a good tan going prior to vacation. My pasty-white flesh coming from the middle of winter in the Midwest wouldn’t last an hour in the Mexican sun, let alone an entire week. I’ve witnessed more than a few lobster-red souls who retreat to the protection of shade a day into their vacation. So, as un-manly as it sounds, I’m proudly hitting the tanning bed, and visiting it ever more frequently as our Cancun trip approaches. I joke that I want to get so tan I get discriminated against.

What I’d like to hear from anyone is some advice on how to

1. Develop a nice tan.
2. Avoid a ghastly sunburn.
3. How to keep skin from getting dry and leathery.

I’m also thinking about the spray-tan thing. Is it worth it? Does it help? Does anyone have experience with it?

Thanks.

[Chris&Tammy]

We had a tanning salon for about three years. Sold it and now a standup booth at the house. Dry skin? I always lotioned before and after tanning. We have a 10 min bed and I usually start out about 6 min and work up a min every couple days. And spray tanning is good for a quick one for a wedding, party, etc.thay give you NO protection from the sun. U are definately correct it is very worth the time to do it before going. Hope this helps............
Chris

[The Woodman]

Originally Posted by Chris&Tammy

We had a tanning salon for about three years. Sold it and now a standup booth at the house. Dry skin? I always lotioned before and after tanning. We have a 10 min bed and I usually start out about 6 min and work up a min every couple days. And spray tanning is good for a quick one for a wedding, party, etc.thay give you NO protection from the sun. U are definately correct it is very worth the time to do it before going. Hope this helps............
Chris

We have a 20 min. bed here, but usually start at 10 min. for a few days, then keep increasing til we hit 20.
Usually tan every other day starting a couple of months before we hit TTR.
As far as lotion goes, all we use is Hawaiian Tropic Dark Tanning Lotion or Oil w/ an SPF of 4.
Works just as good as the rip off lotions that most salons try to get you to buy.
We always use a high SPF factor lotion in the mexican sun tho, cause the ears, head and nose seem to love getting burnt anyway.
Hope this helps.

[Bambidamnit]

Originally Posted by The Woodman

We have a 20 min. bed here, but usually start at 10 min. for a few days, then keep increasing til we hit 20.
Usually tan every other day starting a couple of months before we hit TTR.
As far as lotion goes, all we use is Hawaiian Tropic Dark Tanning Lotion or Oil w/ an SPF of 4.
Works just as good as the rip off lotions that most salons try to get you to buy.
We always use a high SPF factor lotion in the mexican sun tho, cause the ears, head and nose seem to love getting burnt anyway.
Hope this helps.

DO not get a spray tan before you go! Spray tans do not wear off well and look even more fake than the tanning beds. Just do the bed and that way you have no worries when you get there.

[StaceyChris]

We do exactly the same! I want to enjoy my vacation not be in misery! Tanning is a must for me. Stacey on the other hand is always kinda dark.

[cuppies]

I own a hair salon and have had a sunbed for years. NOBODY will ever convince me that it is a bad idea to use a tanning bed before they go south. I get a kick out of all the bad press on tanning salons. Not too many people know the binders of studies that have been proven by accredited institutions about the health benefits of using sunbeds including aid in preventing certain types of cancer, ease psoriasis/ eczema/ fibromyalgia/ arthritis and treats S.A.D. We start low minutes and work up to the full time gradually. Give your skin a rest every second day to heal. The biggest thing is you don't want to burn. Sunbed specific accelerators DO work. And it is different from the sun although some think it is just a sales tactic. You should not use SPF sunscreen in a bed. Studies have been done that prove they can actually do more harm than good. That doesn't mean you have to spend $50-$100 on a bottle, that's just ridiculous! Australian Gold is a very reputable product line and available just about anywhere. As far as avoiding dry skin? This may sound ridiculous but I have tried so many body washes and creams when I go away this is the best combo that works for me: In the shower exfoliating gloves and Dove Moisturizing body wash, after I get out of the shower I use (available at Walmart) Sparesource Body Butter on the really dry areas and Sparesource body lotion on the rest of my body. And the bonus? Crazy CHEAP! $5 or less for each! there are many delicious scents and they include natural ingredients like shea & cocobutter and aloe. Similar to what you would find at retail stores like BodyShop. If you can't find that Nivea body lotion or milk for extra or very dry skin is also good. Last year when we were at TTR I bought some after sun lotion from the rep by the pool. It was $27? I think, but ALL natural ingredients, no weird chemical names. First ingredient Aloe Vera and includes vitamin e. AWESOME after getting out of the hot Mexican sun! I found it made a big difference in my tan when I got down there. Long winded but this heps somebody!

[Tanyer]

Originally Posted by cuppies

I own a hair salon and have had a sunbed for years. NOBODY will ever convince me that it is a bad idea to use a tanning bed before they go south. I get a kick out of all the bad press on tanning salons. Not too many people know the binders of studies that have been proven by accredited institutions about the health benefits of using sunbeds including aid in preventing certain types of cancer, ease psoriasis/ eczema/ fibromyalgia/ arthritis and treats S.A.D. We start low minutes and work up to the full time gradually. Give your skin a rest every second day to heal. The biggest thing is you don't want to burn. Sunbed specific accelerators DO work. And it is different from the sun although some think it is just a sales tactic. You should not use SPF sunscreen in a bed. Studies have been done that prove they can actually do more harm than good. That doesn't mean you have to spend $50-$100 on a bottle, that's just ridiculous! Australian Gold is a very reputable product line and available just about anywhere. As far as avoiding dry skin? This may sound ridiculous but I have tried so many body washes and creams when I go away this is the best combo that works for me: In the shower exfoliating gloves and Dove Moisturizing body wash, after I get out of the shower I use (available at Walmart) Sparesource Body Butter on the really dry areas and Sparesource body lotion on the rest of my body. And the bonus? Crazy CHEAP! $5 or less for each! there are many delicious scents and they include natural ingredients like shea & cocobutter and aloe. Similar to what you would find at retail stores like BodyShop. If you can't find that Nivea body lotion or milk for extra or very dry skin is also good. Last year when we were at TTR I bought some after sun lotion from the rep by the pool. It was $27? I think, but ALL natural ingredients, no weird chemical names. First ingredient Aloe Vera and includes vitamin e. AWESOME after getting out of the hot Mexican sun! I found it made a big difference in my tan when I got down there. Long winded but this heps somebody!

Thanks fo all the info, I will definitely listen! I don't wanna be a lobster! Lol

[KScpl]

Our local tanning salon closed down & now we're scrambling
to get our tanning in (somewhere??) before our trip in late
Feb. Whoo hooooo

[LabradorCouple2732]

Through all of my research and my contacts Tanning beds are deadly. I prefer to go down and get my sun down there. From every study I have read Tanning beds increase the probability of getting Skin Cancer significantly.

You just have to remember your sunscreen or you end up looking like this!



Luckily this happened on the last day of the vacation when I got too drunk without Sherry around to reapply sunscreen. (I did do a few tanning sessions last year before we went and this still happened)

Sherry uses Tanning beds, but I refuse to. My sister is a doctor and she warns against it as we are gingers and the skin cancer risk is too great.

[mikel]

Eventhough I tan quickly in the summertime, I still burn if I stay in the sun too long, up until a year ago I didn't use sunscreen but now I do, I use the spray on type

[Chris&Tammy]

Originally Posted by cuppies

I own a hair salon and have had a sunbed for years. NOBODY will ever convince me that it is a bad idea to use a tanning bed before they go south. I get a kick out of all the bad press on tanning salons. Not too many people know the binders of studies that have been proven by accredited institutions about the health benefits of using sunbeds including aid in preventing certain types of cancer, ease psoriasis/ eczema/ fibromyalgia/ arthritis and treats S.A.D. We start low minutes and work up to the full time gradually. Give your skin a rest every second day to heal. The biggest thing is you don't want to burn. Sunbed specific accelerators DO work. And it is different from the sun although some think it is just a sales tactic. You should not use SPF sunscreen in a bed. Studies have been done that prove they can actually do more harm than good. That doesn't mean you have to spend $50-$100 on a bottle, that's just ridiculous! Australian Gold is a very reputable product line and available just about anywhere. As far as avoiding dry skin? This may sound ridiculous but I have tried so many body washes and creams when I go away this is the best combo that works for me: In the shower exfoliating gloves and Dove Moisturizing body wash, after I get out of the shower I use (available at Walmart) Sparesource Body Butter on the really dry areas and Sparesource body lotion on the rest of my body. And the bonus? Crazy CHEAP! $5 or less for each! there are many delicious scents and they include natural ingredients like shea & cocobutter and aloe. Similar to what you would find at retail stores like BodyShop. If you can't find that Nivea body lotion or milk for extra or very dry skin is also good. Last year when we were at TTR I bought some after sun lotion from the rep by the pool. It was $27? I think, but ALL natural ingredients, no weird chemical names. First ingredient Aloe Vera and includes vitamin e. AWESOME after getting out of the hot Mexican sun! I found it made a big difference in my tan when I got down there. Long winded but this heps somebody!

As from being a previous tanning salon owner you are spot on. For every negative someone has come up with there are 2 positives. It is not the tan that hurts you it's the burn. LOL that's prob why it hurts to burn so you quit burning and just tan. First thing I did when we sold it was buy one for the house...........