I have very fair skin and am thinking about tanning salons....?

I'm not sure what to expect or if I can even tan that well... I use to be somewhat tan when I was younger because I was carefree and was always outside and didn't care what people thought of me. For the past several years I have been increasingly self conscious about my fair skin. I don't want to be very tan, I would just like a healthy skin tone that I feel comfortable to where shorts with. I've tried the sunless tanners, but they smell and don't work very well...


I suppose my question is, what do I expect from a tanning salon? and anyone else with very fair skin, how long does it take to get a good color going?


thanks =)I have very fair skin and am thinking about tanning salons....?
it is only bad for your skin if you do it wrong. if you have a planet beach tanning salon go there they are great! and if you don't want to do a tanning bed you can do there mystic tan it looks really good either way! and if you do mystic only one time will give you a good tan and the beds two or three times most likely.I have very fair skin and am thinking about tanning salons....?
go to a spray tanning place....for your own safety and also to prevent premature wrinkles.....from excess exposure.
Here's a link with info from the FDA about tanning salons. If you're interested in increasing your chances of getting skin cancer, go right ahead, but if you just want a tan, Neutrogena has a great spray tanning product that develops in a few hours, doesn't stain clothing, and looks natural.
The general process involves you climbing into an enclosed chamber where you will lie for a specified period of time. The person in charge of the tanning beds will then set a time limit for your first session. Usually each session is increased by two-minute intervals. Most beds are equipped with fans so you won't feel too heated. Most tanning salons start to offer bargains during the summer months (since people can go outside and do it for free).





While this is a great way to get a tan without worrying too much about burning, there are some precautions you'll want to take:








Make sure the tanning salon has a disinfecting policy. Lots of people will be in the tanning chambers sweating away so if the salon doesn't disinfect your skin could easily become irritated.








Make sure that the salon has you fill out a Skin Type Analysis Form. This is a simple form that takes less than a minute to fill out. The form is used to determine how your skin reacts to tanning.








If you're taking medications, be sure to tell the salon staff. They may affect your sensitivity to the tanning beds.








Get a pair of FDA regulated goggles. Don't worry about getting raccoon eyes. The goggles protect the eyeball and since the eyelids don't tan, you won't be able to notice you had them on. Depending upon the salon, you'll either need to buy these beforehand or you'll be able to borrow a pair at the front desk, so call ahead to find out the salon's policy.


One quick note: Tanning beds are far from being skin-friendly. In fact, most health experts agree that the use of tanning beds increases a person's risk of skin cancer. When a person uses a tanning bed, more layers of the skin are damaged than when a person gets a tan from just being out in the sun. Still, if you're willing to take the risk with your skin, tanning beds do offer some benefits. You'll be able to control what kind of ultraviolet light your skin receives, you won't get sunburned, and your progress will be monitored.





5. CONSIDER APPLYING A SELF-TANNER


Fake tanners have gotten a really bad rap over the years and for good reason: they can look fake. Luckily, these products have gone through significant improvements in recent years. The new brands of self-tanners are virtually streak-proof, and some even come with built-in SPF. Self-tanners do not injure the skin and you'll be able to pick out the exact shade of tan you want. There are a bunch of options available in self-tanners. You can choose between gels, lotions or sprays. Be careful though. Just because your skin will be golden, doesn't mean you won't burn. So keep applying that sunscreen whenever you go in the sun.


Applying a self-tanner is virtually idiot proof. How else do you think all those pro wrestlers get that bronzed look? If they can do it, so can you.








The first thing you'll need to do is exfoliate. For those of you who don't subscribe to Vogue, this simply means getting rid of all the dead cells on your body. This will help the tanner to go on more evenly. To exfoliate, merely go to a beauty supply store or drug store and get an exfoliation kit or loofah sponge.








Make sure your body is completely dry before applying the tanner. If there is any moisture, the tanner may come out blotchy.








Try to find a brand that you can see going on (read: the cream itself should be colored, not clear) so that you won't miss any areas.








The next thing you'll have to do is apply the tanner:








Get a pair of surgical gloves, preferably latex - they'll help keep your hands from getting stained.








If applying a cream, use upward strokes on all of the body except the chest area.








For the chest, horizontal strokes will help keep the coverage balanced.








To avoid dark stripes, use less of the tanner on joints such as the knees and the elbows.


Wait about 20 - 25 minutes, and you'll look like you've been sun bathing for days. Besides, with all the hours you'll save not having to bake yourself in the sun, you'll have time for more important endeavors such as breaking into that 6-pack. Oh, it's now a 3-pack? Good - you learn fast.





Just got this off a website, I think you will tan just fine but since you're fair skinned make sure you don't look too artificial or orange. best thing is to call the place and ask.








also read this, i think it's important:


http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;鈥?/a>
I know exactly how you feel. The tanning salon is a good idea. I wouldn't over due it though. Since you just want a little color I think it is okay. I'm very fair also and the tanning beds work for me. The first time you use a bed,only go in for like 10 minutes,then skip a day and then go again,then go in for 12 minutes or something like that. Just be careful because you may think your not getting red,but then a couple hours later the redness shows up. I can go about five times and have a light tan. Good luck and be careful.
Get neutrogena self tanner. It will give you some color without aging you prematurely. Wrinkles, age spots and skin cancer are not cute.
Well for starters, it depends on the quality of the tanning salon you go to. Make sure it's not one of those hole-in-the-wall places, some of those are a bit gross. Like you, I was darker when I was younger then started getting self-concious too. So one day I decided to go w/ my friend Tiffany to a tanning salon called Tan Shak. I came out VERY red! But the second time I tanned I used this tanning lotion called Triple Shot, and i didn't burn again, and it increased my tan a lot. I used to go tanning a lot and when I did I would use Triple Shot every other time so I wouldn't have that orangish tint! But then I decided to just embrace my natural tone and work with what I got, tanning gives you wrinkles faster too, and I def. don't want that. So if you want to be a lil darker, but stay healthy like I decided, just go tanning once a month or every month and a half and use a good tanning lotion, if you use a moisturizer that helps your tan stay every day then it will last longer too.


%26lt;33


Kassy
I would just say try sun tanning, tanning salons can cause cancer and ugly burns. Theres no reason you should be self conscious about your fair skin, lot's of people would love to have it. Good luck with your tan! %26lt;3Cassie
For all information and details about tanning please check out http://use-tanning.blogspot.com/
Don't do it. Bad for your skin.