# Tanning Salon advice? (Help me look like I know what I'm doing) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 12, 2003, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tanning-salon-advice-help-me-look-like-i-know-what-im-doing/154491 "2003-02-12T01:59:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tanning-salon-advice-help-me-look-like-i-know-what-im-doing/154491/21 "2003-02-13T01:57:48Z")
I used to tan before I’d go on vacations in warm places - taking a pasty - white person and sticking them in the tropical sun is not a pretty sight - not to mention painful and a surefire way to wreck a vacation. Luckily I tan easily, but I wasn’t willing to take a chance and burn to a crisp the first day of my fun in the sun. I look good with a tan, not at all like toast. ---
**Author:** ![Shabadu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/46a35a/32.png) [@Shabadu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shabadu)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tanning-salon-advice-help-me-look-like-i-know-what-im-doing/154491/22 "2003-02-13T03:12:49Z")
I have gone tanning a few times before different trips, and I have found that I like the stand-up tanning booths much better. The stand-up beds that I used had a mesh in front of the bulbs, and the woman who gave me the tour suggested to put a foot up on the mesh to get an even tan on my legs. I found this to be very helpful. On the same line, if you do use one of the lay-down beds, not only make sure to get your armpits but also the insides of your legs. I hate those lines along my legs. Quick little side note. Make sure that you stop using lotion with SPF. I had been tanning for a while when I realized my face wasn’t getting tan. I finally remembered that my face lotion has SPF. I felt a little bit stupid. I hope you enjoy your trip. ---
**Author:** ![In\_Conceivable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4bbf92/32.png) [@In\_Conceivable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/In_Conceivable)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tanning-salon-advice-help-me-look-like-i-know-what-im-doing/154491/23 "2003-02-13T13:08:15Z")
Using self tanner will not protect you from sun burn which is what **Joyfulgirl** is trying to do. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Mermaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@The\_Mermaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mermaid)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tanning-salon-advice-help-me-look-like-i-know-what-im-doing/154491/24 "2003-02-13T15:19:38Z")
I have also hit the tanning beds before going on vacations. I don’t do it as much for the color as for the protection. I am very fair and burn easily at first. Without any sun exposure I can’t stay outside more than 15 minutes without a burn. I wouldn’t recommend staying the entire 20 minutes at first. Get tanning lotion but don’t go for the Hard Stuff® at first, ie: any lotion with the words “fire” “heat” or “extra tingle” in the name. I actually like tan lines on my bottom, just so you can have something to compare. I always wear the same bathing suit bottom; I pack it in my tanning bag with the lotion, water bottle and face towel. Also my face tends to get really red when I am hot (or embarrassed or excited or drink alcohol). The first time I used a tanning bed my face was beet red for a week so now I always cover my face with a towel for all but a couple of minutes. My face gets enough sun exposure during daily activities. Good luck and don’t burn your naughty bits. ---
**Author:** ![Joyfulgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f04885/32.png) [@Joyfulgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joyfulgirl)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tanning-salon-advice-help-me-look-like-i-know-what-im-doing/154491/25 "2003-02-13T22:07:27Z")
Wow, I didn’t expect this many replies. Thanks for the great advice! Like **In Conceivable** and others pointed out, I’m doing this to minimize skin damage. Everytime I go to a beach location, I burn if I’m in the sun for any significant amount of time. Heck, last time, I burned on the way down there. A bad sunburn is much worse for your skin than a one-time moderate tan. Plus, I don’t want to scare any children or blind anyone 🙂 Anyway, I’m off to try all this advice. I’ll let you know how it goes! ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tanning-salon-advice-help-me-look-like-i-know-what-im-doing/154491/26 "2003-02-13T22:55:16Z")
My sister was a dedicated tanner for years. Next Monday she starts her second round of chemo therapy treatments for melanoma. A fake and bake tan WILL NOT protect you in anyway from the sun. Don’t do it. ---
**Author:** ![HelloKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecccb3/32.png) [@HelloKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelloKitty)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tanning-salon-advice-help-me-look-like-i-know-what-im-doing/154491/27 "2003-02-14T00:51:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by In Conceivable \* > \*\*Using self tanner will not protect you from sun burn which is what **Joyfulgirl** is trying to do. \*\* Since the wet blanket has already been thrown, please remember that **sunscreen** will also protect you from sunburn!!! Even if you do get a “pre-tan” your skin is still being damaged if you don’t use sun screen. Especially protect your face and backs of your hands. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tanning-salon-advice-help-me-look-like-i-know-what-im-doing/154491/28 "2003-02-14T02:51:30Z")
Joyful, I use to wear bathing suits and shorts to amusement parks and use only tanning oil. I wanted to be brown and healthy and I would look any one wearing a hat, long sleeved shirt and pants on a hot day and go \*what a bunch of nerds, mannn \*. I am now a proud floppy hat, long sleeves, pants wearing, SPF 9000 five or six times a day kind of person. I am actually cooler than the bikini clad gals, as my skin is protected and not subtly frying. If you want to see something interesting, I discovered this this past summer at an amusement park. Buy a pair of sunglasses that are the ultra cool hip orangey-yellow shades, that allow a person so see the wearers eyes. Wearing glasses like this allows you to see the sunburn on some one before it shows up. \*I shit you not \*. I walked around the park the entire day telling young bucks and simpering misses, that they better get out of the sun because I could see where they had missed with their lotion ( if they were wearing it at all.) Those glasses were the best $10 anti-sun tan argument I’ve ever spent. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tanning-salon-advice-help-me-look-like-i-know-what-im-doing/154491.md?page=1)