Tanning beds have become increasingly popular in recent years as a way to get that summer glow without prepping for a beach vacation.
But tanning your legs can be tricky, with the risk of uneven skin tones or worse, burning! So, keep on reading to find out how to tan legs in tanning bed, and how to make the most of your tanning bed tan…
Tanning Tips On How To Prep Your Skin Before You Start Tanning
Before heading to your tanning appointment, it’s essential to properly prepare your skin for the tanning bed to achieve a gorgeous, even tan.
Follow these simple steps and tips to tan, to ensure your skin is ready for tanning:
1. Determine your skin type: Understand your skin type as it will help you choose the right tanning time and lotion.
Pay attention to the sensitivity of your skin, its dryness, and how it reacts to sun exposure. Factor in if you have darker or lighter skin to tailor your tanning experience.
2. Exfoliate your legs: Dead cells can prevent an even tan and dull your skin’s appearance. Use a gentle exfoliating scrub on your legs a day before your appointment to remove dead cells and reveal a fresh layer of skin.
3. Hair removal: Opt for hair removal methods such as shaving or waxing at least 24 hours before your tanning session.
This ensures your skin is not irritated during the tanning process, and it leaves a smooth surface achieving a more uniform tan.
4. Use a hydrating scrub: After exfoliating and hair removal, use a hydrating scrub to nourish and soften your skin. This will help your skin retain moisture and promote an even tan.
5. Avoid tight clothing or accessories: Tight clothing or accessories can leave marks on your skin, affecting the evenness of your tan.
They can also constrict blood flow and minimize the activation of melanin during your tanning session.
6. Moisturize your skin: Apply a high-quality lotion or moisturizer a few hours before your tanning appointment.
This will help your skin stay hydrated, allowing for a more uniform tan and healthier-looking skin.
Note that you should avoid applying lotion just before your tanning session as it can interfere with the tanning process.
Why Are Legs Hard To Tan On A Tanning Bed?
It can be a challenge to achieve an even tan on your legs in a tanning bed. There are a few reasons as to why legs are tougher to tan than other parts of the body.
One primary reason is that the skin on your legs contains less melanin compared to upper body areas.
Melanin is the pigment responsible for skin tanning, so lower melanin levels in the legs make them tan slower.
This is because the skin on the legs doesn’t produce melanin as efficiently, leaving them more resistant to the effects of UV exposure.
Another factor that affects leg tanning is the thickness of the skin. The skin on your legs is generally thicker than on your arms, torso, or face.
This makes it harder for the UV light from the tanning bed to penetrate and tan the underlying skin layers. Therefore, the process of achieving a desired tan on the legs takes more time and effort.
Legs are also naturally less exposed to UV light from the sun in everyday situations. This means that your legs may not be as accustomed to the tanning process, making it harder to tan them effectively in a tanning bed.
To overcome this issue, you may need to expose your legs more frequently to the sun or a tanning bed to help improve their tanning capacity.
When attempting to tan your legs in a tanning bed, having a patient and gradual approach can help you achieve better results.
Make sure to follow proper tanning bed procedures and use appropriate tanning products to protect your skin and enhance the tanning process on your legs.
Why Do Legs Take So Long To Tan When Using Tanning Beds?
Your legs may take longer to tan in a tanning bed due to certain factors, including the skin characteristics and the way you position your body during the tanning process.
One reason your legs don’t tan as quickly as the rest of your body is the difference in melanin production.
Melanin, the pigment responsible for your skin color, plays a role in the tanning process. Your legs typically have a lower amount of melanin, which can slow down the tanning process.
Using a tan accelerator or tanning lotion specifically designed for legs can help increase melanin production and accelerate the tanning process, resulting in a more even and long-lasting tan.
Another factor contributing to slower tanning on your legs is the skin’s thickness.
The skin on your legs is generally thicker than other parts of your body, making it more difficult for the ultraviolet radiation from tanning beds to penetrate and stimulate melanin production.
To overcome this, consider applying a tanning lotion or tan accelerator that contains ingredients to promote deeper penetration of the tanning rays.
The position of your legs during the tanning process also plays a role in how quickly they tan.
If your legs are pressed against the sides of the tanning bed, they may not receive equal exposure to the UV rays as the rest of your body.
To ensure an even tan, make sure to adjust your position periodically and use a tanning bed with reflectors that direct UV radiation more evenly across your body.
Here are some tips to help you improve your tanning results on your legs:
- Exfoliate your legs before each tanning session to remove dead skin cells and allow for better penetration of tanning rays.
- Choose a tanning lotion or accelerator with ingredients that promote melanin production and deeper penetration of UV rays.
- Wear loose, comfortable clothing to your tanning appointments to avoid creating pressure points on your legs that could interfere with the tanning process.
- Allow an adequate amount of time between tanning sessions to give your skin the chance to recover.
How To Tan Legs In Tanning Bed
Tanning your legs in a tanning bed might be slightly challenging due to the skin on the legs being thicker. However, it is possible to achieve an even and natural-looking tan.
Here are some tips to help you get a flawless tan on your legs.
1. Prepare your skin: Exfoliate your legs thoroughly to remove dead skin cells. This allows the tanning energy to be absorbed into fresh and soft skin.
Also, moisturize your skin at least a few hours prior to the tanning session to prevent dry skin.
2. Choose the right tanning lotion: Using a high-quality indoor tanning lotion will help accelerate the tanning process and provide better tanning results.
A gradual tanning lotion is recommended for a more natural and even tan. Avoid using lotions that contain sunscreen, as this could affect the tanning results.
3. Adjust your position: Get the best tan on your legs by lying on your side and changing positions frequently while in the tanning bed.
Placing only your lower legs under the tanning bed if your upper body tans quicker is also an option. Ensure air circulation is sufficient to avoid uneven tanning caused by perspiration.
4. Schedule tanning sessions wisely: Space out your tanning bed sessions to avoid overexposure. It is essential to give your skin time to recover from each session.
Start with shorter tanning times and increase the duration gradually, tailoring it to achieve the desired outcome on your legs.
5. Take care after the session: Take a gentle shower after each tanning session to remove any residue from the tanning lotion.
Avoid using harsh soaps, tight clothing, or rubbing your skin with a towel, as this can cause your tan to fade. Keep your skin moisturized with a tan extending moisturizer to help maintain a long-lasting tan.
How Long Does It Take To Tan Your Legs In A Tanning Bed?
When aiming for an even tan on your legs, getting the timing right is essential.
The tanning process for legs might take longer compared to other parts of your body due to a lower melanin production in your legs.
Remember, achieving a natural tan requires patience and understanding of your skin type.
As a beginner, start by spending only five minutes in the tanning bed for your initial two sessions.
This approach helps limit the chances of getting burned or having irregularly colored patches on your skin.
After the first two sessions, gradually increase the duration by ten minutes each time until you reach a maximum of twenty minutes per session.
The actual time needed to achieve your desired tan will depend on your skin type, your legs’ melanin production, and the specific tanning bed you’re using.
To enhance the tanning process, consider applying a suitable tanning lotion before your tanning session.
This step can help increase melanin production, promoting a deeper and lasting tan. Make sure to choose a tanning lotion that’s designed for use in a tanning bed and compatible with your skin type.
Preparing your legs before the tanning session is also essential for even results. Exfoliating, shaving, or waxing at least 12 hours before your session can help remove dead skin cells, ensuring smoother and softer skin, which leads to an improved tan.
Don’t rush the process, be aware that it might take several sessions to see the final tanning results.
How Can I Speed up My Tanning on A Sunbed?
Tanning your legs on a sunbed can be quite a challenge, as the skin on your legs tends to be thicker and produce less melanin compared to the rest of your body.
However, there are plenty of tips you can follow to boost melanin production and help you achieve an even tan on your legs.
Prep your skin: To optimize the tanning process, exfoliate your legs before the tanning session to remove any dead skin cells.
Using a hydrating scrub can enhance blood circulation and ensure an even tan. Also, avoid tight clothing and hair removal methods at least 24 hours prior to the tanning session.
Moisturize: Maintaining healthy and hydrated skin can yield better tanning results. Applying a tan accelerator or a quality tanning lotion to your legs before a tanning session can activate melanin production and accelerate the tanning process.
Don’t forget to use a tan-extending moisturizer after the session to prolong your tan’s longevity.
Positioning: Proper positioning can help your legs tan evenly. Keep your legs slightly apart, allowing air circulation and exposing your legs effectively to the UV light.
Change your leg position occasionally to ensure an even tan.
Tanning lotion: Using a tanning lotion designed specifically for indoor tanning can give your legs a natural and dark tan.
These lotions can boost the production of melanin and provide essential nutrients and blood flow to the skin, helping your legs tan faster and more evenly.
Sunbed settings: Modern tanning beds often offer settings tailored for different skin types and tanning preferences.
Choosing the correct configuration can help your legs receive the optimal tanning energy and achieve beautifully bronzed legs sooner, for a long lasting tan.
Gradual tanning: Sometimes, a lasting tan requires patience. Opt for gradual tanning lotions or split your tanning sessions into shorter, more frequent intervals to build a long-lasting, golden tan on your legs, without having to use fake tan.
Summary
Tanning your legs in a tanning bed can be tricky, but with the right approach and products, you can achieve the perfect golden glow on your limbs.
Your skin type and adjust your tanning strategy accordingly. Make sure to follow all steps involved in prepping and caring for your skin before and after a tanning session.
Also, wear loose clothing during the tanning process, and keep adjusting your position periodically to ensure an even tan on both sides of each leg.
Finally, remember that achieving desired results requires patience — take it slow and don’t rush! Tan safely by following these tips on how to tan legs in a tanning bed.
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