Fake Bake or Self Tan?

As a fellow pasty lady I know how you feel. I have personally never laid in a tanning bed because it's freaky. The bright lights and everything~ not a fan. I have a few friends who spray tan, but go to a salon to get it done. And even better, have someone do it by hand with the spray gun. It will be more even. Since you are fair, start testing out places now, you'll need to find a place that won't turn you into an Umpa Lumpa. I managed to not get sunburned in Hawaii last year by applying sunscreen every hour, sitting in the shade and I got a fabulous hat! You'll still get tan when you're sitting in the shade by the pool, but it will be gradual and much safer then just baking on the beach.

I never knew that being a different skin color could be so stressful. lol I am going to call places tomorrow to get some pricing.

Knowing me I would forget to put sunscreen on and apply tanning oil like I did last summer! I am such a ditz!

Oh i was terrible at it! but FH was all about it, he got to rub me down every hour for 2 weeks~ haha!

It's also important to protect your skin afterwards. Even if you don't get a burn you should apply some aloe after soaking in the sun all day. I'm a fan of the Maui Secret Formula line, in particular the burn to brown lotion. it smells delicious and works! http://www.mauiislandsecret.com/collections/tanning

I know a lot of people say to stay far away from the tanning lotions. BUT- I just purchased the Jergens Natural Glow Express. Put some on 2 days ago, and the very next day I was tan- NOT orange. I love this lotion!

I am thinking of getting the air brush tan...cuz i don't tan I burn...no matter what my precausions are.

Kim S- I SO almost bought that the other day! I was so overwhelmed because there are sooo many to choose from! Does it streak around your wrists? That;s the problem I had with banana boat's...

Like ya'll said, I would still get sunburned wrapped in a shall. lol In fact, last summer, I put on "sunscreen" I just bought at wal mart, went and laid by the pool, swam and read a book for about an hour. Well, come to find out when I walked back up to our apartment, that "sunscreen" was not sunscreen. It was tanning oil, which the stupid can had in tiny letters. Go me, right? So I was a total lobster who had to go to work in a couple hours. I could barely tuck in my shirt it hurt so bad! Now I look back and laugh but at the time it hurt!!!

If I were you, I'd get it professionally done - like the airbrush tan. My SiL did the whole DIY tan lotion thing and she ended up looking like an oompa loompa at my other SiL's wedding.

Miya- Oh boy! NOT gonna be me!

That's why I have started wayyy out so I can trial and error somethings!

Even though I know how bad it could potentially be for me I am tanning at a salon, I love it, it is very relaxing and I use it as my time to unwind after work before pick my kids up...

I vote as a very pale person, i'd say spray or lotion. The fake bake is so bad for our pale skin!!! We're super bad at protecting ourselves from the sun naturally. Just be sure in FL to continuously apply the sun tan lotion. I'm for sure doing airbrush so that I can control the amount of orange, unlike those tanning lotions. Even the "best" streak on my white canvas of skin!

It depends on how you tan. If you are pale/dont tan well then its best to do a spray tan, but I highly reccomend getting it professionally done and not in the booths where you have to move around while a machine sprays you, but by hand where a person with a spray gun does it. My FSIL just got one yesterday and she is really pale and it came out GREAT! Tan and not the dreaded orange.

I wish I could find someone around here who does the professional spray tanning... Gr!

For me personally I am just like you! Red hair, pale fair skin and freckles galore! I rarely go tanning because I am freaked out by skin cancer too! However when I go on vacation I do fake bake for a couple weeks before - small amounts of time and every other day. For me I like to at least have somewhat of a base tan before going in the sun so I don't get fried (even using 70spf I'll get burnt without tanning!).

If there is an even or something I will for sure get a spray tan - I'll do what they call a "cocktail" I get the spray tan and then go in a stand up booth for like 3 minutes just so I know it is dry and sealed it! Good luck!

Oh and I totally forgot! For at home tanning I LOVE to use Tan towels! It can get a little pricey but they TOTALLY work!

http://www.tantowel.com/

Here's a place that's Smart Tan Certified (which is awesome): http://www.elitephysiquetans.com/page.php?kei=9

http://local.yahoo.com/info-18969518-trendsetters-san-angelo

http://www.manta.com/c/mmj9nr5/suntrax-tanning

What exactly does Smart Tan Certified mean? That they offer spray tans?

Thanks for taking the time to look up that info in my town

Smart tan certified means employees at tanning salons have gone through specialized training on the

- UV rays (the difference between the 2 & which is better for longer lasting tan vs. quicker base)

- ALL equipment, the differences

- skin types, what equipment(s) would go best with your skin type

- lotions

- latest technology

- cleaning solutions for the equipment

Stuff like that so the employees know exactly what they're talking about. I almost took the training but left the salon I worked a little before, 2 reasons

1. only 1 girl could train at a time (already someone training)

2. I went away to school

It didn't leave any streaks on me! It actually looks like I went tanning.

Just make sure it completely dries before you put clothes back on.

I hate to be the one to disagree but, as a fellow redhead with freckles, I say don't do it at all. Embrace your inner paleness and just say no.

Personally, I think I'd look really odd with a tan and I think you look beautiful just as you are in your pictures. Besides, a spray on tan will only give your skin an SPF of about 2-3 which is not enough to protect you from harmful UVA and UVB radiation. You'd still require a high level SPF sun block for extended periods in the sun.