Lets Talk Tan Lines

Spray tan test a few different out before your wedding.

I won't preach about tanning bed risks because you obviously already know them.

I've considered it because it really helps with my eczema but I'm so scared of tanning beds. I've never been in one either. I've seen some people get really good spray-tans though (wouldn't help my situation but could help yours).

I tan easy. My dress is strapless. I bought 2 strapless swimsuits for this summer. FH and I are going to do a few kayaking trips to make sure I don't have any tan lines. Plus, FMIL has a pool so I will be sitting out a lot hopefully through may and june.

I tanned before the wedding. I didn't want to do it but my dress was blush and almost matched my natural skin tone. Try spray tans first! I would have done that if I wasn't having a destination wedding. I didn't want to try someone new away from home and turn out orange. If you do opt to use tanning beds make sure you do a combo of traditional beds and stand up booths or else you'll have uneven spots.

@ Lyla I have acne and tanning makes scars fade faster so I understand your situation.

@ Rachel Spray tans scare me. I've never seen them look good.

I'm doing self tanner to even out anything I need to, but I really don't tan. I'm either white or red, nothing in between

Also talk to your makeup artist! Mine said to avoid a spray tan for airbrush makeup.

I did tanning beds for a little while but that popping noise they make always put me on the verge of an anxiety attack so I stopped. I guess watching that one Final Destination movie was enough to freak me out. Also, I didn't tan right (in my opinion) and I only did it to shut my mom up because she apparently thinks it's a sin to be pale. To avoid noticeable tan lines, I'm going to wear mostly strapless swimsuits. The cut of the top of my dress is as such it will hide any offending marks if I do strapless.

As far as tanning for yourself, I agree with spray tanning. Find a good, reputable salon and try it out before hopping into a tanning bed.

I would try a spray tan first. And read reviews if you decide on a tanning bed. Make sure it is clean. One of the risks (as I found out from using a bed that wasn't clean enough) is getting a skin fungus that eats the pigment in your skin. I had spots on me that were lighter than the rest and it was easy to fix with a special body wash/shampoo but it took about 3 months to go back to normal.

Spray tan. Please. My best friend has stage 4 melanoma from tanning beds. Everyone always thinks it won't happen to them, but it can, and it does. She found a mole on her leg when we were in college, it was stage 1, they removed it, but it came back 2 years later stronger than ever and rapidly spread throughout her body. She is thankfully in remission, but there was a point in 2015 where she thought she was not going to make it. I'm still terrified every day for her, and she will even admit, years of suffering through chemo infusions and immunotherapy could have all been avoided if she had not gone tanning. I'll spare you the more graphic details, but please, don't go to a tanning bed. #banthetan

I know it's bad for you. I know the risks. But I still start tanning a few months before any big event. I'm super pale, and I feel more confident when I'm tan. It also helps with the KP on my arms.

If you do decide to tan, I would use a regular bed as opposed to the super beds if you have the time. The regular beds take longer to get you tan, but the tan looks more even and lasts longer. And use a good lotion! They're expensive, but they make a WORLD of difference!

But again, fully know the risks of tanning before you do it. It's not for everyone

I successfully managed to avoid the sun in Texas last summer before my late July wedding. I wore a huge floppy sun hat every time I went outside. I do not tan at all. It's red or nothing and there was no way that I was going to be burned at my wedding. It is doable.

Michelle, if you already have a little base tan from living in Texas, I think a very light spray tan would look great. I was VERY anti-spray tan, but then got talked into it by a friend and did one before a beach vacation a few years ago. I did the lightest spray and it looked nice and natural.

I'm going to tan a couple times before the wedding. I'm having a DW and I don't want swimsuit lines in my pics and my dress as a super deep V in the back.

I used to do fitness competitions and we always had to be spray tanned. Obviously they go overboard for the actual competition, but they have to do a base tan first the night before in order to get you to that level of craziness at the competition. The base tans I've gotten have always looked great. Most of the excess tan for the competition come off in the shower but the base tan stayed for like two weeks afterward. It looked awesome and didn't rub off on anything. I'm definitely going to do that for my wedding. Just to be on the safe side though I'll get it done a week or so before to totally avoid any color coming off on my dress.

@Vanessa T. I had that happen to me (the loss of pigmentation in spots) and I never knew what it was! Makes sense because it coincided with my foolish use of a tanning bed when I was 18. Ugh. What was the name of the special body wash you used? Where did you get it? Thank you!!

I like bed tanning because it helps my skin. And I'm getting married in the summer so I think I will use it more the spring before to build a darker tan, beside I don't want strap lines especially if my dress is strapless. Is it "good" for you? No. But if you don't over use it you will be fine. The key is to not burn!

St. Tropez sunless tanner. Please don't use a tanning bed - so bad for skin health.

Alexandra - I had no idea what it was until I went to the doctor and she asked if I had been in a tanning bed. I told her yes and she said it is actually kinda common for tanning beds.

It was a shampoo that she prescribed. I think it is also used for psoriasis or eczema (I think!). It has been years since I used it since that was my last trip to a tanning bed. LOL.

Although the risks aren't good (at all)- I still plan to use a tanning bed. Not for months and months, but because it helps the breakouts on my face and back a lot more than anything else. And, if you do the tanning bed versus a spray tan, you can stop when you've reached the tone you want. With a spray tan, it's kinda up in the air and every one I've had turned out orange later. Probably my own fault, but I still just don't enjoy the experience as much as an actual tanning bed.