Tan lines... Ugh

If you do end up doing spray tan, pay more for airbrush. That way they and blend it.

I play ultimate frisbee and I'm also getting married in September! I'm going to be wearing a lot of long sleeves (ugh) to avoid weird tan lines. Long sleeves plus buckets and buckets of sun screen and a big hat whenever I'm not actually on the field.

I would be horrified if a spray tan stained my dress, and I have honestly never seen a good one.

Typically I avoid the sun, and I stay ghostly white, but I am involved in multiple weddings back to back and made the decision to tan indoors.

I actually find it has cleared the bumps on the backs of my arms, the boost of vitamin D has been good for me, and I really haven't over done it. No regrets. Everything causes cancer.

Tanning outdoors is not at all comparable to bed tanning. Bed tanning gives you much more concentrated UVA and UVB rays in a much shorter time.

As a fellow triathlete and runner, I get yearly skin checks at my dermatologist. Why? Because after spending my teenage/college years in a tanning bed (it legitimately does help acne and helps with depression as well if you have seasonal mood changes, as well as helps eczema - so there are many benefits as well as draw backs) I was diagnosed with skin cancer in my 20's. Since then I have quit using tanning beds, and only get my sun outside, and I get A LOT of sun, I coach high school track and cross country in addition to my own activities, I haven't had any relapses. I also should be religious about using sunscreen, but I'm not. I will be getting an airbrush tan to even out the lines. I know a few people who have and haven't had any problems with running or dress staining. TBH, I could give a crap if my dress stains. I love it, but I'm never wearing it again.

Also, as a triathlete, there are very fitted and supportive suits we wear (like a body-szed sports bra), none of them tan through. It would be soooo impractical.

I read this with interest because this is something I'm worried about. I live in the Caribbean so year round I wear nothing but tank tops. I don't ever lie out in the sun, but just going to the store etc gets me a bit more sun. So I have strap marks and my dress is strapless. I've never tried any kind of spray tans so I don't know how well they work...

There is no way I can cover up every day between now and the wedding so I have no idea what to do...

@Nicola -- time to embrace tube tops!

Definitely fake baking or spray tans should help even out your tan lines! Let us know how it goes!

@Randee and @ Silan the science is clear tanning indoors even just one time does greatly increase your risk. I always hate the response to these threads that only tanning a few times can't really hurt you. Your opinion simply isn't true. Tanning even one time does increase your risk for skin cancer. To the op I would suggest shopping around a try different sunscreens. They are are a bunch of really good high spf sweatproof ones of the market. No they aren't going to be perfect but they will help. Then a spray tan done by a person can even you out. It is is a person not a machine they can focus on your lighter spots to even then out.

Run nakey ?

Can't we just stay on topic? She didn't ask for a lecture.

"Any great self tans or spray tans you've found?"

I recommend Jergens Natural Glow. It gives you a gradual tan!

ETA: You can add it to just the spots that you have the tan lines.

I live out in BFE I could tan naked in my yard if I wanted too! But we just got a boat so I'm worried about tan lines also. I'm going to look for a swimsuit or tank top that has the same straps as my wedding dress to wear out on the boat this summer.

As someone who HAD skin cancer, I urge you to stay away from tanning beds. I got melanoma at 19. All it took was a few summers. Skin cancer is a very real thing.

Can you run in mostly short sleeve shirts? That way your tan will be more of a fade, and much easier on the eyes than a glaring strap line across your chest and back. You could try the jergens natural glow around your chest and back. It won't be as dark as your arms, but more of a natural progression

Haha @lady lamp wish I could! The ladies probably wouldn't be too happy about that :p good ole support is needed!! I appreciate the feedback everyone! I've also been asking around and have heard good things about the St.tropez self tanner, I'll give that a try too. Just not sure how much $$ I'm willing to pay for a spray and with my wedding in a small town I'm not sure how accessible that is.

I'm having a spray tan.. it will be my first time. Looking to have a little glow.