How to Get a Dark Tan
If you’ve always wanted to get a dark tan but you just don’t have the time to sunbathe, you may enjoy the benefits you’ll get from tanning indoors. In order to get a dark tan, you’ll need to protect your skin from sunburn, stay moisturized and gradually increase your exposure to UV rays. Read on to learn how to get a dark tan that will make others envious.
- Difficulty:
- Easy
Instructions
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Choose a reputable tanning salon with a knowledgeable staff and newer tanning beds. Most tanning salon professionals will be happy give you a tour of their facilities and allow you to inspect the tanning beds for cleanliness, bulb brightness and cracks in the acrylic covers of the bed. Visit several area tanning salons and make your decision based on the quality of the tanning beds, the helpfulness of the staff and the cleanliness of the salon rather than on the price of membership.
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Select a tanning lotion enhanced with accelerators and added moisturizers to speed the tanning process. Speak with a tanning salon professional to determine which products are right for your skin type or look for tanning product that contains L-Tyrosine to increase your skin’s melanin production and help you get a dark tan.
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3
Build a good base tan to avoid sunburn. A base tan is a light tan that you achieve over time that helps the skin become accustomed to ultraviolet rays through gradual expose. A base tan will help your skin become more resistant to sunburn and allow you to get a dark tan without peeling or blistering. When tanning indoors, your first few tanning sessions should be no longer than 3 to 5 minutes to avoid the risk of sunburn. Outdoor tanning should be limited to fifteen-minute intervals until a base tan is established. After you’ve established a good base tan, you will be able to tan longer without burning.
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Apply a quality moisturizer rich in L-Tyrosine and anti-oxidants immediately after tanning. In order to get a dark tan, you’ll need to keep your skin moisturized to replenish the vitamins and nutrients that are lost during the tanning process. Keeping your skin moisturized will help you tan faster and darker and make your tan last longer.
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Tan daily or at least every other day until your skin has reached its maximum tanning potential. Brief, frequent exposure to ultraviolet rays will help you get a dark tan faster than infrequent, long tanning sessions. Gradual exposure also lessons your risk for sunburn and sun poisoning. Avoid ultraviolet rays from the sun and tanning beds to avoid blistering if your skin shows signs of redness, irritation or peeling.
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Visit the tanning salon at least twice a week to maintain your tan. After you get a dark tan, you’ll need to maintain it with 10 to 20-minute tanning sessions at least twice a week. During the maintenance phase, you may wish to pay per session rather than on a month-by-month basis in order to save money.
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Tips & Warnings
Always wear eye protection in a tanning bed.
Apply sunless tanners to boost your tan if you’re unable to visit the tanning salon for more than a few days.
Some tanning salon professions recommend the use of tanning supplements to boost your skin’s melanin and help you get a dark tan quickly.
Before joining a tanning salon, use the beds a few times to make sure you’re happy with the results you receive from your tanning sessions.
If you are unable to tan in the sun, you won’t be able to tan in a tanning bed.
To learn more about indoor tanning, see Resources below.
Most dermatologists agree that exposure to ultraviolet rays causes damage to the skin and significantly increases your chances for developing skin cancer. See Resources below for more information about ultraviolet rays and melanoma.
