Tanning Smart

by BY Bird
((Ohio))

HI -- I have been tanning for about 17 years, in a tanning bed. I had problems with heat strokes and was told by a doctor to start tanning slowly a few weeks before summer time in a tanning bed, just to see if it helped, and I have not had a heat stroke sense. One heat stroke I almost died from, so I had my fair share of the heat strokes. It didn't take much of the sun to do it to me either.

After tanning for all these years I found some good things to do and some not so good things to do.

Here are the tanning tips I have for you:

MOISTURIZE. I think Body Drench is best for this. Use it a few times a day and after showering a couple weeks before starting your tanning sessions.

Once skin is well hydrated, tan smart. Remember, to keep your skin hydrated, dry skin don't tan well but will burn easily. Get a good step 1 tanning lotion, the ones with Hemp and Bronzers are really good, but you find what works best for you, just make sure you use it at every session, and after every tanning session use the Body Drench again.

An important thing that I over looked for a while, if you tan before showering wait at least 2 hours to shower after tanning, your skin can still tan all that time even after the session is done, even if you don't see it. And don't tan for at least 1 hours after showering. If you don't wait it may stop you from tanning or take you longer to see results.

Start out slow, if your skin is WHITE, really white, start out a few sessions at only 5 mins. Use the tanning accellerator heavy, never skimp on the tanning lotion. Don't drown yourself in it but put enough on. Then go to 10 mins for a few sessions. Then you will start seeing a little hint of color by the 8th to 10th session or so. If not, don't worry, some takes longer and you are not used to it yet.

Get a step 2 tanning lotion next. If you have not had any problems tanning, kick it up to 15 min sessions. I always went daily until I started getting my base tan. Then I went to four days a week. There are other tanning lotions, step 3, you want to start maximizing your tan. After about 4-5 sessions going in for 15 mins go up to 20 mins. Most salons, this is max. time for a tanning session. Remember even using a lot of tanning lotion, use your Body Drench or good moisturizer after you get out of the tanning bed too. Keeping that skin hydrated will give you the best looking tan. Now you should really be noticing some tan. You can start to take your sessions down, 2-3 times a week. Once you are as dark as you want, probably once a week will do you. If you get to a point that you are not tanning any darker but would like to, go a few sessions using a good step 1 tanning lotion then go back to the one you prefer.

NEVER use anything with a tingle factor or T followed by a number or HOT in it until you have a very good tan. These are hot, they are for experienced tanners. The first few times I used them I felt just like I was having a heat stroke. Not saying you will, but I did. After the third or fourth time that went away, but I don't use it much, if I do I use a low T factor.

Good luck and happy tanning. Remember, moisturize and don't rush it. The wait will be worth it.