Tanning your legs using indoor sunbeds or natural UV light outdoors can be a breeze when you follow these helpful tips. Remember to exfoliate, use high-quality accelerator creams with bronzers, position your legs correctly, rotate your body, and increase your tanning time gradually.
The time it takes to tan your legs varies from person to person and depends on factors such as your skin type, sun exposure, and the methods used. Generally, it may take a few days to a couple of weeks to achieve your desired tan. Gradual tanning is safer and helps you avoid sunburn.
Fair skin can tan under the sun, but only with care. Start with short, consistent exposure, about 10-15 minutes a day during safer times like early morning or late afternoon. Always wear sunscreen (yes, even when aiming for a tan) and reapply it as directed.
At first, limit your bare skin exposure. Try 10-20 minutes, then get out of the sun. Do this by putting on clothing (long sleeves/pants/sun hat) or getting in some shade. Do this every few days (depending on your skin) until you start to build a tan. Then you can slowly increase the amount of time you spend in the sun.
Compared to the rest of the body, skin on the legs does not produce the same amount of melanin, which results in legs getting less tan. Skin on the legs is thicker and harder and the UV light from the sun or sunbeds cannot easily penetrate it.
Currently, no safe or proven method exists to increase melanin – the pigment, or color, in a person's skin, hair, and eyes. A person's genetics determine their natural melanin levels and skin color. In general, people who have darker skin tones have more melanin than those with lighter skin tones.
Is 30 minutes a day enough to tan? It depends on your skin type. Those with fair skin likely need a bit longer, while people with darker skin may only require 15-20 minutes daily. Start slow and gently build UV skin tolerance over multiple sessions for the best color development.
First, your legs may be exposed to more sunlight than the rest of your body, e.g., if you're wearing shorts. Second, the skin on your legs is usually thinner than the skin on other parts of your body, so the UV rays can penetrate it more easily.
You don't necessarily tan faster in water or laying out. This is because water reflects UV rays, so you may not be getting as much exposure as you think if you're actually in the pool.
Therefore, what will determine whether a person can tan or simply turn red is both the amount of melanin produced by their skin cells and its quality. Or, the ratio between “good and bad” melanin.
Yes, you can get a tan in a swimming pool if it is outdoors. The UV rays from the sun can penetrate the water and reach your skin, causing a tan. Additionally, water can reflect UV rays, potentially increasing your exposure.
Lamp Wattage & Tanning Intensity
Stand-Up Booths: Typically equipped with around 160 to 200 watts lamps, stand-up tanning booths provide a more intense tan. For instance, the iXtreme X3 VTU stand-up sunbed utilises up to 58 body lamps at 200 watts, delivering an efficient tanning session.
Papaya: Like carrots, orange fruits and vegetables, such as papaya, help to enhance your tan naturally thanks to its high beta-carotene levels. Melon: This refreshing fruit, rich in antioxidants and beta-carotenes will help you to keep your golden skin tone.
If tanning in the sun, start with only 15-20 minutes in the sun on your first session. In your following tanning sessions only increase your time by 5-10 minute increments, and monitor your skin regularly to make sure you aren't starting to go red and burn. If tanning on a sunbed, start with 2-3 minutes.
Spray tanning with hairy legs is absolutely your personal choice. However, bear in mind, excessive hair can hinder an even tan. It's recommended to remove unwanted body hair before the session for better results.
Is 30 minutes in the sun long enough to tan? Yes, if you have fair to light skin. If you have light skin or very light skin, 10 to 30 minutes in the sun is a perfect amount of time for a tan. Much longer than that, and you could start to develop a sunburn.
Boost Your Beta-Carotene Intake
Foods rich in beta-carotene, like carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, and kale, can give your skin a natural glow while enhancing its ability to tan.
Ardell Body Drench Quick Tan Instant Self-Tanner
Kim Kardashian flashed her own bottle of Body Drench when showing off her travel makeup bag — and she definitely knows a good sunless tan!