Spring is here! Flowers are in bloom, the sun is out, and we can finally ditch our Uggs and leggings for Jack Rogers and sun dresses.  Of course, the change in season means it’s time for us girls to start workin’ on that gorgeous, glowing, even tan.
Tanning is either a love-it or hate-it kind of thing. Well, kind of. Most of us love being tan, but we hate the process it takes to get there!  To some girls, tanning comes easily. They can lie out in the sun for an hour or two and keep that dark, bronzed bod for weeks! Then there are others that, no matter how hard they try, just can’t get their skin to soak up those rays. I am one of those girls. I can lay out in the sun forever and I get one of two results: a sunburn, or only the slightest change in skin color. Either way, not exactly worth the five hour layout sesh.
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 The only positive thing that my chronic inability to tan has done for me is that it has inspired me to pursue a variety of other tanning options in preparation for this upcoming summer. With all the fun spring events ahead (Post-Exams!!!), where pictures will most definitely be taken (no one wants to be the Casper of the group), I’ve attached some advice on how to create and maintain that bronzed summer skin that we all know and love.
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Tip 1
This just in: It is possible to still use sunscreen AND get a tan! Now, I am not advocating that you lather SPF 50 all over your body, but using something (SPF 4, 8 or 10, even 15) is ALWAYS better than nothing! Especially if you haven’t tanned in a while. You don’t want to ruin your mojo by getting really burnt on your very first try!
Tip 2
For those of you who “burn because then it turns to tan”: This is really not a good strategy! Try a better approach that doesn’t leave your skin with lingering health risks… or leave you looking like a lobster for a couple of days.
Tip 3
Tanning periodically will help you build up your tan faster than if you lay out for a long period of time one day a week. And DON’T waste your time tanning after 4:00 pm.
Tip 5
Know your skin! If tanning hasn’t worked in the past, it’s most likely not going to make a difference now (even if you do get an expensive membership to a tanning salon). It’s time to resort to other options. Also, keep in mind some sunscreens/tanning oils and sprays may cause you to break out…so be careful!
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Tip 6
Tanning beds are dangerous and have been proven to increase risk of skin cancer by 75%! WOW. However, I am not going to deny the fact that many girls on this campus use tanning beds (as evidenced by some awkwardly tan chicas circa January). If you want to follow that path, there are a variety of great tanning salons in the Winston-Salem area. Make sure you read the reviews online before you join!
Tip 7
I strongly advocate against buying anything at a beauty salon or grocery store that is a “spray-tan in a bottle”. You’ve got to spray in almost perfectly straight lines to make it worth your while, and many places on your body are too hard to reach by yourself.  Thus, the infamous orange-striped zebra look. Not cute.
Tip 8: Spray tanning is another option. There is no risk for skin cancer (yay!), but sometimes it is more expensive than using tanning beds, and doesn’t last as long either (usually about a week or two). I have used two types of spray tanning machines: the MysticTan and the VersaSpa. In my opinion, the Mystic (found at Palm Beach Tan) looks obviously fake and orange, but I absolutely love the Versa! Also, check out places where they use employees, not booths, to spray you. Sure it might be awkward at first, but you’ll have a sexy, even tan when all is said and done.
Tip 9
On that note, DO NOT spray tan multiple levels below your skin color. Trust me, it’s very obvious, and those bad spots where the tan rubs off are a lot harder to hide.
Tip 10
If you’re looking for a cheaper solution, Jergen’s Natural Glow and L’Oreal Sublime Bronze are two options that work pretty well when applied regularly.
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Lastly, and the most important advice of all: Don’t forget, being fair-skinned is pretty too! And some people can pull it off fabulously. Skin color does not determine how pretty a girl is, so rock your natural color and save yourself the burns and health risks. Go you!
Happy sun-bathing girls!
*Photography by Karleigh Ash