totally clueless to tanning..please help

[x_finest_babe_x]

im going to the beach over winter.....im going to south america where it is summer.and im white as can be...i get many comments on being white.and i hate it....i want to go to a tanning salon before i go to the beach..how long do you recommend that i go for?

[heat the meat]

first- i would have a good read of the board- there are over 2000 topics here and about 300 of them are what you are asking about

second- go to a Smart Tan Certified salon and they will guide you to an appropriate exposure sked. We can't see your skin from here, sorry

third- you will need about 3-4 weeks to get your tan to its maximum.

fourth Welcome to IAmTAN,

[Tpsyduck]

Welcome to Iamtan!
Yep, heat has good suggestions!
You should pick a salon that will skin type you, then they can help you pick a time and bed to start in, use a basic Step one lotion, always Moisturize after Showering, and don't rush to tan, going everyother day will give your skin the "Break" it needs to rebuild itself and you might also see better color this way

[Sc0tt]

Welcome to iamTAN
Main points to remember while tanning:
1) Always wear goggles
2) NEVER EVER Burn!
3) Always use a lotion because moist skin tans better!
4) Always use a moisturizer (after showers, after tanning, laying out, etc)
5) Be careful with Tingles!
Hmmm, thats all I can think of.
I would give yourself at LEAST a month to get a good tan.
What skin type are you? Your salon should skin type you...
depending on your type, I wouldn't start higher then 7-8 minutes in a base bed.
Good luck and if you have any questions just ask!!

[njchica]

A good tanning salon will start you off SLOWLY in the beds depending upon your skin type. Give yourself as much time as possible to build up a tan because these things happen slowly.

[Val]

Everyone has given good advice. Most important is start out slowly! You'd don't want to burn! Use a good lotion and moisturizer! And don't forget your eye protection.

[SassyKat]

Find a reputable salon in your area and go in for a personalized tanning system for you. They will determine your skin type and start you out with the appropriate timed sessions. They can also recommend the best lotions and how many sesions you will need.

[minipooh]

First start out with after you shower to moisturize your skin. Then start out slow in an tanning bed and use a light bronzer if you like. Then add minutes after each tan. A good moisturizer is Body Drench, Angel by Designer Skin. Go a few times a week and you will get a base tan.

[Sc0tt]

Well hows tanning been going? how often have you been going and what lotions have you been using?