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How to Get a Tan?

What's your heritage like? Some very fair skinned people simply don't tan, they burn.

Tanning beds crack me up. Working outside under the sun has done a great job of giving me a tan! Don't go pay to lay on some stinkin' tanning bed! That might be reason enough for losing a man card or two.
 
What's your heritage like? Some very fair skinned people simply don't tan, they burn.

Tanning beds crack me up. Working outside under the sun has done a great job of giving me a tan! Don't go pay to lay on some stinkin' tanning bed! That might be reason enough for losing a man card or two.
+1. you may not be able to get a good tan, it's not the end of the world--could mean fewer wrinkles when you get older!

Also, avoid tanning beds unless you like skin cancer. Plus, they're just silly, get out in the sun! I grew up in Ft. Lauderdale, and people use tanning beds THERE!:scowl:
 
If you're using a lot of potent sunscreen, that could be the problem. SPF 45 for example will block out the vast majority of UV rays, preventing you from getting a tan... unless you stay out ALL day.

You will also get a darker tan if you go out around noon'ish, versus early in the morning or late in the afternoon.

Of course, anything you can do to give you a darker tan will also increase your risk of skin damage/cancer. I stay moderately tan by doing a few hours of outdoors work each day, in the late afternoon.
 
It depends on your heritage and your skin tone. My sister and I are both a quarter Italian, but she inherited the dark, Italian "olive"' skin and I didn't. I'm by no means pale, but her skin is much darker than mine and she tans more easily than I do.
 
What's your heritage like? Some very fair skinned people simply don't tan, they burn.

This is very true. I have a friend, she is of scandanavian descent, with blonde hair and blue eyes and very white skin, like, the purest complexion I have ever seen (thankfully, she doesn't look unhealthy). I often joke with her calling her an Aryan. Anyway, she doesn't tan, not very much, and she always takes a lot of care to make sure she doesn't burn, because she does quite easily.
 
Irish boy here! At least that's where my heritage is from. I'm on a strict regiment of pale, burn, peel, then back to pale.

My legs are the worst. I use some tan in a can to keep them from looking "sickly white".


The only way you (or me) will get tan is gradual, repeated sun. In other words, go outside. If you think you are going to be out in the sun too long have some sun block with you. I used to keep some in my car.