To tan, or not to tan?

[NicksWifey]

Ok so I've been having extreme withdrawls since I stopped indoor tanning. When I lived with my parents, I had a tanning bed there that you had to beat me to get out of. Explains why I was an NC42 in the past (which now I think is a little alarming for a white gal like me) and why I settled into a NC37 presently.
My dilemma is this, I miss the hell out of tanning. I miss how relaxing it was, I miss all of the yummy lotions and the results they gave and I miss the fading cherry & star tantoos that are on my hip. I have sessions at a salon, but with it being so crowded this time of year and because when I get off of work at 4:30, the only thing I want to do is go home and relax, not drive through crazy traffic to get to the salon and then have to wait for a bed to open up. I go visit my parents once a week and never really feel like using the tanning bed there either.
My dad has skin cancer and I'm afraid I'll have it one day too. I started tanning on/off when I was 16 and by the time I was 19, I tanned YEAR ROUND until this May when I moved out of my parents house. I used to go once a week now I don't even do that.

So I need y'alls opinions. Do I look better with a tan or without? I've tried to find decent pics of me with a tan and a present one without a tan. Thanks!!!

Not tanning, presently:

While tanning**FIXED THE LINKS**:

April 2008:

Oooh makes me miss being blonde

Don't laugh at my nasty ass stomach!

 

[zabbazooey]

I can't see the other pics, but honestly, you are sooo tan compared to me! (look at my profile pic!)

 

[Mabelle]

the pictures arent working for me so can;t tell you which looks better. I can tell you that tanning beds are god awful for your skin. Dont take the risk. Like you said, your father has skin cancer, i don't understand why that wouldn't kill your urge to tan.
Cancer aside, tanning that much will make you age horribly. Your skin will look like leather and you'll wrinkle way faster. If you're going to tan, opt for a spray tan. It might not be the same experience, but it's a lot less dangerous.

 

[Tinkee-Belle]

I am in the same situation as you. I tanned year round from age 15 to age 21 and I just stopped tanning this April. I use self tanners now, and while it isnt the same as a real tan its been pretty good for me so far. I do it before bed and shower in the morning so it doesnt smell. I caved once about a month ago and went to a bed but other than that ive been good. Just think about the wrinkles and cancer you can get. Thats why I stopped, I have soooooo much sun damage it isnt funny. Spray tans are good if you wanna get REALLY dark! I used to do that for a few months but its such a hassle going a few times a week so now I like to do it myself in my bathroom!

 

[purrtykitty]

I couldn't see the pics, either. But don't tan...it's so bad for your skin. I think you look gorgeous now. You'll stay so pretty and wrinkle-free so much longer!

 

[coachkitten]

Quote:

Originally Posted by purrtykitty I couldn't see the pics, either. But don't tan...it's so bad for your skin. I think you look gorgeous now. You'll stay so pretty and wrinkle-free so much longer!

Ditto to what Karin said!

You might miss tanning now but you will be thankful that you stopped in the long run. Just my opinion of course but you look gorgeous Brittney with or without a tan!

 

[Beauty Mark]

You look beautiful with the paler skins; I can't see the darker ones.

If skin cancer is prevalent in your family, I'd quit immediately. Most of the people I know who look older beyond their years tanned, while those who look younger stayed away from the sun.

 

[Simply Elegant]

When you're over 30 and still look younger than your age you'll be thankful and when you're over 50 and still don't have skin cancer you'll be even more thankful. I think you look good without too dark of a tan.

 

[xlakatex]

I agree with everyone else. You look great right now and i cant see the other pics but you look great in the non tanning pic anyways!

 

[Dreamergirl3]

hihi fellow IAT member

I haven't been posting there for a while though, like you I've stopped tanning and miss it so! For all the EXACT same reasons you mentioned! Yummy lotions, 'me' time, and being darker def boosted my confidence! I can't see the pictures from iamtan but I think I may have seen them before...you look beautiful both shades!

I really think the paler skin tone suits you more though! I've been contemplating going back for months now...but I'll tell you what, the longer you go without tanning the easier it is, especially if you try and take up new activities that give you some of the same feelings like tanning. For example you could try just taking a cat nap with an eye pillow instead of goggles, and put on some good music while you're at it...

Personally I just miss the entire experience. I miss going to the salon with the anticipation of knowing I'm going to be darker when I get out. I miss the spa-like feel of the salons. So instead, I've tried doing spa-like stuff at home. Making your bathroom a better place to relax in helps, that way you can just sink in a bubble bath, light some candles and just chill. It helps a lot!

As far as being dark goes, perhaps try splurging on some good STs! I know Walter (synergistik) from IAT knows everything there is to know about them, so I'm sure he'd be able to help you find one that would produce a tan closest to your natural one! Maybe try shooting him a PM?

And above all like others have mentioned just try thinking of your Dad next time you get bitten by the tanning bug. Maybe if you see how he feels about you tanning knowing he's had skin cancer, that could help put things in perspective?

from a girl who's in the same boat, I hope this helped

 

[aimee]

the other pics are not working but girl youre tan in the first one
stop the tanning bed its absolutely horrible for your skin but i know what you mean sometimes i miss the tanning bed too but i dont want skin cancer or wrinkles so i stopped tanning indoors and i wear a high sunscreen when i go outside.
I do use self tanners. A gradual one for everyday a darker one for the weekends. For special occasions i get an airbrush tan.

 

[NicksWifey]

Thanks everyone, I thought the links were working ok but I went ahead and fixed them so you can see how tan I was before.

 

[anjelik_dreamin]

I've seen both pictures, and I think you look better not tanned to be honest (though I LOVE your little white tattoo....It's pretty much the cutest white tatt I've ever seen. I desperately want one!). Plus, the girls are right, all it's going to do in the long run is prematurely age you and possibly cause skin cancer, which is especially worrying coz your dad had it. You look healthy and beautiful as you are.

 

[aimee]

you can get a tatoo like that when you spray tan too
ad the sticker and get an airbrush tan remove the sticker voila.

i like all of the pics you can rock both but for your skin its better you stopped indoor tanning.

 

[seonmi]

You are so gorgeous in both picture, but OMG, please don't tan because you are even more beautiful with the paler skin, look so healthy, real, and just beautiful!

 

[ilorietta]

you look better not tanned (and gorgeous!)

 

[melliquor]

You look better without a tan. Tanning beds are so dangerous with longterm effects. Think about those old woman you see that have skin like rubber because they tanned when they were younger and tons of wrinkles on their face because of tanning. In the other pics, you look way too dark and orange.

 

[NicksWifey]

Quote:

Originally Posted by melliquor You look better without a tan. Tanning beds are so dangerous with longterm effects. Think about those old woman you see that have skin like rubber because they tanned when they were younger and tons of wrinkles on their face because of tanning. In the other pics, you look way too dark and orange.

Thanks for the input but I honestly don't think my tan looked orange. Slightly red and too dark, yes, but I never saw myself as being orange. It's probably just monitor settings or something. I don't mean to sound rude either, just saying my two cents

 

[MACATTAK]

I can't say much because I tan during the summer, but if you can afford it definitely do the spray tan. It's going to save you in the long run, plus the fact that skin cancer does run in your family (though I know it doesn't have to to get it). OT, but I completely love your hair blonde in the 2nd pic

(of course you look just as gorgeous now)

 

[user79]

I think you look better with a more natural look, imo the tanned pics, the tan looks too much.