Anyone using a sunbed before the wedding?

I also have a couple before a holiday to get "my base" as such although it's normally once a year for 3 or 4 sessions. I don't understand how people can go a couple of times a week (where do they get the time!!)

Anyway I agree with Trickers re timings.

On the spray tan route though I was thinking of having one but was a bit scared that I would have brown marks all over my dress (i've never had a spray tan before)

I was a regular sun bed user for about 5 years but havent been on them in about 3 years - im too scared. OH wants to hire one before the wedding but Ive said a big fa no!

Im a pro at doing my fake tan now and will do my own for wedding. I'll soak in a bath with baby oil & exfoliate before I go on honeymoon to get rid of the tan so theres none left on me for the honeymoon.

I know what you mean about a base colour & while evyerone is different - I dont think it helped me tan any better on holidays - I just felt better not being my usual pale.

But Im working hard at the gym to tone up so I dont feel so manky in my bikini for first few days.

Any kind of tan indicates a level of damage from exposure to UV rays, whether natural or artificial. Sunbeds cause cancer but so does the sun. The problem with sunbed use is that they often form part of a cosmetic routine that happens over and above normal UV damage from sunlight, thus the user is "over-exposed". We have a very high awareness of being out in the sun too long and I hope most of us use sunscreen as standard. Those self-regulation checkpoints are lost in the unfamiliar process of using a sunbed. People don't tend to crap themselves when they get a bit red or burnt in natural sun but this is far worse for your skin that a couple of sensible sunbed sessions.

But, like I said, brown is brown and UV damage is UV damage and this is skin cancer. To worry about using a sunbed to get a "base tan" before happily going and soaking up the honeymoon sunshine for two weeks is somewhat a waste of energy.

Clurr just don't go too OTT - you don't want to look like you've been on hollybobs without Mr Clurr.

Couldnt agree more!

Slightly controversial it seems but I will definitely have a few sessions before the day. I am not a regular user but do pop for a session every now and again. I suffer terribly with SAD in the cold winter months and find that a tan makes me feel so much better.

As we all know baking yourself for hours is not a good idea but a little colour dusting is a great confidence booster without the orange

x

Couldn't agree more. I'm not an advocate for the sunbed industry or owt. The last time I had this discussion, I was receiving the advice of "Never go on a sunbed" from a girl with a tab in her hand, which you've got to laugh at.

Hi,

I used a sun bed before my wedding and went once a week for 4 weeks at 5 mins a time. I don't smoke, don't drink, I'm not obese, I don't lie out in the sun EVER, I wear suncream etc and therefore I weighed up the risks and am happy.

I'd recommend going on for the shortest time available for the first couple of sessions.

Very true. Although Mr Ily is outside alot so it may be me trying to make sure I match him!

FTLOMB makes a good point. Most regular sunbed users probably sun worship as well, so it's hard to really know the effects of either in isolation. If it's just a one off I'm sure you'll be ok.

I will be hitting the sunbeds too before my wedding/honeymoon. To get a tan you need to go on 4 times in the first week and then to keep the tan, you need 1-2 times a week. I am quite dark and don't burn easily but even so I will start off at maybe 3 or 4 minutes and build up to 9 minutes. Always use the creams too as you can get a better colour.

I wanted to start this week but I've been on antibiotics which I'm allergic to and now look like Toad of Toad Hall so got to wait for the rash to go now tsk!

I used to use them quite often and this woman at work used to go on at me being "stupid" and making me look like a dick for using sunbeds. She was a 30 cigs a day woman. Lol.

Luckiyl im not naturally pale but do NOT like the colour a sunbed tan makes me, i look grubby and foreign!

I'll have Xen Tan for a fake tan and get it done in salon if i ever need a top up (mainly winter months!)

So nooooooooooooooooo from em to sunbeds, i dont want to look eastern european or dirty thanks **no offence to eastern europeans or dirty people**

I don't think this is necessarily true for everyone because within one 5 min session I am left with a tan. If I was to use a sunbed 4 times a week I'd be a totally unnatural false colour and have a Tango'd appearance ?

Probably not but it was just a sign I saw in the Sunbed Shop once.

I didn't know that sunbeds can make people go different colours than the sun makes them? I always just look tanned, it's not like you're adding an alien colour are you? Why does this happen?

Also a recommendation - if you can get on an OPENSUN bed, I have found these to be the best. You need less time on them, you seem to tan quicker and you don't tend to burn on them. They are not made of tubes like a normal sunbed, they are more like purple mirrored things (like a facial tanner). Anyway, they are v good.

As a regular on the subeds and also a sun worshipper... Yeah I know, sorry but I dont smoke (anymore), I dont drink etc so this is my one and only vice... however I dont agree with going on 4 times in the 1st week at all... you will be so burned and sore....

When I first started going on them I went on for 4 minutes and I now do 8 minutes, a week just to keep my tan topped up but not enough to make me looked tangoed..

However I do tan very easily and dont burn so anyone who may burn or does burn easily I would not advise to go on 4 times in the 1st week at all...

That's advertising for you!

I dunno, if you burn easily, I think you would be better having more sessions of less minutes to start with even if it's only 2 minutes every other day.

Like I said, it was just on a sign I saw once.

I suppose it's wrong for me to give out advice since I rarely burn.

Just had my first session since last June... INSTANT feel good factor. I know they are not good for you but I love a good sesh.

I'm claustrophobic so I will never go on a sunbed as the idea kind of freaks me out. I am debating whether to have a spray tan before the big day though.

How much is a St. Tropez tan? I want one done but am too scared by sun beds to try any of that malarky.

That's one of the things I like about the one I use, You're not closed in like a normal sunny. St Tropez is one of the better spraytan's colourwise, it just stinks. Ooh also, I would avoid any spraytans if you have blemishes or dry skin because it makes them go black.

Lol I know. It talks to you and everything. "Ergoline hopes you are please with the results of this tanning session"

I'm a red head so sunbeds are a no no for me but i dont like them anyway.

I am really pale i always have been and dont tan much in the sun, I'd rather be pale and interesting ?

Yeah, i think if you have a nice pale complexion and red hair I don't see the point in trying to look brown when it's not natural.

I am naturally quite dark (dark hair, dark eyes) so when I've not got a tan, my complexion is horrible and I look ill.

I went on sunbeds before my wedding - prob did about 2 a week for 3 weeks - oooo naughty me! but i am glad i did - i look nice and healthy in the photos and not like casper the ghost! Wedding dresses wash you the hell out at the best of times so i think its nice to have a bit of colour on your wedding day!