“Just how do I tan my legs fast?” is such a legit question.
Like.. why do my legs take so long to get their golden glow, or why does the rest of my body tan faster than my hooves?
Trust me, we’ve all been there and banged our heads on the wall looking for the answer.
But, seek, and it shall be found; the answer now awaits you, dear readers, as you soak up the sun and walk out looking like bronze Goddesses (and Gods!)
CHECK: 5 Best Tanning Bed Lotions
Table of Contents
Why Won’t My Legs Tan?
Too often, we’ve walked out of the tanning salon with torsos that have darker skin than our legs. And this has happened even when getting our tans under natural sunlight.
But, after relentless researching and experimentation, we now know why legs tan slower than the rest of your body. Prepare to enrich your knowledge as we reveal leg tanning secrets.
Less Melanin Production
As Medline explains, “Darker areas of skin (or an area that tans more easily) occur when you have more melanin or overactive melanocytes.”
So, it stands to reason that if you have LESS melanin in a specific part of your body, it will tan slower.
Now, I’ve seen countless “how do I tan my legs faster” articles that all say the same thing: legs naturally produce less melanin.
That’s not actually true, at least not for ALL legs. However, it’s possible that YOUR legs are hypopigmented (lacking melanin).
If that’s the case, then yes, your legs will tan more slowly than the rest of your body.
READ MORE: How Much Are Tanning Bed Bulbs?
Legs Have Thicker Skin
The reason your legs don’t readily get that amazing skin tone than the rest of your body is that leg skin is thicker.
No matter what methods of tanning you adopt, it is harder for the sunlight or gradual tanning lotion to penetrate into the layer of skin.
Wondering a tanning lotion can help? Watch this video below
Skin is Drier in the Legs
As if having thick skin weren’t enough, our legs also have dry skin and a lot of dead skin due to the lack of exfoliation.
Tans usually stick better to hydrated and soft skin, which is another reason why it sticks better to other parts of your body.
You Remove Leg Hair After the Tanning Process
If only we had hairless, smooth skin every day with no hassle. (Sigh!) But the truth is, hair removal from legs is a significant factor in how long our tan stays.
Regardless of hair removal methods, doing so can deter our goal of getting our faux glow on.
READ MORE: What Does Tanning Bed Rash Look Like?
Tan Your Legs Fast With These 6 Tips
Now that we have successfully identified the culprits that keep us from getting the tan of our dreams, here are some tanning tips to get you that sun-kissed glow.
1. Exfoliate First
Before getting your tan under direct sunlight or getting help from some of the best indoor tanning lotions for legs, make sure you have really, really exfoliated the skin.
It is best to show up to your tanning session with smooth and well-hydrated legs if you wish for a tan that lasts longer and looks better.
2. Shave and Wax Carefully
It is best to shave, wax or use a hair removal cream 12 hours prior to getting your tan on. If done after, you may have open pores, which is not a good idea.
Also, you will need the tan to stick on your body for some time before disturbing it. It may be best to remove leg hair only after three days of getting the tan.
3. Avoid Tight Clothes
One of the reasons why our tan fades faster than the rest of our body is because we wear tight jeans or leggings.
Not only do we risk staining our favorite pair of jeans (if we’ve got a fake tan) but also getting an uneven skin tone. It is best to stick to flowy dresses and pants that promote air circulation in your lower half.
4. Position Yourself Right in Sunbeds
Most tanning beds are built in such a way that they target the upper body better than your lower body.
If you feel that the tan has become uneven, go for sunbed sessions again. But this time, cover the upper part of your body and focus only on the legs.
5. Moisturize
Make sure you moisturize properly before the tanning process and after it is over. Smooth and hydrated skin absorbs UV light better and intensifies melanin production.
Regular application of moisturizer afterward ensures that the tan doesn’t fade away prematurely.
6. Use Tanning Accelerators
To get the same color as the rest of your body, you may wish to make use of tanning accelerators that can supplement the activation of melanin in your legs.
There are plenty of tanners with natural ingredients to choose from.
Check: Celebrity Self Tanner Products to Try
FAQs
Do you tan better with shaved legs?
Why do the bottoms of my legs not tan?
Do tan legs hide cellulite?
Does tanning your legs make them look slimmer?
What is the best way to tan legs in the sun?
How long does it take to tan your legs?
Getting a tan on your legs may have been the hardest thing to achieve, but not anymore!
Do test out some of these tanning tips and let us know whether or not they work on giving you legs to die for!
Make sure not to overdo it, of course, and always wear an SPF, even on gloomy days.
References
- “Abnormally Dark or Light Skin: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia.” 2018. Medlineplus.gov. 2018. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003242.htm.
- Alaluf, Simon, Derek Atkins, Karen Barrett, Margaret Blount, Nik Carter, and Alan Heath. 2002. “Ethnic Variation in Melanin Content and Composition in Photoexposed and Photoprotected Human Skin.” Pigment Cell Research 15 (2): 112–18. https://doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-0749.2002.1o071.x.
- “Why Won’t My Legs Tan? Tips to Tan Your Legs Fast.” 2019. Tanning Girl. January 26, 2019. https://tanninggirl.com/why-wont-my-legs-tan/.
Do you have other tips on how to tan legs fast? We’d like to hear them below!
