Tanning is one of America’s favorite summer past times. People sunbathe while swimming at the beach or the pool, while fishing, or working outside. Others enjoy browning their skin all year round. They visit sun tan studios, sign a year-long contract, and lie in a bed of UV rays a few times per week to work on their tan during seasons when natural sunlight is rather limited.

Tanning provides what many people seek: Relaxation in a warm surrounding after a long day at work, while enhancing their appearance at the same time. Darker skin has long been associated with increased physical and sexual attractiveness in both men and women. Many people place great value on having a skin color that will make them feel more youthful and alluring, and potentially elicit favorable responses from the opposite sex. To obtain an even, natural bronze look, however, tanning must be done correctly. Most avid tanners do not desire tan lines as proof of their tanning efforts. Avoiding tan lines has become one of the foremost priorities of tanning salon visitors and thousands of products are sold annually that help facilitate the process of acquiring an even tan.

For people not interested in tanning and seeking to avoid sun-related tan lines, it is easiest to cover up, apply sunscreen, or simply steer clear of the sun. http://www.videojug.com/article/top-5-ways-to-prevent-tan-lines However, for those desiring darker skin by means of UV ray exposure, it becomes a bit more difficult to ensure a smooth, uniform-looking tan. Fortunately, there are a number of ways, from nude tanning to special products, to even out a tan when using a tanning bed or soaking up natural sunlight. Follow the steps below to learn how to avoid tan lines.

When trying to acquire an awe-inspiring all-body tan, you should first consider where you would like to go tanning.

1. Sunbathing vs. Tanning: A day at the beach or lake can provide lots of fun, but sometimes the options are limited for sunbathers who desire a more uniform tan for their body. You may prefer to find an appropriate outdoor location that you can utilize for sunbathing or you may enjoy the privacy that a tanning booth at a local sun tan studio has to offer.

2. Find a Private or Nude Beach: If you decide to tan in the nude then one of your options would be to do so outdoors. In nature, acquiring a bronze tan can be equally relaxing and enjoyable. Yet, you should do your homework and try to find locations in your area that would accommodate your needs sufficiently. Look for private beaches or lakes that have low tourist or visitor flow and allow you to sunbathe without clothing if desired. Some areas may have specific nude beaches available to visitors planning on improving their tan.http://www.howtodothings.com/fashion-personal-care/avoid-tan-lines

3. Adjust your Clothing during Outdoor Tanning: If you decide to spend the day at a public outdoor location with many tourists or families present, you can still prevent some of the unwanted tan lines, by either adjusting your bikini or tank top straps or by wearing loose, thin clothing that does not prevent the penetration of UV rays.http://www.howtodothings.com/fashion-personal-care/avoid-tan-lines There are also a number of tan-through swimsuits available that prevent tan lines by allowing your body to tan beneath your bikini.http://www.cooltan.com/

4. Locate a Suitable Tanning Salon in Your Area: Take tours of local tanning salons and ask questions about their equipment, its proficiency, regular maintenance, and safety. Once you find a salon you like, try out their different tanning booths to determine which would work best for you. Most salons have tanning beds with different levels of UVA or UVB exposure and offer beds to lie on as well as booths in which you can stand up and tan or receive a spa spray on tan. Many tanning salons may also offer a free or reduced price trial period. When utilizing the equipment, you may then elect to tan without any type of clothing to eliminate tan lines.

1. Do Your Research: Prior to exposing your skin to any form of UV rays, find out first about any potential health implications that may pertain to you. Know your skin type and how much sun you can safely be exposed to during a tanning session.

2. Set Appropriate Tanning Times: If using a tanning salon, ask the employees about appropriate tanning times for your skin type. Try to limit exposure to UV rays to the recommended tanning time and avoid the temptation to tan on consecutive days simply to even out a tan.

3. Prevent Burns: When seeking to avoid tan lines while tanning, you will likely expose several sensitive areas of your body, such as your breasts, nipples, and pubic area to UVA and UVB rays for extended amounts of time to achieve a more even tan. Be careful not to overexpose these areas, as they are more prone to burns from sun or tanning beds than the more commonly exposed areas of your body. When tanning outdoors, try to avoid the sun during peak hours, when its rays are most harmful to prevent sunburns that can damage the skin or greatly enhance the appearance of unwanted tan lines.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Wmkefj2--4

If you have developed tan lines in certain bodily areas due to tanning outdoors with bathing suits or other articles of clothing, there are several options available to reduce the vivid effects of these pale areas.

1. Apply a Self-Tanning Lotion: You can always apply one of the dozens of self-tanning creams or lotions available on the market today to pale areas. In most cases, the tan lines can easily be camouflaged with the correct shade of self-tanner. Remember to apply any self-tanner with gloves to avoid stained palms and to reapply as needed.

2. Make Use of Body Makeup: When faced with a situation in which your tan lines would be publicly displayed, you may opt to apply body makeup of a similar shade to the pale areas. Body makeup is designed to cover larger, untanned bodily areas and give the appearance of a uniform tan. However, application of body makeup to pale areas covered by clothing may take up to several hours to achieve the desired results. Concealer that resembles the color of your tan may also work for smaller areas, such as for tan lines created by wearing goggles.http://www.campusmen.com/male-modeling/body-makeup.html

3. Try Out Alternatives : If after tanning outdoors you have developed tan lines, you may try to lessen the effects by exfoliating your skin or applying a scrub. One easy way of preparing your own scrub is to mix approximately one cup of baking soda with one-half cup of water . Use this mixture to scrub the area containing the tan lines to achieve a softer appearance.http://www.dailyglow.com/skin-care-tips/how-to-reduce-skin-tan-and-lighten-skin-pigmentation.html