There are many ways you can tan other than under the sun at the beach. Even though it is winter, many people still want that tan. You can either lay in a tanning bed, go get a spray tan, or self tan yourself at home.

Tanning beds can seem like a quick and easy solution to being pale but is it really worth the price? Indoor tanning can increase the risk of developing the two most common types of skin cancer, squamous cell carcinoma by 58% and basal cell carcinoma by 24%.  Especially if you lay in tanning beds in your teens, the risks go way up. There is no such thing as a safe tanning bed, you are lying under straight UV light. Along with increasing your risks to so many types of cancers it can also cause aging, sunburn, serious injury, eye damage, etc. You cannot gain any vitamin D whatsoever by doing this. Quitting this can even expand your lifespan.

There are many other ways to tan all year round without the risks but some people still choose this. Weedsport senior and New Visions student Lauren DeJohn gave some insight on what it is like, and why she stopped: “I started using the tanning bed to keep my tan from the summer while entering the colder seasons.” Lauren said she knew it was bad for her and became a little paranoid that she may be making poor decisions for her health, hence why she decided to stop. Staying tan is a pro, but it is a pro that does not outweigh the con of potentially developing skin cancer. 

Spray tan, in my opinion, is not the overall best decision based on the finished look, but 100% better than a tanning bed for your health. You can either go to a tanning salon and they have automated booths where you can get it done, or you can go to someone who sprays people themselves. Personally, because of my skin tone I feel like spray tan booths leave me very orange but a ton of people love them. I’ve also heard many people say it looks much better when someone does it instead of a machine. But if you need a quick tan, I definitely recommend stepping into the spray tan booth for 5 minutes over laying in a tanning booth for even 1 minute. Weedsport senior Zoey Powers has some things to say about her experience with spray tanning:

She chooses spray tans because they are very quick and have a lasting result of like two weeks. Pros: They are pretty even on the body color wise. Cons: They can be expensive if you don’t go when they have deals, and they smell. 

The most popular tanning method among teen girls is definitely self tanning. If you’re craving your summer glow, this is the easiest, safest, option. You can go to any local store and they have so many you can try. Some are immediate results and some you let sit overnight. I don’t love the self tan smell, but at least if it’s streaky or not the right color for me it can be gone in a few good scrubs in the shower. Me and most of my friends frequently self tan. It’s the easiest method for keeping a little more tan in the winter. Just make sure you shave and exfoliate before for the best results – just like if you went and got sprayed. A fan favorite is definitely B-Tan. Weedsport’s Senior Mackenzie Strong says that is her favorite. Here are some of her tips, tricks, and opinions on self tanning:  

Tips- Make sure to shave and exfoliate, moisturize before you tan, use a brush or a beauty blender for your hands/face. 

Tricks- Contour your face with self tan, wash your hands, and make sure it’s completely dry before you get dressed after. 

Opinions- Some pros are: “I get a lot of compliments about how tan I look,” it’s cheaper, it’s easier to add more or remove. Some cons are it can look orange or streaky depending on the tan and application. It takes a lot of effort sometimes when you don’t want to.

“I chose this option because it’s cheaper, and better for my skin and health.”