Tanning beds have many benefits, such as giving you a golden, radiant tan without needing to sit in the sun, but there are some downfalls to them too!
One concern is that the UV rays from the tanning beds can dry out your hair over time, and this could cause damage and breakage. There are some ways you can protect your hair in a tanning bed, and some things you should avoid.
Can you tan in a tanning bed with wet hair? It is not advised to tan with wet hair when in a tanning bed, as this could further damage your hair. It is actually recommended that you protect your hair while in a tanning bed, and having wet hair can just make this more difficult.
Read on to find out more about tanning with wet hair in a tanning bed, and some other tips on how to not damage your hair while tanning!
Are Tanning Beds Bad For Your Hair?
Your hair might not be the first thing you think of protecting when using a tanning bed, as you would be more focused on your skin and making sure you tan and don’t burn, but you do need to be wary of the effect UV rays can have on your hair.
UV rays from the sun and from a tanning bed can dry out your hair, and if you expose your hair to UV rays often, it could lead to dry hair that is brittle and which breaks easily.
It can be quite difficult to bring back moisture to your hair once it reaches a certain dryness, and this can be made even more difficult if you keep spending time in a tanning bed.
Not only can the UV rays dry your hair, but they can cause hair dye to fade as well. Color-treated, permed, or bleached hair should all be protected in a tanning bed, as it tends to be more porous and therefore more susceptible to fading.
When in a tanning bed, it is best to protect your hair, to prevent it from drying out, and to ensure it is kept in the best color and condition!
Why Your Hair Should Not Be Wet When Tanning
When using a sunbed, you need to properly prepare your skin, and your hair, for exposure to UV rays.
Your skin should be protected with tanning lotions and have been exfoliated and moisturized before the sunbed, and preparation needs to be done for your hair as well!
One thing to avoid is having wet hair when using a tanning bed. The water in your hair will not help to provide moisture and can instead reflect and amplify the UV rays, causing even more drying and damage, and it could even cause your scalp to burn more.
It is also a good idea to have some protection on your hair when using a tanning bed, such as a UV-protecting shower cap or similar.
If you are going to be using anything on your hair when using a tanning bed, then you should look for conditioners or sprays that have built-in UV protection. These can help protect the color of your hair and prevent it from drying out.
Rather avoid wet hair when using a tanning bed, and instead focus on providing your hair with the right protection, so your gorgeous tan matches your gorgeous hair!
The Risks Of Tanning With Wet Hair
To further understand why you shouldn’t use a tanning bed while your hair is wet, here are some of the risks and cons of doing so!
Amplified Damage
Having wet hair can amplify the damage done to your hair, and how much it dries out from exposure to UV rays.
Water tends to reflect UV rays back onto your skin, and this can lead to sunburn, but when your hair is wet, this could mean that the UV rays could have more of an effect on your hair when it comes to drying, and it could lead to your scalp becoming burned and red.
Uneven Tanning
Depending on how wet your hair is, it could lead to uneven tanning. If your hair is very wet and is dripping water onto your skin, the tan you get from the tanning bed can be patchy.
The water that drips onto your skin could affect the tanning lotion on your skin, or it could wash away any sunscreen you are using that is not water-resistant. This means that small areas of your skin will either burn or not tan as well as the rest of your body.
This will most likely happen on your neck and shoulders, and possibly even your face if the water drips down there.
Water Could Disrupt Tanning Process
When using a tanning bed, you are not supposed to shower for at least two hours after the tanning bed session. The reason for this is that your skin will still continue with the tanning process after you have left the tanning bed, and water can disrupt this.
So having wet hair during the tanning session, and hair that is still wet after coming out of the tanning bed means that it could drip down or touch your skin, and cause a disruption in how your tan develops.
Once again, this can lead to patches and streaks, which cause an uneven tan.
The Effect Showering Has On Skin
Your hair will likely be wet from showering, and this can be a problem with how your tan develops in the tanning bed, as you shouldn’t shower so soon before your tanning session.
Showering too soon before using the tanning bed can cause your pores to open and this can create spots and patches where the tan develops darker than in other areas.
It is best to shower, exfoliate and shave the day before your tanning bed session, as this is the best time to prepare your skin for the tan, but still allow enough time for your skin to heal before it is exposed to UV rays.
So, if you shower within the right time frame before the tanning bed session, your hair should not be wet, and if your hair is still wet when you get into the tanning bed, then you have probably showered too soon before!
Should I Wash My Hair Before Tanning In A Tanning Bed?
You can wash your hair before using a tanning bed, and it might be a good idea to do so so that you can extend the time you need to shower after using the tanning bed.
However, if you do decide to wash your hair before using a tanning bed, you should make sure to dry it before getting into the tanning bed. If you can, allow it to air dry so your hair is not exposed to high heat before being exposed to UV rays.
Wash your hair with a shampoo and conditioner that have UV protection, so your hair is kept better protected from the UV rays, even if you are covering it with something.
Can I Have A Spray Tan With Wet Hair?
Just like you should not use a tanning bed with wet hair, you should avoid having wet hair when you have a spray tan done.
The spray tan technician will probably not even want to apply the spray tan formula to your skin if your hair is wet, as there is too much risk that the water from your hair could drip down and wash away some of the spray tan formula before it has developed and cause noticeable patches and streaks.
You can wash your hair before a spray tan appointment, but give yourself enough time to dry your hair first.
Can I Tan In A Tanning Bed With Wet Hair?
When possible, you should avoid tanning in a tanning bed with wet hair, as it could cause your hair even more damage.
Tanning beds, and the UV rays, can dry out your hair and cause burning on your scalp, so it is best to keep your hair protected when tanning your skin.
If you are unsure, chat to your tanning salon technician to ask for their advice on protecting your hair and your scalp when tanning!
Related Questions
How do you protect your hair when in a tanning bed?
There are a few ways that you can protect your hair in a tanning bed. You can use a shower cap to protect your hair and scalp, use a headscarf or a bandana, or you could use a large headband, which can also be used to tuck your hair under.
Can I tan after dyeing my hair?
Whether you can tan after dyeing your hair will depend on the hair dye you have used and how your scalp has responded to it. If your scalp is sensitive after dyeing, avoid a tanning bed, or use some sort of cover or protection to prevent UV rays from reaching your scalp.
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