Topless tanning is a great way to ensure that you do not end up with pesky tan lines that are hard to blend in or hide, and it helps to give you a full, even tan all over!
The problem with this is that topless tanning can be difficult to do at first, and you might need a little bit of help getting started, as most of us aren’t used to going around topless when tanning!
So, what is the best way to topless tan? Topless tanning can be done quite easily, if you pick out the right place and time to do it, and if you take some precautionary measures. The skin on your breasts, and your nipples, is going to be more sensitive than the rest of your skin, so you need to protect it from burning.
Read on to find out all you need to know about topless tanning, so you can decide if it is the best option for you, and how to best go about topless tanning!
What Are The Risks With Topless Tanning?
The risks with topless tanning are very similar to the risk associated with tanning while wearing a swimsuit or clothes, the only difference is that more of your skin will now be exposed to the UV rays, and this skin is likely more sensitive than the skin which is usually tanned.
Your breasts are likely always covered by clothes and swimwear, so they would not have been able to build up a base tan like the rest of your skin. A base tan helps to prevent skin from burning too quickly in the sun.
The skin on your breasts might also be thinner than the rest of your body, and this means that it will burn quicker and be prone to more damage in the sun.
The other risk with topless tanning is burning your nipples. Your nipples are going to be very sensitive the first few times you tan topless, and they could burn really easily. Wearing clothes or a bra over sunburned nipples really isn’t a pleasant experience at all!
So, there are a few risks when it comes to topless tanning, but this is due to the fact that the skin which is exposed when topless would not have been exposed to the sun much before, and therefore will burn easily and become quite sensitive, but with the right protection, this can be avoided.
Should You Wear Sunscreen When Topless Tanning?
It is quite important to wear sunscreen when topless tanning. The skin on your breasts, which are usually covered, will burn quickly when exposed to UV rays, whether from the sun or in a tanning bed.
Using a light sunscreen, such as an SPF 15 or SPF 30, will help prevent your skin from burning, but will still allow it to build up a base tan. Over time, you will be able to build up a tan in that area without too much sunburn, but protection is needed at first.
If you are tanning topless in a sunbed, the salon might suggest that you use nipple covers. Nipple covers are small stickers that are placed over the nipples to protect them from sunburn. This doesn’t affect your tan at all, as there is no reason to want to tan your nipples.
If you do not use nipple covers, then be sure to use a strong sunscreen on your nipples, as they would burn very quickly and be very sensitive after exposure to UV rays.
Here are some great nipple covers to keep on hand for when you are wanting to tan topless in a tanning bed or at home:
Do You Burn More Easily When Topless Tanning?
With some care, your skin should not burn more easily when topless tanning, but if you do not use any extra sun protection for the sensitive areas of your skin, such as your nipples, then it will definitely feel like you burn more easily when topless tanning.
The same would be true for if you try to tan other areas of your body that don’t often see the sun, as these areas would not have built up natural protection to UV rays, and would therefore burn a lot quicker than other areas which are exposed to the sun regularly, such as your arms or shoulders.
Your skin will burn more easily when tanning topless if you do not expose that area of skin to the sun, but if you have been tanning topless for some time already, then it should not be too bad.
Just be sure to use sunscreen to reduce the chance of burning, and to instead build a bronzed, golden tan!
Where Can You Tan Topless?
One of the biggest obstacles with tanning topless is that you can’t just do it anywhere. You need to be quite careful with where you choose to topless tan, not just for your own privacy, but for the decency of others as well.
While you can’t just pick any old beach to tan topless on, you do have a few different options on where you can topless tan, so take a read through the below options to find the one that might suit you best:
Topless Tanning Beach
You will need to be quite careful on where you choose to tan topless, as different states have different rules, and you do not want to be caught out with a fine.
Check to see whether your state allows for topless tanning. If it does not, then you can instead look to find nude beaches near you.
Tanning topless is fairly different from tanning nude, so you will need to decide whether or not you are comfortable tanning topless around others who might be completely nude.
Your Backyard
You might be able to tan topless in your back garden if it is enclosed enough for neighbors to not see in, but still open enough to let the sun in.
Just keep in mind that your neighbors might not be happy seeing you walk around topless, and while there is not much they can do, make sure there are no cameras around!
Another option is to find an area in your home that lets in lots of natural sunlight and to tan topless there. There are some types of windows that prevent UV light from reaching through, but you should be able to build up a light tan next to a window, and you do not have to be outside topless.
Sunbed
Most tanning salons are more than happy to allow you to tan topless in a sunbed. They will likely request that you wear nipple covers to protect your nipples, but other than that there should be no issue with topless tanning.
It is a good idea though to let them know that you are planning to tan topless when you phone through to book your appointment, as they might have a more private room or bed they might recommend that you use.
Just remember that the UV rays from a tanning bed are intensified, so they can cause sunburn to areas of skin that are not tanned often, so letting your tanning technician know that you are tanning topless will allow them to give you recommendations on strength and tanning time.
Use Tan-Through Swimwear
There is a new type of swimwear which is tan-through. The materials used to make the swimwear consists of holes large enough to allow UV rays through but still offer some privacy, so you do not need to be completely topless.
These help for when you want to avoid tan lines, but you do not want to go completely topless outdoors or in a tanning bed.
The Pros And Cons Of Topless Tanning
If you are still undecided on whether tanning topless is for you, then it would help to have a look at the various pros and cons.
Topless Tanning Pros
There are obviously some pros that come with topless tanning, otherwise, it wouldn’t be a popular choice for many!
Here are the pros for topless tanning:
No Tan Lines
The main reason why people choose to tan topless is so that they do not develop tan lines. Your swimwear top will not give you tan lines that suit just about all your clothes, so chances are that the tan lines will show at some point.
Tanning topless means that you do not develop tan lines at all, so you do not have to worry about matching your clothes to your tan lines!
Less Sweating
Sitting in the sun, or in a tanning bed, can cause you to become hot and sweaty. When you tan topless, you will not need to worry about your top causing you to feel hot and sweaty.
This also reduces the chance that you develop a heat rash, which often appears under the breasts. It just feels a little more freeing not having to tan with a top on!
Added Comfort
It will be more comfortable tanning when you do not have swimsuit ties and knots digging into your skin, whether you are on a sun lounger or a sun bed. You won’t have to worry about moving the ties and straps around to avoid tan lines either.
Topless Tanning Cons
Just like with everything, topless tanning has cons as well as pros! Make sure to take a read through the below cons, to ensure that you understand the downsides of topless tanning before attempting it:
Locations are Limited
Chances are that nobody is going to stop you from tanning in a swimsuit on the beach, but they might have a problem with you tanning topless on a family beach!
Topless tanning is something that needs to be planned ahead of time, and you need to find a safe location where you can tan topless legally, and where you are not putting other people in an uncomfortable situation.
There are topless tanning beaches and nude beaches, but you might not feel comfortable being around others in the nude. The other viable option is a sunbed, and this gives you more control over the strength of UV rays your skin is exposed to, and it can be done in private.
Sunburn
If you do not take the proper precautions and use sunscreen or nipple covers, then there is a very good chance that your breasts and your nipples will end up quite sunburned.
They would not have built up the same natural resistance to the sun that the rest of your skin would have, so they will burn much quicker. You might not also realize how much your breasts and nipples have burned until after you have got out of the sun, and by then quite a bit of damage could have been done already.
Sensitivity
Your breasts and nipples will be much more sensitive to the sun than other areas of your body, as they would not be exposed to UV rays often at all.
This could lead to rashes and irritation on the skin, and as you cannot really walk around topless, this can be aggravated by the fact that you would have to wear clothes over your irritated breasts, which could cause them to feel much worse.
If this happens, an over-the-counter cream can help soothe the irritation, such as a cream containing aloe vera.
Tips For Tanning Topless
Before heading off to tan topless, take a look at the below tips that will help you tan topless safely, and help to develop a golden, even tan:
Use The Right Sunscreen
Make sure to use a high-SPF sunscreen on your nipples when tanning topless, and on your breasts too. This will protect the skin from burning, but it should still allow you to build up a tan as well.
Without this, you will land up with sore, sunburned, and damaged skin that will definitely not turn into a bronzed tan.
Tan Gradually
You cannot expect to develop a bronzed tan in just one tanning session, and attempting to do so will only see your skin becoming burned.
Avoid the sun between 12 pm and 2 pm, as this is when it will be at its strongest, and only try to tan before 10 am and after 4 pm.
Only spend a short amount of time in the sun with each session, so that you can gradually build up a tan over time.
Care For Your Skin
Once you have spent time in the sun, you should care for your skin with moisturizing lotions. The sun can be really drying on your skin, and to avoid this causing sensitivity and irritation, you can use a soothing gel to hydrate and calm the skin following a tanning session.
Final Thoughts
Topless tanning can be a great way for you to get a fuller, more even tan without tan lines, but you do have to put some thought into it.
You need to find a safe space to tan topless, whether it is in your back garden, a topless beach, or a sunbed, and you need to give your breasts and nipples some protection from sunscreen or nipple covers to not burn.
Take a read through the above to learn just about everything you need to know before topless tanning!
Related Questions
Can you tan nude in a sunbed?
Some tanning salons do allow you to tan in the nude, but you should ask this before turning up for your appointment.
What is 20 minutes in a tanning bed equivalent to?
20 minutes in a tanning bed is equivalent to around 2 hours on the beach during the day.
