Are you finding it frustrating that you follow all the rules and tips for using a tanning bed, only for your legs to be lighter and less tanned than the rest of your body?
You are not alone! The legs are more difficult to tan compared to the rest of the body, and this is due to a few different factors. You do have to put a little more effort in, and pay your legs some special attention, to ensure your legs tan beautifully.
Why don’t legs tan as well as the rest of the body? There are a few reasons why the legs do not tan as well as the rest of the body. This is because melanin production is lower in the legs, the skin on the legs is thicker and more resistant to UV light, and we tend to shave or wax legs more often, which removes the tan from the top of the skin.
If you have difficulty tanning your legs, keep reading to find out more about why your legs don’t tan as well, and how you can give your legs a bronzed, even tan.
Why Is It Harder To Tan Legs?
Legs do take more effort and time to tan compared to the rest of your body, and this is due to a few different factors.
Here are some reasons why it is harder to tan legs:
1. Melanin Production
Melanin is responsible for skin pigmentation, and more melanin means a darker tan. UV rays help to activate and aid in the production of melanin, to darken the skin for a tan.
The problem is that the skin on your legs produces less melanin than other parts of your body, which is why it is harder to achieve a darker tan on your legs. This means that your legs will always tan less than the rest of your body.
2. Skin Is Thicker
The skin on your legs is thicker than other areas of your body, such as on your abdomen and arms, and this thickness and the makeup of the skin on your legs mean it is more resistant to UV light, and that UV rays do not penetrate the skin on your legs as easily.
The skin on your legs is also often drier too, so the outer layers are exfoliated more often, which then removes the tan you do have easier. Dry skin also does not tan as easily, which further adds to the problem.
3. Shaving And Waxing
If you shave and wax your legs often, then you might be removing the tan that you do have. Shaving and waxing your legs exfoliates the outer layer of your skin, which is where your tan would sit. So by shaving and waxing, you are removing your tan over and over again.
4. Tight Clothing
By wearing tight jeans and leggings, you might be hindering how well your legs tan. Skin needs some good air circulation to tan properly, and wearing tights and leggings could prohibit this.
These tight pants can also rub against the skin on your legs, and once again, exfoliate the tan off of your skin. To promote a better tan, you should opt for looser pants that will not restrict or rub against your legs as much.
Tips To Help Tan Legs
You do have to put some extra effort into caring for and tanning your legs, to ensure that they look as tanned and bronzed as the rest of your body.
Follow these tips to help tan your legs more:
1. Exfoliate Your Legs
This sounds a little counterproductive, as we said that one of the reasons why your legs don’t tan as well is because you might shave or wax your legs, but deliberate exfoliating before a tan is so important.
Exfoliate your legs with an exfoliating scrub the day before going into a tanning bed. This prepares the skin for a tan by leaving it soft and clean. Take a look at our article for The Best Exfoliating Scrubs For Legs.
Moisturize Your Skin
It is so important to moisturize your skin and to keep your legs hydrated and nourished. As your legs tend to be drier than the rest of your body, especially around your knees and ankles, you do have to try and moisturize more.
Moisturized, hydrated skin is able to tan much easier, and it helps to hold onto a tan longer too! We recommend an intensely hydrating lotion like this one from La Roche-Posay.
Do Not Wax Or Shave
Avoid waxing or shaving your legs up to two days after your self-tanning session. By waxing or shaving your legs in the day or two after a tan, you will be removing the top layer of your skin, which is where the tan is, and the tan on your legs will fade much quicker than the rest of your body.
Use Bronzer On Your Legs
If your legs just refuse to tan as much as the rest of your body, then you might want to use some bronzer (like one of our favorites from Onyx) to darken your tan. Try and choose a bronzer that is just a little bit darker than your skin tone, so that the bronze tan on your legs matches the natural tan on the rest of your body.
The bronzer will not last as long as the tan you get from a tanning bed, but it is easy enough to apply when you go out and just need a little bit more of a glow only on your legs.
Use Tanning Accelerators/Lotions
You should always use an indoor tanning lotion (like this one from Supre Snooki) when using a sunbed, but you might want to consider using a stronger tanning accelerator just for your legs.
This will help your legs make the most of the UV rays and absorb them more than the rest of your body, so they darken quicker than the other areas of your body.
You could also choose a tanning accelerator that contains a bronzer, so your legs are given an instant color while you work on building up the tan from there. This also helps you develop a base tan to build on.
How To Care For The Tan On Your Legs
Not only should you prepare your legs for a tan, but you need to care for your skin once you have spent time in a tanning bed, to help your tan last longer.
Below are some things to keep in mind in the days following a tan, which also apply to using self-tanner on your legs:
1. Avoid Waxing And Shaving
Once again, waxing and shaving need to be done at the right time to avoid ruining your tan. Do not wax or shave in the days following a tan.
You might want to wax or shave your legs a day or two before tanning so that you can stretch the period between wax or shaving longer.
2. Wear Loose Clothing
Avoid tight pants that might rub against your skin. Wear loose clothing that will allow your skin to breathe, and not sweat excessively.
To add to this, avoid rubbing your legs too much with a towel after showering or bathing, as this can also exfoliate your skin and reduce your tan.
3. Keep Moisturizing
Moisturizing before a tan is important, but it is just as important to moisturize after a tan too. By keeping your legs hydrated and nourished, they will not peel or flake, which can cause your tan to fade.
Use a hydrating moisturizer on your legs twice a day, especially when you have finished bathing or showering, to lock in as much moisture as possible.
Final Thoughts
Don’t feel like you are doing something wrong if your legs refuse to tan to the same color as the rest of your body!
Legs are always harder to tan as there is less melanin, the skin on your legs is thicker and drier and waxing and shaving removes the top layer of skin often, which can lead to a tan fading quickly.
There are some things that you can do to encourage your legs to tan better, such as exfoliating your legs before a tan, moisturizing your legs properly, and using a tan accelerator to help your legs catch up to the rest of your body.
If you can’t wait for your legs to catch up on tanning, then you can use a bronzer in the meantime for an instant bronzed glow!
Related Questions
Does tanning make your legs look better?
Tanning can help to give your legs a darker tone, and this can reduce the appearance of cellulite and fine lines. Tanning can also give definition to your legs. Just keep in mind that tanning for extended periods can also lead to skin aging.
Is 20 minutes enough to tan your legs?
There is no one set amount of time on how long you should tan, as to how quickly you develop a tan depends on the strength of the UV rays and your skin type.
Generally, in the summer months, you only need between 10-20 minutes to develop a base tan, and any more than this can be harmful to your skin. If you are spending more time in the sun, use a low SPF for some protection.
Up Next: Tanning Shades – Ultimate Guide To Spray Tan Colors
