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Why Won’t My Legs Tan? Tips to Tan Your Legs Fast


The love for the sun-kissed glow is ever ending. When your skin shines evenly with the caramel glow, it is your confidence that is boosted.

What if it shines unevenly?

Well, this can drop your confidence!

Haven’t you noticed your legs and body are of different shades after tanning, or it is so hard to even develop a tan in your legs?

It is quite natural that this worrying question pops up in your mind: “Why don’t my legs tan?”

If yes, don’t worry. You are not alone.

This is the most common issue faced by all the tanners.

We will see how to tan your legs in this article.

If you are a person with a lot of quires on grabbing the deep even tan in your legs, then keep on reading.

I’m going to share the facts behind why your legs are the difficult part to be tanned and how to get that smooth and gorgeous glow.

Why Won’t My Legs Tan

To be honest with you, your legs are are the hardest part to tan; especially the lower parts.

There are a lot of factors contributing to this.

In order to tackle any issue, you need to know the reason behind it. It is not a coincidence that your leg is not tanning the way you want.

Here are the various reasons contributing towards why the bottom half of your legs won’t tan:

  • A difference in melanin production

I don’t have to tell you that it is the production and activation of melanin that results in the darker shade of your skin.

But, our body doesn’t produce melanin in an even manner.

The skin on legs produces a lesser amount of melanin compared to the other parts of the body. This is the major reason why our legs tan lesser than other body parts.

  • Absorption of UV rays and dry skin

The skin of our legs is also different compared to the other body parts. It is much thicker and drier. This results in faster exfoliation.

Tan develops much better in fresh and smooth skin. Considering the dry and hard skin in legs, the reflection rate of UV rays is high compared to the absorption rate, resulting in poor and uneven tanning.

  • Blood circulation and aeration

Blood circulation and aeration also plays an important role in the development of the tan. As our wardrobe is filled with tight leggings and jeans, the possibility of aerated legs is less.

If you have noticed, you may realize that your legs are fully covered tight during the times other than tanning. Even though we tan during a specific period, the exposure to sun along with skin’s ability to breathe is very important for the color.

Consider spray tan or any other sunless tans, these tight dressings create friction and rub away the tan created.

  • Unplanned Hair removal

Shaving and waxing become the enemies of tanning if done after it. Since ladies are more into hair removal from legs, they tend to overdo shaving and waxing.

The same after the creation of tan leads to faster removal of tan along with hair. The dead top layer of skin which is colored is also pulled away during the hair removal procedure.

That is the major reason why hair removal is recommended before and after 3 or more days of tanning.

  • Hot baths and scrubs

Long hot baths are also reasons behind improper tanning in legs. Hot baths will result in quicker tan removal by softening the skin.

And while we are in bathtubs, there is a natural tendency to use a scrub or exfoliator.  As it is well known, unwanted scrubbing leads to removal of tan in an uneven manner.

The more gentle you are with your tanned skin, the more even and radiant the tan will be.

  • Tanning beds and intensity

Conventional tanning beds concentrate on the upper body and pay less attention to the leg area.

They were focusing more on the upper body parts. Since the upper body is the warmer region, there is a difference in the way the entire body tans.

If you can get fetch top quality tanning beds, you can get away from this situation.

  • Lack of proper Moisturization

Proper hydration is a must for a long lasting bronze look. Most of us fail to moisturize our skin, especially our legs before and after tanning. It is the lack of generous moisturization with a non-oil based cream or lotion which results in dry legs and unpleasant tanning experience.

Worried about all these?

Brush away your fears. We do have the perfect solutions for you.

Having said this much, it doesn’t mean that tanning your legs is an impossible thing. If considering some of most practiced tanning tips and tricks, you can achieve the desired result without many dilemmas.

Let us have a closer look at how to tan your legs.

How To Tan Legs?

We have come to the most important part of this article.

No getting proper brown color in the lower part of your body is really a concern for almost all those who tan.

But the best thing is that you can get your legs tanned by all the tanning methods available in the world. You need to take some proper care for this.

I believe, it will be much fruitful if you analyze the best way of tanning legs under different popular methods of tanning.

Let’s start with the most common tanning method.

How to Tan Your Legs in a Tanning bed

When it comes to the artificial methods of tanning, no doubt, the tanning bed is the first preference. It is the fastest and efficient way to achieve the sun-kissed look without the sun!

However, as mentioned above, depending on the intensity and focus of the lights the color development also differs among various body parts.

But we can see that the flawless tanned legs are not an unachievable dream, even in tanning beds.

What if I tell you that by preparing your legs and adjusting your posture, you can achieve and maintain the glow you dreamt for? Below are the things you should follow to get an even tan on your legs while using tanning beds.

Extra Care For Legs

To make the skin cells on your legs silky smooth and fresh for the tan, you need to show some extra care to your legs. Proper exfoliation and deep hydration are recommended at least a week before the tanning session.

Exfoliate your legs using a hydrating scrub. Since your skin on legs tends to dry up faster, a chemical-free or organic homemade scrub is recommended. Simply some raw brown sugar mixed in olive oil can do magic on your legs.

The generous application of a non-clogging moisturizing lotion is a must to maintain the so created baby soft skin. Products containing macadamia or almond oils can be beneficial. I would recommend choosing a product according to your skin type after a patch test.

However, avoid application of moisturizer within 6 hours before the procedure to ensure proper absorption of the UV rays.

Shaving And Waxing

I have seen many people unknowingly damage the proper development of tan with an unplanned shaving and waxing schedule.

Hair removal is to be done at least 12 hours before the session to avoid open pores. Having a shave done before the session will enhance the freshness and softness of the skin. Do not schedule any waxing session after the tanning session.

You need to let the tan develop over time without disturbing it.

In case of emergency shaving after the session, do consider it after 3 days and also using a new and sharp razor.

Best Postures to Tan Your Legs in Tanning Bed

The wrong posture is the main reason you don’t get tan on your legs. Most of the people fail to develop proper tan on their legs because of their wrong posture.

You need to be cautious about the way you lie in the tanning bed. You need to part your legs considerably so that the rays hit all sides of your legs.

You need to flip your sides and ensure that there is no left out pressure points. After one session if you feel that your upper body tanned darker than your legs, in the following session you can cover the upper body and expose the legs alone.

Have a chat with the salon regarding your experience and issue to come up with a feasible and custom made solution.

Proper After Care for Proper Development of Tan on Legs

Without proper care after the tanning session, you will not get that amazing skin tone. You need to be very careful about the tanned skin at least in the first few days.

You need to hydrate your skin and body inside out. Drink a lot of water and apply a good amount of oil-free moisturizers and lotions.

You can use tan accelerators and developers if found needed. Consider the basic aftercare routine. Take care while showering and do not rub your skin with a towel, only pat dry it. If needed you can top the base tan with a self-usable spray tan or tan cream.

Ways To Tan Your Legs Under Sun

Sunbathing is never out of fashion. To create the gradual brown hint, the cheapest and comfortable way is to lie under the sun with ease.

Considering some tips and tricks you can tackle the issue of uneven tan in legs. The same prep tips of proper exfoliation and moisturizer apply here also. Along with that, a sunscreen of a minimum SPF 30 is required.

Find a place with unobstructed sunlight and go for it. Choose the time before 10 am and after 4 pm for safe tanning. Dress appropriately and expose your lovely legs to the fullest for better results.

Change your position frequently and consider sideways with parted legs. Always keep your legs apart for even exposure and tan development.

Once your base tan is developed in a couple of days, in case of lighter legs issue, consider tanning your legs alone by covering your upper body or sitting under shade and extending your legs out.

Care for your tan just, as usual, keep it hydrated and shining.

How To Tan Legs Using Spray Tan

Spray tan is the busy women’s way for perfection. This painless and strain-free procedure is the most loved fake tanning method.

In my opinion, spray tanning is the best way to achieve that perfect glow on your legs. If you find it difficult to get tanned legs using spray tan, then wholly it is your fault (oops).

Spray tan asks for special attention and proper aftercare. Once you apply the product over the prepared skin, you must wait until it is dried to dress up.

DO NOT wear tight and skin fit garments. The tighter the dress the faster is the tan removal. You need to avoid all the possibilities of creation of friction on your skin. Jeans and leggings will reduce the chances of tan development by disturbing the air circulation to legs.

In order to properly get even tan on your feet, avoid wearing shoes. Flipflops should be your companion while going for spray tan if you don’t want to damage the sprays on your feet.

Moreover, always wear loose and comfy clothes to maintain the long-lasting and even glow. Do not exfoliate your skin when not needed to avoid patchy fading. More pre-spray tan tips that will help your legs to get an even tan can be found here.

You should practice recommended spray tan aftercare tips and never forget to moisturize. If the legs are way paler than the rest of your body you can consider a darker shade for the legs alone to catch up.

Wrapping Up

Getting a proper and gentle looking tan is no magic. If properly done, any method of tanning can give you the look others envy. It is an art to master.

You should never complain that my legs won’t tan anymore. We have given all the tips required to get perfect dark legs.

Treat your legs with extra care to avoid the issues of uneven and nongradual tanning. You can go for specific products for legs if nothing works.

Be patient and engage in gentle leg care with better products. If good attention is paid both before and after the procedure, you will never be dissatisfied with the variation.

Stand boldly with tanned legs!

Stella Cristin

I'm Stella. I have always been drawn to beauty and health products that make a change in our life. I have been working in various tanning salons in my neighborhood to help people like me to get a beautiful and healthy tan. My passion is to help people learn about safe tanning.

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