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Q: Why do I need to tan for stage?
A: Bright Lights! No matter how olive or dark your skin might be, it always
appears pale onstage. I actually made the mistake once of thinking my "summer"
tan would be enough for a competition, but after seeing the pictures I
knew that I had been the lightest person on the stage that day! You couldn't
even see my definition up close. I'll never make that mistake again.
Q: How do you get your tan?
A: I used Pro-Tan (the bottled paint-on bronzer) during my first season, but I didn't like how long it took to apply, the streaking, and how easily it came off when I was sweating (yes, you tend to that on stage in front of those hot lights!), not to mention, the stains on my outfits. It is still very common to see competitors using Pro-Tan at the shows and maybe they've mastered its use better than I did, but I decided I didn't want to "paint" myself anymore. I also used Dream Tan, but it was so thick, I felt as if I was applying a facial mask to my body. Anyone that touched me was stained for life. It's the kind of stuff bodybuilders use to get their darker than dark tans for posing but definitely not the stuff you want on you went you are flipping around on the floor like we do. A lot competitors like Jan Tana products like the powder and many girls opt to do the Mystic Tan (airbrush system) but you have to worry about getting in the water for
shoots and the Mystic tends to peel after 7 -10 days which turns out to
be bad if you have competitions scheduled back-to-back. After experimenting
with different tanners for a while, I found a tanning schedule that seems
to work for me and my skintone (light to medium, olive-skin):
Six (6) to eight (8) weeks prior to competition:
I begin using an indoor tanning bed 2 - 3 times a week making sure to lie
face-up and face-down on alternate occasions. The tanning beds I choose
are normally the upgraded models that take 15 minutes or less because they
are usually newer and I save time. I choose indoor tanning because I don't
like the thought of lying out naked on the beach to avoid tan lines, but
maybe that's just me.
Two (2) weeks prior to competition:
I up my tanning visits to 4 - 5 times a week.
Two (2) days prior to competition:
I apply a coat of Coppertone Endless Summer - Dark to my body and lightly on my face, letting it dry for a 1/2 hour before
putting on a long-sleeve T-shirt and pants to sleep in overnight. I like
the Coppertone because it's a lotion and goes on smooth without irritating
my skin. I still wear gloves to put it on, so I don't get those orange
palms. Then next day, I wash lightly with soap and pat my skin dry after
showering to avoid getting uneven patches. I am careful to wear clothes
that wash easily, even though, it doesn't seem to stain my clothes like
the other tanners used to do.
The night before competition:
I apply a second coat of the Coppertone and sleep in it overnight. I don't
apply it to my face on the second night unless the first coat was too light
(Makeup goes on over it anyway, so as long as the foundation and/or powder
matches, one coat should be fine). The next morning, after my shower, I
apply regular lotion to keep my skin smooth. Before going on stage, I sometimes
apply a very light coat of Baby Oil Gel for a little more sheen and a body
glitter.
The nice thing about the Coppertone is that I am usually one the few girls
at a competition shoot that doesn't mind getting in the water or worried
about stains on my suits.
Still have questions about tanners? Feel free to contact me.
