Whether it be a sun-kissed shine or a rich glow, the suntanned look isn’t a fad that is likely to disappear anytime, among both women and men. Whether it be the middle of January, or a hot, August day, a great tan continues to be a highly coveted look of youthfulness, even for men. The only problem is? You guessed it… the sun. The traditional means of obtaining that highly coveted bronze is the one thing besides cigarette smoke that can do intense damage to our skin. So what are your other options? There are a few. Some may be more familiar to women since men have recently begun catching-up to the trend of chasing the sun-kissed look, but all methods are being increasingly marketed towards and utilized by men, as well as women, as both genders seek the youthful glow, without the harmful affects.

Salon Tanning

Salon tanning comes in two forms, one of which is quickly loosing its popularity because of its harmful affects on the skin that mock those of overexposure to the sun. The once popular tanning booths expose eager tan-goers to the same ultraviolet rays as sunlight, causing premature aging and the potential for development of melanoma – cancer of the skin. It took a while, but thanks to intense urging from dermatologists and doctors, men and women began heeding the warnings, prompting salons to adopt new services to offer in the way of sunless tanning. This gave birth to spray tanning.

Spray tanning can be applied by a spa professional or in a booth. Sunless tanning in the salon gets mixed reviews. Like the previous form of tanning, men must go a few times before seeing results usually and must continue regular sessions to maintain their glow. Also, some men are intimidated by the thought of having spa staff apply spray tanning since it usually requires that you are completely unclothed, so some opt for the booth version of spray tanning. The down side of spray tanning is that it can tend to look orange.

Sunless Tanning At Home

Nowadays there are several products men can purchase to obtain a sunless tan at home. Sprays, foams, and creams all make the list. Specifically for men, foams may be the best since these can easily be applied to areas with hair growth. Keep in mind that sprays can best be applied with a sponge so as to avoid streaking or spotting. If you want want a glow for the face, dermatologists do not recommend using the same self-tanner on the face as you would the body, as this may contribute to irritation when shaving, but rather a sunscreen that has a slight tint to it. Exfoliating before applying self-tanner will also reduce redness and irritation.

For men who have receeding hair lines or have a completely bare head, self-tanner can be applied to the head, but experts recommend exfoliation and application in smaller amounts at a time as to avoid irritation to hair follicles that are exposed to shaving. Men that may be concerned about the smell of self-tanners have a few to choose from that offer odor-free lines. Additionally, men also need to be aware that self-tanner does not protect skin from the sun and must therefore take the necessary precautions.

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