Summer is almost here and the warm weather is already enticing us to leave our homes and head to the beach. This means that many tanning salons are completely booked for the next month or so. For women, and even some men, it’s crucial to have that “base tan” before heading out in barely-there attire to the beach.

However, with the increase in risk of skin cancer, you may want to rethink the tanning bed.For about a year, I was an avid tanner. I went to the tanning salon about three times a week to get a good “base tan” and then cut back to once a week to maintain my new look. Being of medium skin tone made this process a lot easier.

Then I started to hear about all the risks of skin cancer that could be caused by my beloved tanning beds. Like many others, I was not aware of just how harmful these bulbs really are. In fact, the rays emitted from the tanning beds could be more harmful to the skin than the sun’s rays.

Think about this: The light bulbs have to give off enough energy to tan your skin in 20 minutes, yet it takes a couple of hours to get the same effect from the sun. Yikes!

It wasn’t until I found out that my friend’s mother had gotten skin cancer from the tanning beds that I really started to get scared. I stopped going to the salon almost immediately (I still wanted to get some color). A few months later, I met a woman that had melanoma, also from being addicted to the tanning beds. Now she has to be extra careful with sun protection. Once you get melanoma, you are at risk for other types of cancer, some that may cost you your life.

So what should you do if you still want that coveted bronzed skin but not the scary risks? How about self tanners? I know what you’re all thinking: “Self tanner? It’ll make me look orange and streaky. It’s too fake.” But hear me out before you make your final decision.

We’ve come a long way from the first generation of self tanners that did indeed leave our skin looking orange and streaky. However, there are now many new products on the market that can produce great results. Plus, we’ve been educated on how to properly apply these tanners over the last few years.

Some helpful tips for self tanning:

• Make sure to exfoliate and shave in order to get rid of any excess dead skin cells. You’ll be able to get more even coverage with smooth skin.
• DO NOT pick the darkest color available! It’s best to pick a shade that is about one or two shades darker than your normal skin tone. This will make your tan appear more natural and less George Hamilton.
• Apply small amounts at a time. Some tanners don’t produce results right away, it may take up to 24 hours for you to see final results. If it’s still too light for you, apply another layer, but remember not to over do it.
• Be sure to wash your hands right after applying tanner. You can then use a cotton ball to apply it on the top of your hands without the risk of your palms staining.
• Wait at least 20 minutes before getting dressed. This prevents your clothes from staining and causing you to have any awkward lines or streaks. Also, be sure not to shower for about 8 hours to ensure the product remains on your skin.

There are also several tanning salons that offer spray tans as an alternative to tanning beds. This has been made more popular recently by many celebrities in need of some quick color, most recently Mariah Carey and Britney Spears. It has been speculated that they used the spray tanning method to give the illusion of a toned abdomen…which could be an added bonus for those of us that can’t seem to get those washboard abs! It beats having to undergo an extensive cosmetic surgery procedure, such as liposuction or a tummy tuck.

However, it’s important to take some precaution when getting a spray tan. Be sure to close your eyes, mouth and not inhale when being sprayed. (It’s not a long process so you don’t have to worry about passing out, you can breathe when they finish your face.) Some people like to take goggles and nose plugs to make sure the product doesn’t get to these areas. One of the great advantages of spray tanning is that you get an even, full body tan. There’s a very minimal risk of streaking and many salons offer touch-ups should this happen.

With all of this new information, we can still have that glowing skin without having to worry about our health. Just be sure to protect your skin when going outdoors, wear sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. Also, try on a new stylish hat and sunglasses for added protection. You can protect your skin and still look fashionable! Protecting your skin will also prevent you from needing to get Botox injections or another form of facial surgery for those wrinkles that accompany sun damage.

Let us know what your favorite sunless tanning method is!

Photo Credits: Not exclusive to Beauty Chat! We found these fab shots on cool sites like http://blog.vibe.com (Mariah Carey’s pic).