Is it me or has tanning for Black women become a thing, or were we just sleeping on it? Mention the word tanning to a Black lady a few years back and you would have been ridiculed.

Now it seems like the practice is now part of our norm. Judging by a poll we ran on Instagram last month it seems that Black women have been merrily tanning themselves for a while. We decided to look into this.

So why would a Black woman tan?

For some tanning isn’t just about darkening your skin, it’s about giving your skin a lovely glow. Beauty influencer, Louise Keane says, “I use tanner to even out my skin tone as I have areas of my skin that are a few shades lighter than the majority of my body.”

Anthonia Ademuyiwa is the co-founder of Iseda’s Garden, which is a salon in London that enables people of colour to get a spray tan from someone who looks like them, which builds trust and makes the experience comfortable.

“A well-applied spray tan leaves your skin looking sun-kissed, glowing, and healthy,” she says. “Using fake tan on skin naturally rich in melanin gives a beautifully bronzed glow. It helps to even out skin tone and camouflages scars and blemishes, which is something that several people of colour deal with.”

You could consider tanning to be a form of makeup for your body. If we think about it that way then the idea of Black women tanning shouldn’t be so novel. 

Tanning can also be used to sculpt the body, as Anthonia states, “Models and celebrities of all shades and races rely on spray tanning; this is because in addition to adding a beautiful veil to skin, it naturally highlights and contours, increasing muscle definition and tone.”

Is tanning safe?

Naturally we would all like to ensure that whatever we are exposing our skin to is safe. As Magdalene Lafontant, founder of Nakai Skincare & Cosmetics says, “Self-tanning creams, gels and sprays are safe to use on dark skin tones."

The active ingredient in most self-tanning or sunless tanning products is the color additive dihydroxyacetone (DHA). When it is applied this products reacts with dead cells in the skin's surface layer to temporarily darken the skin and simulate a tan. The pigment typically wears off after a few days.

Magdalene lays it out straight, “Fake tanning is a great alternative to achieve the look of sun-kissed skin without damaging your skin.”

How do you tan effectively?

Spray tans are generally considered to be the most effective way of self-tanning, as you are able to get a more even coating, than applying creams and gels. However, just like you would prep your skin for your face makeup (by having a good skincare routine), you should also look after the rest of your body too. Shimmers, bronzers are also a great option and perfect if you have a special occasion and you want the skin to have that 'holiday look' and enhance what you already have. 

Which products can you use?

If you are interested in tanning there are some great products on the market. Louise has her favourites, "I use the St Moriz Medium Dark Tanning Mouse in the winter. In summer I also use the Sosu Jackson dripping Gold Instant Tan in medium dark to top up and the Rochelle Hulmes Bronzing Body Stick on my legs and décolletages.”

Magdalene shares her own favs, “I recommend trying Jergens as they have a great range of sunless products that really pops that skin glow. Also Tan-Luxe Super Glow Hyaluronic Self-Tan Serum and Self-made have four different ranges for whatever mood you're in.”

Is tanning for everyone? 

However, not everyone agrees with tanning on Black skin. It could be said that as Black women we should be happy with our skin colour as it is. “I feel it’s important to have a balance and embrace our beautiful darker skin that has already been made perfect in its own right,” says Maureen Hayden, founder of MH Aesthetic & Beauty Clinic. 

“So many want what we naturally have but yet we seem unsatisfied which is a little disappointing. This strive for perfection, flawlessness and a picture-perfect look is a race none of us will ever get to the end of the finish line. Our bodies are unique, and together with us loving ourselves and maintaining, enhancing, the skin we shouldn’t want to change the actual colour."

Regardless of your thoughts on tanning Black skin, it’s important to always be safe with any product we use on our skin. It’s also important to protect your skin from sun exposure so before considering any tanning get your SPF on then slap on that fake tan, bronzer or moisturiser.