Getting a gentle and proper tan is not magical, and when properly done, any tanning method can give you the look others will envy. However, getting the proper brown color on your lower body can be a major concern for tan people. So, it's not uncommon to wonder how to tan the back of your legs without laying on your stomach, which can be uncomfortable.

If you don't position yourself properly in a tanning bed, you will achieve an uneven tan from your tanning session, and also your safety may be at risk. Using the right laying position ensures you eliminate any risks of damage to your eyes and skin. You will also get an even tan, prevent raccoon eyes, avoid tan lines and avoid butt circles and moons.

There are two different tanning bed positions you can use. You get tanned skin on your legs from a tanning bed by tanning on your back and tanning on your stomach. Since we are avoiding getting tanned legs by laying on the stomach, we will look at the other method below.

Tanning On Your Back

Laying on your back on a tanning bed is the easiest yet most sophisticated method to achieve tanned legs. Although lying on your back has more irregularities than usual, there are reasons why it is preferred. They include:

• It is a very comfortable position hence why most people prefer it
• When your back is on tanning beds, a large part of your body goes away from UV contact
• No matter how much you try, there will be parts of your body that you won't properly expose when lying on your back.

How to Properly Lay on Your Back While Tanning

• Lie in a relaxed position on a tanning bed, and don't stress
• When the tanning session starts, fold your legs in an arch and with the knees higher than your body
• Rest your feet on your heels as this way allows the soles of your foot to be exposed to tanning and hence not look ugly when you are wearing flipflops
• Fold your arms behind your neck if its a more comfortable position
• Alternatively, put your arms beside your body but avoid keeping them on your body at all times so that you ensure no parts of your leg sides are untanned because of the arm's shadow
• Shift your weight occasionally to either side to prevent feeling butt moons.

Why are Legs Hard to Tan?

Most people have experienced a tanning session that didn't produce an even tan on their legs, whether they used a spray tan, fake tan lotions or gradually tanning products. No matter how much sun exposure you seek, self-tanner or use a spray tan, you can't seem to achieve the naturally darker shade. Some of the reasons include:

a). Melanin Production

The melanin on your skin is what will darken to achieve a golden tan color. If you are struggling to tan your legs, they may not produce as much melanin as the rest of your body, so it may be difficult to get your legs as dark as other body parts.

b). Thicker Skin

The skin on your legs is thick, making it harder for the sun rays to penetrate your legs. In addition, your upper body will have more soft skin than the lower body since we don't often moisturize the leg skin as often as the face and hands and hence the dry skin.

Dry skin cells reflect UV rays instead of allowing them to penetrate the skin and create an even tan. In addition, dry skin exfoliates quicker and sheds the surface skin layers exposing the untanned skin beneath.

What are Some Leg Tanning Tips?

Whether you use a self-tanner, tan in the sun on the best portable beach lounge or use a tanning bed, there are several things you can do to take care of your leg's skin to get a longer-lasting tan.

1. Exfoliate the skin on your legs

Before each tanning session, exfoliation is a must to help remove dead skin that could otherwise block UV light. This ensures your skin is clean and soft before your tanning session begins and won't block UV light.

2. Avoid waxing and shaving

After a tanning session, leave at least one or two days because if you try to shave or wax your legs immediately after a session, you will get rid of the top layers of your dark skin.

3. Maintain your skin's moisture

Since the skin on your legs is dryer than the rest of the body, keeping it moisturized before and after your tanning process will help you achieve perfectly tanned skin. A smooth, soft and hydrated skin will help the UV light get absorbed and intensify the process of melanin production. Applying sunscreen in your daily routine helps prevent skin cancer while preventing wrinkles, fine lines and brown spots.

4. Use Tanning Lotions and Sun Block

It's necessary to use high-quality tanning lotions and sunblocks and ensure you apply them thoroughly to your skin before you start the tanning process. You can ask for the recommended tanning lotion to suit your skin type and skin tone from your Board Certified Dermatologist Dr since many tanning lotions are available.

Alternatively, you can use tanning products such as tan accelerators and natural skin care products to make the tanning process more effective from a tanning bed.

5. Wear Loose Clothing

On the day you plan to go to the tanning salons or wear a self-tanner, wear loose shorts, pants or a skirt and avoid wearing any tight bottoms of any kind. Tight pants will impact your tan in more ways than you think.