Tanning bed etiquette
 

What exactly is the proper tanning bed etiquette?

Should I wear shorts in, or are boxers only acceptable?
Should I wear any kind of lotion?
Do I have to clean/wipe off the machine myself once i'm done?


My gym offers unlimited tanning for $5 a month if you have a membership there and they're rarely all used. I have one of the worst farmers tans out there, so I just wanna go in a few times to even things out so I don't feel so funny going out in the sun..

It's all relative, some places you do it nude and no one cares (female friends tell me anyways).

Since it's a gym you should probably stick with shorts though you can pull them up to ease the shorts tan line and make it blend a little more.

You should definately wear a lotion, a tanning oil would be best, low spf to allow a tan, while lowering the UV danger. It also helps prevent your skin from drying out which lowers chances to burn.

And yes bring a towel to whipe it down so you dont get your sweat/grease/lotion on it for the next person.

Unless otherwise specified by the location, you should wear whatever you're comfortable in. If you want to go nude you should feel free as long as you are thoroughly cleaning the beds when you're finished (which you should be doing whether or not you're nude). I personally tend to keep certain areas covered when I go because there are some things that you just don't want to burn.

Yes, you can go naked. If you want to keep your shorts on that's fine too. Whatever you're comfortable with.

Use lotion. There are tanning lotions out there with some SPF. That way you won't burn.

(I feel like I'm just repeating Seaver, sorry!)

Sure, you can bring a towel to wipe down, but somebody should go in after you and throughly clean down with a cleaner.

Go nude, but wear a sock to preven burning of sensetive areas.

edit: and for God's sake, bring some windex for when you're done.

I didn't know everyone doesn't go nude.

This is just from my prospective. But most girls go nude when tanning, and the place you tan at generally cleans the bed. As an alternative they would have something sitting around for you to clean it.
This is just coming from a west Texas girls' perspective, but I don't think guys should tan. I don't like high maintance guys and tanning is a high maintance thing.
That's just my opinion.

heh.. high maintenance guy... I don't think so... funny perspective though.

Actually, I just finally decided to get myself into shape. For about 4 years now, I've been creeping up in weight until I got to 199 on my birthday on May 19th this year. I started hitting the gym, lost 25 pounds, gained a little muscle and now I'm not embarassed to take off my shirt (well, once I have a tan that is). I have a pretty dark tan on my arms, but you can see where I go completely pale on my upper arms/chest.

Thanks for all the advice as always.

Just don't go too dark ;)

Congrats on getting into shape, that's awesome :D

on a similar topic:
sauna etiquette?
I've never gone in a sauna, but theres a bunch available with my gym membership
do you have to have nothing on when you go in, or is it cool if I wear boxers or something?

From what I understand with saunas, usually you just wear a towel... If you wear boxers underneath they will be completely soaked and feel very uncomfortable walking out of there :)

Just wear a towel. You can leave it on if you want, but I tend not to. And for the love of God, don't do naked stretching in the sauna, nobody wants to see that.

I wear a towell in the Sauna, but again, its up to the location to make the rules. Most Sauna's that I have had access to in the past several year (mostly in gyms) all require you to wear something that covers you.

Swimsuit would probably be more comfy than boxers.

Single sex saunas I've been to, it's clothing completely optional, whatever you want to wear or not wear is fine. Depends on the rules of the club.

A towel is good to sit on, because you never know who's nekkid bottom has been there before...

i wear boxer briefs, and my tanning place u dont lay down you stand up....which is much cleaner if you ask me

i go nude, use lotion and clean the bed before and after i use it. they provide a spray bottle and lots of towels.

At my gym, they have a sunbed but they recommend no more than 20 sessions a year on it, so I find it odd that your gym gives you unlimited access, can't be healthy. Usually people go nude, and that's fine unless you're worried about burning your more fragile parts. I don't know if by lotion you mean moisturizer or sun cream, but though it's best if your skin is well hydrated, you shouldn't apply any creams just before you go on it and your skin should be clean, because certain cosmetics will react in the sunbed's light and damage your skin. No sun cream is recommended. I only ever use it for 5-10 mins at a time, that's the recommended maximum exposure any one time. And if you're very fair you shouldn't go on a sunbed at all, also if you're still very young (under 16).

ya congrats ! but i generally tend to agree with JAG, I'm not too into guys who actually spend the time to tan...

As long as you have showered and bring a towel to sit on you can wear or not wear whatever you like.

Nude is best. My gym has a stand up tanning bed and straps that you hold above your head. It is a 8 minute max bed. Nude is good because your body is not actually touching anything. I do put one of my socks over my snake though to keep it from sun exposure.