Going for gold: Learn how to procure the perfect spring tan
By Margaret Murray
Born and raised in the sweltering heat of the central valley, I am a self-proclaimed sun worshipper and dedicated Californian. I have always longed for the days when the sun is out and I can marinate poolside with a good book and a cold glass of ice water. My inherent need for sun exposure and warmth sent me to Las Vegas this spring break where I basked in the solar rays at Mandalay Bay's wave pool (I snuck in) and lounged by the less glamorous banks of the Tropicana's facility where myself and good friends were staying. Spring break is now a distant memory after its sudden and unwelcome end, but I am as tan as an Irish person can get and I've noticed that many of you are too. Not only have skirt lengths shortened and Rainbow sandals made their way out from under Australian Uggs, but many faces and bodies have become all shades of golden-brown.
Tanning is not something new and its history in our sun soaked nation goes back to the early 1920s when "Sun Therapy" was prescribed as a cure for conditions from simple fatigue to tuberculosis. In this same decade, designer Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel popularized the tan when she appeared at fashion shows donning a bronzed complexion compliments of the French Riviera. The rest, as the cliche goes, is history. America was soon wooed in the 1950s by Coppertone's famous ads which debuted the little blond girl with pigtails whose bathing suit was tugged by a Cocker Spaniel to reveal her white posterior and flaunting the slogan "Don't Be a Pale Face," and "Tan, don't Burn." In the decades which followed, Beach Boys, Baby Oil and the desire for a year-long tan spawned the invention of the tanning bed which allowed this our newly surfer-influenced culture to work on their tan without the sun.
Tanning facilities are all over the place now, the best ones being clean and cheap. Magic Tan at 451 Saratoga Ave. and 2000 Homestead Rd. offers six different beds ranging from high to low pressure as well as your basic tanning bed. Your first session is $9 and they offer a buy one get one free deal. If this doesn't strike your fancy, a tour of the facility would gladly be given to you by the perky girls at the desk and other packages and deals can be explained if you are interested. I myself stay far from the tanning beds and opt for the natural glow of a day outdoors.
Tanning has certainly been given a bad name in recent years with warnings about skin cancer and wrinkles being the most powerful ammunition in the fight against our sun obsession. However, this obviously is not a strong enough deterrent as shown by our own student body as we seek out every warm corner of our campus as soon as the weather makes its transition from mild and pleasant, to absolutely brilliant. Leavey Pool becomes infested with bikinis and beach blankets while the scent of Banana Boat oil wafts through the air and into the noses of students who are already distracted enough without the seductive alternative of laying by a pool on a perfect, cloudless day.
Tanning has become almost an art to our generation and each sun bather has their own technique to achieve the perfect hue. I believe some protection is needed to avoid a ghastly burn and the inability to sit on a toilet seat comfortably for days, even weeks. I prefer Banana Boat tanning oil with SPF 4 as it allows almost full sun exposure without burning. While my unfortunate friends slather baby oil ($3.79) over their tender winter skin and burn to a near crisp, I wander in at the end of the day looking like JLo. Banana Boat is inexpensive ($6.99) and can be found at any drugstore. It is less greasy than other brands, and the only downfall is that multiple applications are needed if a quick dip into the pool is taken. The only cardinal rule that I follow is that I always wear a really groovy bucket hat to protect my ears and face as well as Banana Boat Faces sunscreen in SPF 23 ($6.99). Get out and enjoy the weather this spring. Leavey isn't the French Riviera, but it will have to do.