Contest Prep 101: Tanning

Tips For the Stage

March 20, 2013

So many competitive physique athletes have

no idea why they have to suffer the
inconvenience of getting tan for their
competition. They train and diet like their
lives depend on it, but when it comes to
tanning they want the easy way out! They
don’t want to spend valuable training time in
the tanning booth, at the beach or sitting by
the pool.

The reality is that EVERYONE looks better

with a tan! But put a person with hardly any
clothes on under very bright, hot stage
lighting can look pasty even with a very dark
natural tan.

Think about when you see an actor or

performer up close with their makeup on.
They can look like clowns up close, but under
the lights that makeup allows their features
to be seen from a distance. It is the same
thing for the physique athlete – you want to
display your hard-earned definition and, in
order to do so, you have to be darker than a
“normal tan” due to the intensity of the stage
lighting. This helps bring out definition in the
muscle, as it highlights the shadows that the
definition creates on your body.

Even dark-skinned competitors need to tan

with product, because it will add a little red
tone to their skin to ensure they don’t look
yellow, grey or ashy under the bright lights.
Most products, like Pro Tan Overnight
Competition Color, have both a self tanner
and a cosmetic bronzer in them. The self
tanner in the product activates the longer it
stays on the skin.

Every person will have a slightly different

color based on their own skin tone (whether
it’s very pale or very dark). This is why
applying the tan a couple of days prior to the
competition is always the best idea.”

Check out the tips below to ensure you’re

tanning the right way, for the best possible
outcome when you step on stage for your
next contest.

1 Build A Base
Having a base tan is really helpful for two
reasons; it helps make the tanning product
look more even and it also thins the skin.
Also, if the tan happens to run onstage, at
least there is a base underneath and the
difference isn’t as startling.
Start tanning in a bed or outdoors AT LEAST
three weeks out from a contest, 2-3 times a
week. If you tan outdoors, use sunscreen as
burning and tan lines are not desired. If you
tan in a bed, gradual tanning while naked is
the best way to ensure your color is even.
Don’t worry if there is a little line under your
butt cheeks or under arms. Those areas tend
to be lighter anyway. You can, however,
change positions in the bed to try to get tan
everywhere (as best as possible). Make sure
you STOP tanning the week of your show
and BE CAREFUL NOT TO GET BURNED!!!!
Peeling skin causes patches and tan lines
CANNOT BE FIXED!
If you are opposed to tanning outdoors or in
the booth, a good idea is to use a self tanner
prior to using the actual tanning product. You
should do this a few weeks prior to your
show and make sure that you apply it evenly
and take care of your skin properly. People
who are very pale should really do this to
give themselves a base.

2 Exfoliate
Smooth skin is essential to an even tan. It is
important to exfoliate several weeks prior to
your show. You can use a product or just use
a good old-fashioned wash cloth. The terry
cloth fabric is the BEST exfoliator. The week
prior to the show you should use a non-oil
based exfoliating product. Pro Tan has a
great product; GET BUFFED. Not only is this
non-oil based, but the ingredients help to
balance out the PH of the skin so it doesn’t
turn colors.

Make sure to exfoliate evenly – if there is old

skin still left in an area that has been
exfoliated or waxed, once you put the
tanning product on those areas will be darker
than then new skin. That leads to a “patchy”
look and, much like a sunburn, there is
nothing you can do if this happens.

3 Shave Or Wax
Of course all hair needs to be removed from
the body so the skin has a nice, smooth look
to it and all definition can be seen. Shaving,
waxing or hair removal products can all be
used. I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT IF
YOU HAVE NEVER WAXED BEFORE DON’T
WAIT UNTIL THE WEEK OF YOUR SHOW TO
TRY IT!

Once you start applying your tan YOU CAN

NO LONGER SHAVE! Although you may feel
stubble growing back prior to the contest it
really cannot be seen when you are on stage.
If you shave AFTER your tan is applied then
your risk the tan coming off that area as you
are exfoliating your skin further.

Waxing is ideal because it lasts longer than

shaving but if you do NOT know how your
body will take to it, or you have sensitive skin,
try it several weeks before your show to
ensure that you don’t get rashes or burns
from waxing. If you have burns on your skin
or a rash from waxing, the tan will be darker
in those areas.
The same thing goes for hair removal
products. Make sure you experiment with
them several weeks prior to your show in
case they give you a rash or don’t work. I
recommend these products on areas that
have light hair (fuzz). Oftentimes you don’t
see this hair but once you apply the tan it
shows. Common “fuzzy” areas are the
glutes, lower back and arms.

4 Last Minute Details

It is VERY IMPORTANT that prior to applying
your first coat of tan that you have dry,
exfoliated, hairless skin so that the tan soaks
into the skin perfectly and evenly. You should
shower and exfoliate for the last time right
before you go in for your tan. If you have
gone all day traveling, checking into your
hotel and sitting at athlete check-ins, your
skin will have moisture on it from sweating
and the tan won’t adhere well to the skin.
Make sure that you wash your armpit areas
with a soap wash cloth as deodorant tends
to stay on the skin. Sometimes leftover
deodorant will change the color of the
tanning product.

After you shower, DO NOT USE

MOISTURIZER OR DEODORANT on your skin.
If you tend to have very oily skin you may
want to use dishwashing liquid as it really
dries out the skin. I don’t find this necessary
in all cases.

One spot that you may want to put a small

amount of body lotion on is your heels,
knees, elbows, hands and feet. These are
places that tend to be dryer than normal skin
and the tan can stick in those places and be
darker.

ABOUT CARLA
SALOTTI
Carla Salotti is an
IFBB Professional
Bodybuilder with 10
years of experience
tanning IFBB and
NPC competitors.
Salotti,turned pro at
the 2005 nationals
and holds the title of
the 2004 NPC Masters Nationals Overall
Women’s Bodybuilding winner. She has been
working with Pro Tan since 2003. Go to
carlasalotti.com to find out more about
Carla, or visit the Pro Tan website at
protanusa.com.