Can You Tan Through Clothes?
Tanning through clothes is possible, but it takes much longer and can result in an uneven tan. Skin needs to be exposed directly to ultraviolet (UV) rays, either from the sun or from a tanning bed, in order to tan. Clothes can block some or most of the rays, preventing the skin underneath from tanning.
What You Should Know
Before tanning through clothes, it’s important to understand a few key facts:
- Thicker fabrics are best: Certain fabrics like denim or nylon can block out the most UV rays. Thinner materials like cotton will block fewer rays, and less-opaque fabrics like linen or sheers will allow the most rays to get through.
- Tanning may still occur: Even if you are wearing thicker fabrics, some UV rays may still be able to get through and cause your skin to tan. However, the tanning process will take much longer than normal.
- The resulting tan may be uneven: Because some of your skin is exposed to more UV rays than other areas, tanning through clothing can result in an uneven tan.
Tips for Tanning Through Clothes
If you want to try tanning through clothes, here are some tips to help you get the most even results:
- Rotate positions: Move around while tanning to ensure that your body is evenly exposed to the UV rays hitting it.
- Don’t peek: You should avoid peeking out from under your clothes while tanning because this can result in uneven tanning.
- Wear the right clothes: Choose clothing that is thick enough to block out most of the UV rays, but not so thick that you aren’t getting any rays.
- Tan for a longer period of time: Tanning through clothes is going to take longer, so you will need to extend your tanning session to ensure that you are getting enough UV exposure.
The Bottom Line
The bottom line is that you can tan through clothes, but the process takes much longer and the results can be uneven. If you do decide to tan through clothes, make sure to use the tips above to get the most even results.