Tanning in the UK

I'm pretty young (21), and, like I'm sure most people would consider young people to be, a smidge vain. I go tanning-the spray tan, not the UV kind-pretty regularly, and it's become a nice little luxury of mine.

 I was in Merseyside a bit ago,where I'll be living, and took a look around, and noticed that there are a ton of tanned girls, but no one really seemed to fess up to fake baking. Maybe it was just chalking it up to someone they weren't really close with-my boyfriend's sister in law....Pretty open, considering, but when the topic came up, she promptly changed it.

I don't know if it's out of the ordinary, or what, but I just found it odd. I saw a few salons around, but didn't really pay attention to it until I thought about going myself. I didn't tan while I was visiting, but when I move there, I'm not sure if I'll be thought of as a freak or what! Anyone know anything about it?

i live in a small market town and i'd say most of my friends don't tan.  but many use at home foamy spray on tanning stuff.  i think the 'acceptance' may be more to do with regions than anything else.

Lord, come on up to Newcastle.  I'm the only non-orange woman in the city. (And even I use a little Johnson's Holiday Skin!) 

The only spray on tans I've seen here are St. Tropez, and at £35/pop they're truly a luxury.  Most folks I know use home self-tanners like Johnson's Holiday Skin lotion or

The only spray on tans I've seen here are St. Tropez, and at £35/pop they're truly a luxury.  Most folks I know use home self-tanners like Johnson's Holiday Skin lotion or

....or what? Shoe polish - cocoa powder? The suspense is killing

....or what? Shoe polish - cocoa powder? The suspense is killing

Well, no.  If you want the orange look, then deffo go for cheap self tanner.  For the more natural look, perhaps spring for some Boots Soltan or Garnier. 

Definitely go for Johnson's Holiday Skin, in the yellow bottles. I think I got everyone on here hooked.  It's a great product and looks extremely natural. Don't go to a salon... I know it's tempting 'cuz they're everywhere, but you'll regret it in 10 years!

I've never tanned (salon or DIY), and don't think I know anyone who has either. But we do have plenty of places that do the St. Tropez spray-on thing. If I were going to do it, that's the option I'd choose.

As I have even posted proof of what can happen when DIY tans go horribly wrong, for the summer, I have indulged in buying a 'package deal' of 3 spray tans for £44.99 at a salon near my work (in Central London). 
It's a booth - just like the Ross episode on Friends, but much easier to figure out when to turn around - the women who work there are friendly and know what they're talking about (they're not there just to sell you something).
The salon has the one spray booth, and several 'beds'.
I went for my second time today, as the first one was a HUGE success, and fixed my "at home" disaster.
I'm guessing 80% of the folks you see here with a 'tan' have had it 'done' in a superficial manner.

No tanning of any sort for me.
I have no problem with the Scottish 'pale blue' look. 

A while back my husband and I took a trip out to the seashore. I was wearing shorts, and my husband made a comment about how my legs were going to get sunburned.  I told him that it was alright because my legs don't burn, they just get slightly darker.  He was amazed that I could actually tan naturally.

I'm pretty fair myself, but I just like to look a little darker. It's a pain in the butt, because I'm terrified of tanning in a booth, and every single time I've tried to do it at home, I end up looking either really nice.....with a huge white streak down some sort of obvious body part that I missed  ......or i look like an Oompa Loompa.

The spray on tans here - Mystic is what I'm used to - do work pretty well on me, and it's my one luxury that I tend to splurge on a bit.