May 10, 2006

#6: The Perfect Tan

Q: Hi Autumn,

My husband and I will be competing in our first bodybuilding competition at the end of this month. I have a question about tanning. I’ve heard as many different opinions as there are products to use. Honestly, I’m confused. What I want, though, is a perfect tan. You look great in your pictures. What do you recommend?

...Andrea

A: Hello Andrea,

The end of the month is only weeks away so you must be very excited and hungry. It is great that you and your husband are doing this together. It can be a very hard sport, and at least you both know what the other is going through. The days seem to go by slower when you are in the last few weeks before your show, so just keep focused and good luck to you both.

As for the tanning, yes, there are a lot of things that one can do. The way I get ready for my competitions and what I recommend are the following:

• You need to start off with a good base in order to achieve that rich, deep-looking color onstage. The darker the better since you can never be too dark. You should be tanning in the tanning salon for at least a month before your show. I generally tan up until the day before I leave for a show.
  
  
• The day before the weigh-ins, apply a coat of Pro Tan. This is a spray-on color that doesn’t smell the best, but works to get your skin nice and dark. Before you put it on, have a shower, do all your shaving of body hair, and then dry off with a towel. DO NOT put any creams of any sort on. When applying Pro Tan, try not to get it on the palms of your hands or the soles of your feet. Don’t be too concerned about the dark lines around your hands and feet where Pro Tan is and isn’t. Your hands and feet will eventually get the color on them anyway (you will notice in the morning when you wake up). Let yourself dry really well, in front of a fan if you have one. You can put on Pro Tan later in the night just before going to bed. Go to sleep that night without showering. You can shower in the morning when you wake up. (Keep in mind, the color will leave stains on your clothes and bed sheets. If you are staying at a hotel during your show, bring your own sheets/pillow case and make your bed with these. This way you won’t wreck the hotel sheets or make your maid angry. Keep these sheets as your "competition" sheets and take them to the hotels where you stay.)
  
  
• The day of your weigh-ins, apply another two coats of Pro Tan, one in the morning and one at night. Don’t shower after your last application at night. Again, make sure you let your skin dry really well before putting your clothes back on or going under the bed sheets.
  
  
• The morning of the show you don’t shower (don’t worry about what you smell like since everyone will have the same smell backstage). Before you leave for the pre-judging in the morning, apply a coat of Dream Tan formula #2. (There are different types of Dream Tan formulations and some are not allowed when competing, so be careful. If you are not sure, just get in touch with your local bodybuilding association and find out.) Apply Dream Tan sparingly and really rub it in well, followed by slapping – yes, I said slapping your skin where you have applied Dream Tan. This is the most important step with Dream Tan as it seems to even it out and make it look like even skin color. There are instructions on the container so make sure you follow them. This is all that you will need.
  
  
• When you get to the venue, make sure you spend at least 15 minutes pumping up before you get onstage. There are usually volunteers backstage to do any touch-ups or give advice. With Dream Tan, make sure you wipe/dab off any excess as you warm up back stage. The one downfall of Dream Tan is that too much makes you look like you're covered with thick oil. And on the subject of oil, do not put oil on when using Dream Tan – it will cause your Dream Tan to run/drip right off your body.

You work extremely hard all year and at the end you only have a few minutes on the stage. Make sure you come out looking your best. Remember, you are being judged on "presentation" as well as your physique. Having a poor tan, no matter what condition you are in, will hurt you in the judges’ eyes.

Thanks very much for writing in and the best of luck at your show!

...Autumn Raby, IFBB Pro

If you would like to ask Autumn a question, please e-mail: askautumn@seriousaboutmuscle.com.

SeriousAboutMuscle.com contributor Autumn Raby is from British Columbia, Canada, and is the 2005 CBBF Canadian Bodybuilding Championships Women's Middleweight and Overall Champion. Autumn's win at the Canadian Championships earned her an IFBB Pro Card. Autumn plans to make her pro debut in 2006.