Tanning and Bikini Bite
By Kristi Wills

When it comes down to tanning, there are many different options and opinions. It all comes down to your skin tone and sensitivity. What's most important is that when you step on stage, your skin looks healthy and your color is very dark. You should be so dark that you look like a freak up close! If you're not dark enough, the stage lights will make you look washed out and it'll be hard for the judges to see your true muscle development. All of your hard work in the gym can easily go unnoticed because of your tan or lack there of! The following are suggestions and can vary from competitor to competitor. Personally, I have very fair skin, so I require a lot of tanning. It’s always important to experiment weeks before your show to see what's best for you!

To begin with, you can keep your skin healthy by drinking at least a gallon of water a day. That amount will keep your skin fully hydrated and clear. Of course during the last couple of days before a competition, the amount of water a person should drink will be drastically reduced. Just remember, in the weeks prior to a show, you are what you eat and drink!

Next, you'll want to have some type of a base tan. About 4 weeks before your show, you might want to use a tanning bed about 3 times a week. However, you can also get a base tan by using a self-tanner. Personally, I use a tanning bed, but only when preparing for a competition. Also, I put a ton of sun block on my face and rely on make-up for this area.

During the week of your show, you're going to need to get rid of all the hair on your body. You can either do this by shaving or waxing. You'll need to exfoliate and make sure you constantly use a moisturizer. Having hair and dry skin will not allow the competition tanning products to go on easily or smoothly. I also do 4 Mystic Tans during this week and do allow the spray to go on my face. By this point, my 4th graders begin wondering what happened to their teacher! Now, you're not only getting really dark, but the competition tanning products are going to go on a lot easier.
Now it’s time for the competition tanning product and this is when you're going to need someone's help when applying it. Personally, I use the Pro Tan Competition Color Suntan Brown Formula, and instead of applying it with the brush they give you, I use a sea sponge. The sea sponge makes the application go a lot quicker and it also makes the Pro Tan go on smoother. Your application and showering schedule will depend on your competition schedule. The following is a schedule for a fitness competitor who has prejudging Friday night and Sat. morning and then the finals are Sat. night:

-Thurs. a.m. and p.m.= Shower and then apply Pro Tan
-Fri. a.m. and p.m. = DO NOT SHOWER, apply Pro Tan
-Sat. a.m. = touch up Pro Tan where necessary, DO NOT SHOWER
-Sat. p.m. = Either touch up or add 1 more coat, DO NOT SHOWER until after the show J

When applying the Pro Tan, make sure you are standing on towels you do not care about. If you are in a hotel, bring your own!! Also, have the shower running while it’s being applied because the moisture will help your skin absorb the Pro Tan better. Squirt it on dark and rub in a circular motion with the sea sponge. Do not put the Pro Tan on your face. For my face, I use MAC NW45 Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation. I have found it blends in nicely with the Pro Tan. Make sure you let the Pro Tan dry completely before getting dressed and make sure you where clothes that you do not really care about because some of the Pro Tan will get on your clothing.
Again, the number of applications may vary depending on your skin tone. Also, test the product on a small area to make sure you don't have an allergic reaction or that the chemicals do not give off a green tint when they touch your skin. I know this whole process sounds like a lot of work, but remember; you can never be too dark for the stage lights!

Finally, you're just about ready to step on stage. You're in your best shape, your hair and make-up is done, and you have a tan that makes you look like a creature from another planet. You put your competition suit on and it looks great just the way it is. Now, if only it will stay that way! That's when you need to have Bikini Bite. It’s a “no-slip suit fastener” that washes off with soap and water and won’t stain your suit. Again, it’s best to get some assistance with this. Before you go on stage, have someone roll the Bikini Bite on you're skin where you want your suit to be. Then, press the suit against your skin and hold it in place for about 2 mins. If the roller-ball doesn't roll easily, hold it under hot water until it does. Once you suit is in place, you're ready to strut your stuff with confidence!

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