How often is it all about “the tan”?

[Midnite Rider]

I guess you’d consider me a recent convert and I have to say that I’m enjoying it immensely. I gave it a try for the first time at a beach near here a few months back and found it to be loads of fun. I’ve made several subsequent return visits and even dropped in on an open house that a club in the area had (I plan on making a return visit and joining if things work out).

I don’t go because I’m looking for a tan, in fact that’s one of the farthest things on my mind as I slap on the SPF 45. I go because I find the experience relaxing and a great stress reliever. It’s great to unwind with a book or just to stroll along the beach for a bit enjoying the afternoon.

I’m kind of curious as to what percentage of people approach nudism with this same mindset. Perhaps a majority approach nudism this way but the tan is a welcome byproduct?

[Midnite Rider]

I guess you’d consider me a recent convert and I have to say that I’m enjoying it immensely. I gave it a try for the first time at a beach near here a few months back and found it to be loads of fun. I’ve made several subsequent return visits and even dropped in on an open house that a club in the area had (I plan on making a return visit and joining if things work out).

I don’t go because I’m looking for a tan, in fact that’s one of the farthest things on my mind as I slap on the SPF 45. I go because I find the experience relaxing and a great stress reliever. It’s great to unwind with a book or just to stroll along the beach for a bit enjoying the afternoon.

I’m kind of curious as to what percentage of people approach nudism with this same mindset. Perhaps a majority approach nudism this way but the tan is a welcome byproduct?

[NudePete]

I consider that I had a successful summer if I end up a very light beige. I am an SPF 30 man myself (SPF 45 on my face, neck, shoulders and recent surgical scar). It is definitely not for the tan.

In fact, if it is proven that sunscreen does not protect against skin cancer, I will probably switch to more indoor nude swims with a local club and cut my beach trips back to almost nothing. I must admit though that just lying in the sun is very relaxing indeed.

[NudeAl]

I went through a phase when it was all about the tan and how dark can I get. Not a good idea I know, esp. since I am of Scandinavian descent. I now know better and use SPF 30 or greater and a wide brimmed hat and sit in the shade as much as possible. I still get a light shade of tan and my face will sometimes get sun burned. I enjoy the feelings of the sea sun and sand I just use common sense to avoid too much sun.

[BackpackerBrian]

Hey Midnite Rider,

Congratulations on your conversion. http://clothesfreeforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif Nudism is all about mindset, as is Life.

Once upon a time everybody went strolling down the beach or rivers edge nude. Long before the nude beach controversies over Playalinda and Apollo beaches in Florida, the natives of the area went nude on the beach. The Aborigine of Australia were unclothed, as were so many of the "primitives" of Africa.

Mankinds history goes back at least 40,000 years (Australian Aborigine are oldest -barely- surviving culture nowadays). Of those 40,000 years, how many have swimsuits existed?? A small fraction at best.

Point is, the relaxation and stress relief you enjoy is the way you are supposed to feel. We are actually natural born nudists (just look at children for an example). Somewhere someone told us it wasn't right. Perhaps your mindset an indication of your body and soul saying, "yeah, this is the right way to be."

And after leaving a nudist beach or club, I am in an utter state of Zen . . . . beautiful, ain't it??

[nudenwv]

yes! being nude is a stress releaser and with friends it's even greater! you'll find that people are more accepting and easier to talk to in a nude social atmosphere! i had the pleasure of finding this out!! http://clothesfreeforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[ml]

For me it is certainly not the tan. The best I can do is let my freckles grow together.

[hairyhomer]

For me it is the way the air feels so natural all over your body. The total tan is a bonus as I have all different lengths of short with the running shorts and Speedo’s so it is really nice not to have any tan lines. http://clothesfreeforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif The total tan also helps to camouflage the scares. http://clothesfreeforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_eek.gif No one at any CO beaches or nudist resorts have ever mentioned them but a lot of textiles have. Is it just me or do the textiles seem to me a little bit rude about body acceptance?

HairyHomer http://clothesfreeforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

[FireProf]

It never really started out about "the tan." In the beginning, I could lay out for hours in the backyard and bake in the sun. My wife would spend a couple hours out there with me but since she has much fairer skin, she wouldn't stay out in the sun as long.

Nudism for us has always been about stress relief, relaxation and just the dislike of wearing clothes. As time would have it, all that sunning took it's toll on my wife's skin and now she must discontinue baking in the sun and limit her time in it. Although this does affect our social time, standing out in the open and socializing, we're determined it will not deter our nude time. We will just look for shade and when there is none available, we will be nude and socialize in the shade or inside when we have to.

This new development in our lives was a slight set back but has only forced us to find alternatives to being nude in a social setting without the sun. It's entirely possible and we are determined to continue our nudist lifestyle despite the sun. http://clothesfreeforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[Ben_m]

I'll admit I enjoy the tan, but it's most certainly NOT "all about the tan" for me. The underlying philosophy and the benefits of being able to understand many things, including if not especially that a body is a body and to truly accept that and see the wonder and beauty in it, is what it's really all about to me.

Congratulations on your conversion,

[rascal56]

The feel of the sun on my body is a big attreaction,however the freedom is the main attraction.getting the tan is a bonus.

[NudistGuy47]

As I tan easily, the outdoor work develops a nicely brown exterior. I have to say it is all about the freedom and not the tan. I like the sensaation of the breeze, sun, water, etc over the whole body. I can not abide with just laying in the sun.

[Nu]

No tan here, strictly a "45" guy.

[nudeM]

Interesting question. I tan very easily, whereas my wife, hw, is fair skinned and doesn't tan as easily. I like the tan I can achieve, but I do not get nude JUST for the tan. As stated, it feels much more better without any clothing.

I feel much more at ease and less stressful. This past weekend, I was able to be nude almost 24/7, so I was able to do all kinds of activities (no kids).

Very interesting. Thanks for bringing up the subject. I, at first, thought that getting a tan was the main reason people preferred to be naked, but after time, I found out it was because nudists prefer not to wear anything, no matter what the occaision was. http://clothesfreeforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

[Trailscout]

I do not lie in the sun for hours at a time trying to get a deep dark tan.

However, I enjoy being nude outdoors, so I prepare my skin for outdoor activity by 20 minutes of nude sunning on a regular basis. (Ten minutes on my back, ten minutes on my belly).

I accomplish two things:
1. Make vitamin D for my health
2. Prevent dangerous sunburn by conditioning my skin with regular exposure to the sun for short periods of time.

If I erase my tan-lines in the process, that is great, but not my primary goal.

[WacoTX]

I have to agree, its not about the tan. I love working in the back yard with out clothes to restrict me. It is just SO-o-o-o natural!

[John Spooner]

I managed to get an all-over tan during one of my last stays at Pelican Point.
Evidence attached.
Regards. John S.

[Midnite Rider]

Thanks for all the feedback. Quite a few people with the same mindset as myself it would seem.

It was just based on personal observations at the beaches I've been too. The vast majority of the people seem to be of the golden brown variety with the pale ghosts such as myself being in the distinct minority.

Whatever, I'll keep slapping that SPF 45 on and enjoying myself. http://clothesfreeforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

Can't forget that hat either.

[Trailscout]

Midnite,

You should get the level of vitamin D in your bloodstream checked. At your latitude you could be setting yourself up for brittle bones in your old age if you do not allow the sun sufficient time to shine on your untreated skin. And that's just the half of it. Cancer and other health problems have been linked to vitamin D deficiency.

It's a little hard to tell from the avatar how fair-skinned you are, so I am NOT urging you to try to turn brown. For some that is a physical impossibility.

But you might want to do a little Google searching and look into the facts on the need for sun. Some health experts suggest that people get 20 minutes of midday sun 3 times a week without using sunscreen (initially, then you can apply it once you make the vitamin D you need).

If you are pasty white, that advise does not apply to you. You may have to get it from your diet. But people who live in Canada are at risk of not getting enough vitamin D due to the low angle of the sun much of the year.

[james423]

Though it isn't "all about the tan" for us, we don't mind getting tan & consider it a bonus. However, it's all about the freedom, relaxation & enjoyment we get from being at "our beach" (Lighthouse Beach on Fire Island, NY). My wife tans more easily than I do, but we both use SPF 30 to avoid burning. I've burned enough one time to not want to do so again.

[OZJames]

I have a light olive skin and during the summer I get a light tan (I use sunscreen). My wife on the other hand has fair skin and so does not expose her naked self to the sun so much. We usually do late afternoon nude walks and/or nude night walks around our farm.

I share all the above comments about the pleasure and relaxation of the sun and air around my body http://clothesfreeforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

We have a friend and she visits us fairly regularly. She allways has an amazing brown tan because she lies in the sun at her home everyday for at least 20 minutes. I think it looks fantastic and find it amazing that when seeing her from a distance (say 30ft or more) because of the dark tan her nakedness is somehow hidden. , I think a bit like the body painted people with clothes painted on - their nakedness is not so noticable.

I fully understand why people like to be tanned.

http://clothesfreeforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif <span class="ev_code_RED">JAMES</span> http://clothesfreeforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[Sailor]

Its got nothing to do with the tan, although if I end up getting a little less white, thats nice. Before discovering naturism, I almost never went to the beach. Now I go to my local nude beach regularly, because I find it so relaxing, and I have always found it difficult to relax. Like I usually can't get out of my mind the list of chores that need to be done. I don't know why I can clear my mind on the nude beach and not on a regular one, but that is the case.

I try to stay under a shade umbrella as much as possible and use sun screen when I am in the direct sun.

[Sanslines]

This is a bit off topic but anyway here goes it. Pick up any weight lifting magazine and the models are all very dark tanned with no obvious tan lines and all heavily oiled. Some are so tanned that there is obvious skin damage. Obviously dark tans help to sell the magazines but how strange to promote skin damage in magazines that promote weight lifting as part of a healthy lifestyle.

[Trailscout]

Sans,
The blame lies with bodybuilding culture primarily. For years competitive bodybuilders have held that muscles are seen to best advantage on a deeply tanned body.

The magazine may have motives of their own to show deeply tanned bodybuilders, but I can assure you that the athletes have been doing this on their own.

I believe that most caucasians should have a little bit of color resulting from healthy exposure to the sun, but I agree that dark tans on ordinarily fair-skinned individuals is not an image we want to promote.

And your post is very much on topic, even though the example is drawn from outside the naturist theme.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Sanslines:
This is a bit off topic but anyway here goes it. Pick up any weight lifting magazine and the models are all very dark tanned with no obvious tan lines and all heavily oiled. Some are so tanned that there is obvious skin damage. Obviously dark tans help to sell the magazines but how strange to promote skin damage in magazines that promote weight lifting as part of a healthy lifestyle. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Many of them use the paint on tans or tan in a bottle anymore, just putting it on the day before a competition.

[windowphobe]

The coloration has some appeal - I was tired of looking like a plucked gosling year after year - but I'd probably continue grabbing those rays even if I didn't darken at all.

[Fresh Air]

To be honest, the tan is an important part. I see it as a benefit to something that is already relaxing. I've never thought about the percentage of importance it holds. I just know that if it is overcast and cloudy I'm all of a sudden not as interested in making any long treks to be nude.

Dan

[Trailscout]

Being able to tan is good news for those who enjoy outdoor recreation, at least here in sunny Georgia. It means you get to have more fun in the sun.

Does tanned skin look better than untanned? I am not sure. I wouldn't worry about it.

[shãybare]

http://clothesfreeforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_cool.gif
I saw an article on TV about "Bay Watch". I think it was on "Entertainment Tonight". All the actors there had tans from a bottle and when they weren't being "shot" they were in the shade. And here I thought they had real tans.
Did anyone else see this?

[Trailscout]

Well, Shay that's not all that is fake about Bay Watch babes. http://clothesfreeforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

A fake tan doesn't prevent sunburn like a real tan does, but I guess they can cover up with spf 45 sunscreen when they are filming outdoors. I'm not too impressed with Hollywood and its illusions of beauty.

[shãybare]

http://clothesfreeforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_cool.gif
I have never watched Bay Watch so am not familiar with the show. Of course I know David Hasselhoff and Pam Anderson were on it. I have seen the advertisements for the show.

I don't remember the spf they were using but the spot was to encourage people to stay out of the sun.

An interesting note. The last few days or so the temps have been hitting the 100 F mark. The weatherman ended by saying it would be a good idea to spend the weekend on the lake to cool off. I thought to myself, "Yeah, what a great idea. Nothing but Sunburn City".

[Captain Zen]

Where I live the sun is so strong that it is better to stay out of it if you can. White pink skins may turn lobster red in no time. Most people here are of African descent and their tan is deeper than deep. How much sun one has taken over his many lifetimes shows in the color of his tan, and the beauty of a female lays in the flatness of her belly.

[MJ_KC]

It is definitely not about getting a tan for me. I use SPF 30 sunscreen and try to avoid staying out too long during the middle of the day. I just like to relax without needing to wear a swimsuit.

[Ruins of Ayutthaya]

I have to go with the general consensus here.

Tans rock, they always look neat and it never hurts to try and get one. At the same time, though, partially because I am simply not able to be naked that much outdoors, partly because my skin is sensitive enough as is, and partly because I am paranoid over all the dangers of too much sunlight, a tan has never been a first priority for me. I don't tan too terribly much when I do, anyway. Still, my rear end may simply be doomed to be paler than the other body parts for the rest of my life.

Oh well. Nudism is always about comfort and natural existance. Who can complain about that? Tans are a bonus. (Of course, to go with the natural-discussion, always get a natural tan if you must. Heaven knows how ghastly the fake-tan stuff can be.

[Buzzer]

http://clothesfreeforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_cool.gifI am not concerned with being tanned all over. I just like the feeling of "liberation" I get from not having to wear clothing. Especially after a stressful day or when it's very hot as it has bee for the past few weeks.

[Ben_m]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">To be honest, the tan is an important part. I see it as a benefit to something that is already relaxing. I've never thought about the percentage of importance it holds. I just know that if it is overcast and cloudy I'm all of a sudden not as interested in making any long treks to be nude.

Dan </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Well, Dan, I must admit, that while sticking with my initial comment here, you and I have this idea/attitude in common.

[Captain Zen]

I know for sure that I like better to do bussiness with sombody who has a [little] natural tan than someone who is whitish pale and obviously never goes sunbathing....