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Tan lines


creekland
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Ok, perhaps this is one of my "lack of female character" flaws, but I had never realized just how long tan lines last before.   :lol:

 

I have a set of sandals I quit wearing March 6th at the end of our Feb trip to Florida.  The tan lines from those sandals are still there - quite viewable to anyone.  They've possibly faded 50%, but there're definitely still there and easily recognizable.  It's now June 23rd...

 

I just unpacked these sandals to think about wearing them again sometime - hence the connection.

 

I get to check off my "Learn Something New Every Day" box fairly early today!

 

ps  How long DO tan lines last?  My "science brain" has thought of not wearing these to find out... but I'm not sure I'm that interested to go without these sandals all summer long.

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Oh I'm not the least bit worried.  I'm curious.  ;)

 

I'm more of a sneakers or (working) boots gal than a sandals lover anyway and I detest being barefoot.  I'm pretty sure I "fail" the "act like a girl" test, but I try to fake it by wearing sandals in some situations - like on beaches or out to church or events in the summer.

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I once fell asleep outside with a newspaper over my head, and my arms tucked under the paper.   I was wearing ankle socks and my pants hiked up a bit.   You could still see that 2" stripe between where my socks and pants hem had been a full year later.  Note, I am a pale redhead and I jokingly classify myself as 'sun-phobic", so mine probably lasted longer than most.  

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When I was young ( before anyone worried about skin cancer as a thing, before sunscreen) tan lines were a big deal, because you could show off how dark.you had gotten. One year I worked at a camp and was in charge of the pool. It was the only place that was not shaded. I had the darkest tan ever and totally bleached hair. In January when I was changing in my dorm a friend noticed that I had very dark tan lines still. That was the only year my tan lines never faded significantly. Usually, tan lines fade by November for me. I wear sunscreen now, but I'm not great about it. I'm one of those burn, then tan types. My Dd and dh never tan. They stay in the translucent to white range or if exposed to any sun on the greyest of days they become bright pink or purple. Dh does not go outside. DD goes to sunny places with me and uses lots of sunscreen --opaque layers that aren't noticable because since and her skin are the same color.

 

So tan lines can last a long time. It depends on how dark the tan is compared to your natural color.

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Well its interesting you ask. I burn with too much sun, and in late spring, I received an inadvertant burn at a lacrosse game. I was wearing sneakers, bermuda length shorts and a cap sleeve. I really want to fix those tan lines, because I'm not a fan of how it looks wearing a sleevless dress and sandals. My feet are white and there's a line at my ankle.

 

I was actually endeavoring to fix my lines yesterday by sitting out in a bikini (something I generally don't like to do), but it was too cloudy and ended up raining.

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For some reason, top-of-feet tan lines always last longer than any other tan lines on me!

 

I've never compared.  Being outside a ton (and we don't use sunscreen unless at a water park or something unusual) tan lines elsewhere are totally common based upon whatever shirt/shorts/sunglasses I'm wearing.  I suppose they probably don't look good to others, but I 100% ignore them.  I'd been ignoring those on my feet too until my mind got curious.

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My summer tennis tan usually lasts well into February of the following year. I tan easily, though, and am outside a lot.

 

My problem is I wear t-shirts most of the time and rarely wear swimsuits or tank tops so when I do wear those items my tan lines are horrendous. dark arms and legs and then white shoulders. Luckily, I tend to go barefoot most of the time so my feet tan as well and I don't get funky tan lines down there.

 

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<snip> I'm pretty sure I "fail" the "act like a girl" test, <snip>

Me, too. Except I like going barefoot. I remove my shoes as soon as I possibly can. I have one pair of 'girlie' sandals (although my daughter calls them old lady shoes). My go to summer shoes are either water shoes or Keens.  Usually in shades of brown since men's shoes are wider and more comfortable.  :D

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I've never compared.  Being outside a ton (and we don't use sunscreen unless at a water park or something unusual) tan lines elsewhere are totally common based upon whatever shirt/shorts/sunglasses I'm wearing.  I suppose they probably don't look good to others, but I 100% ignore them.  I'd been ignoring those on my feet too until my mind got curious.

I've ignored them in the past but recently I have thought about how interesting my tan lines must look during tEa. It's kinda difficult to think of one's self as sexy when sporting a funky patterned birthday suit.

Edited by Scoutermom
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Me, too. Except I like going barefoot. I remove my shoes as soon as I possibly can. I have one pair of 'girlie' sandals (although my daughter calls them old lady shoes). My go to summer shoes are either water shoes or Keens.  Usually in shades of brown since men's shoes are wider and more comfortable.   :D

 

Well... these are Keens tan lines.   :coolgleamA:   I think my problem with barefoot is that I was never exposed to it in my youth.  It was always too dangerous to walk around our house or yard barefoot due to things on the ground and having ponies.  My feet got used to having nice cushy shoes - usually sneakers or hiking boots.  They like it that way.  I don't even like walking on hot sand barefoot.  I'll walk on water compacted sand only if there aren't many shells or other sharper objects in it.  Sandals have problems that small stones and other things get between my feet and the shoe.

 

I've ignored them in the past but recently I have thought about how interesting my tan lines must look during tEa. It's kinda difficult to think of one's self as sexy when sporting a funky patterned birthday suit.

 

Ok... my mind has never looked at it that way before.  I'm not sure it's a pretty picture TBH, but hubby doesn't mind or if so has never said anything.   :lol:

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I've ignored them in the past but recently I have thought about how interesting my tan lines must look during tEa. It's kinda difficult to think of one's self as sexy when sporting a funky patterned birthday suit.

It's funny you mentioned this. Dh commented the other day during tea that he loves the transition from light skin to tan skin on my body. I'd never given it much thought before that.

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A very long time. When I was a teen I had permanent tan stripes from playing soccer. It went from the shin guard ended to where the shorts began. It would fade just in time for the next season to start. I was in PNW so that's not a very long summer.

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