Tanning for a Bald Head: What You Need to Know

Sep 11, 2020

Do you find that your bald head is often the center of attention? If it’s going to be in the spotlight, it might as well look its best! You already know that sunless tanning products give your skin a sun-kissed glow, but did you know they’re a great option for bald heads, too? Here’s how tanning for a bald head works.

What’s so appealing about tanning?

Why is tanning a bald head an appealing idea to begin with? Many people find that when they go bald, the complexion of their face and the rest of their body is darker than their shaved head skin color. Using sunless tanner is a helpful solution when you’re wondering how to get even skin tone on a bald head, as it helps your scalp to not be so noticeably pale.

What’s the safest way to tan a bald head?

There are a variety of methods for achieving a tan head, but using a sunless tanner is going to be the healthier method than sunbathing or lying in a tanning bed. That’s because sunless tanning products don’t expose your skin to harmful ultraviolet light as the other methods do. Instead, sunless tanners use a variety of ingredients to darken the appearance of your skin without requiring skin damage from UV rays.

The main ingredient in most self-tanners is dihydroxyacetone or DHA. It’s a plant-derived color additive that binds to the proteins in the top layer of your skin, causing the color to become darker. DHA has been approved by the FDA for external use, including tanning, minus use on the lips, ears, eyes, nose and mucous membranes.[i]

CLEANTAN, for example, uses Ecocert DHA, a natural beet sugar and a plant-based, cosmeceutical-grade tanning agent. This, combined with our other natural colorants, is how we give your skin that desired sun-kissed look.

What about sunbathing or tanning beds?

Let’s talk about those other tanning methods. Yes, spending time lying out in the sun or in a tanning bed may darken the appearance of your skin, but they’re extremely unhealthy ways to achieve a tan and we do not recommend them.

During sunbathing, your skin is exposed to UVA and UVB rays from the sun, and during tanning bed use, your skin is exposed to UV rays from the lamps. Both of these can damage your skin. Prolonged UV exposure can cause premature aging and skin cancer, and even short-term exposure can cause sunburn.[ii]

What if you only get a suntan and not a sunburn? The reality is there’s no such thing as a safe tan when UV rays are involved, and even a simple tan is a sign of skin damage. When the skin is exposed to UV radiation, it tries to protect itself from further damage by increasing the production of melanin, or skin pigment. This causes the color of your skin to darken.[iii]

Over time, UV rays break down your skin’s collagen and elastin fibers, causing signs of premature aging like wrinkles, dark spots, and a leathery texture. UV rays can also cause skin cancer by damaging the DNA in skill cells or by weakening the body’s immune system.[iv]

Instead of turning to sunbathing and tanning beds for a golden glow look, opting for sunless tanners is the safer choice.

How to get an even tan on your head

Now that you know self-tanners are the best way to go, how do you make sure you get a nice, even tan on your bald head? The key is proper application.

First things first: exfoliate! Exfoliating is the process of removing the dead skin cells from the outermost layer of your skin. Your skin naturally sheds skin cells over time, and exfoliating can help remove the cells that don’t shed completely. This leaves a smooth surface that’s ideal for self-tanner application.

Next, apply your self-tanner. The way you go about doing this will vary slightly depending on which type of self-tanner you’re using. For example, lotions, creams and gels are applied by evenly smoothing the product over your skin until it has been absorbed. If you’re using a spray, simply spray it and let it absorb – no need to rub it in. If you’re using sunless tanning drops such as CLEANTAN, you’ll add a few drops to your favorite lotion, cream or serum, then apply the mixture evenly until your skin has absorbed the product.

After you’ve applied the sunless tanner, the next step is to give the color time to gradually develop. Your tan will typically take several hours to fully develop. In the meantime, avoid taking showers or getting sweaty for about 6 to 8 hours after using self-tanner, as this can wash off the product and cause unsightly streaks.

Finally, repeat the process as needed. Since your body naturally sheds skin cells, your tan will begin to fade over time. When you find that happening, or even if you just didn’t get a dark enough tan the first time, you can reapply the sunless tanner to keep your golden hue going strong.

Is CLEANTAN a good idea for bald heads?

Yes! CLEANTAN Black Tea Tanning Drops are a convenient yet effective way to add some color to your head. Simply add a few drops to the moisturizer of your choice for a customizable tanning solution – add more drops for a darker tan or fewer drops for a lighter tan. If you’re not sure how much product to use, you can always start with a couple drops the first time and then add more the next time.

CLEANTAN uses a plant-based formula with natural colorants from cocoa powder, beetroot, caramel and blue-green algae to achieve natural-looking color, not that fake-bake orange that many self-tanners are known for. Our formula also features squalane, an olive oil derivative, and rich moisturizer, plus a variety of teas for antioxidants and skin protection.

With CLEANTAN, you get gorgeous color for your bald head without dyes, synthetic fragrance, harsh odors and other not-so-great ingredients. Click here to check it out for yourself.

[i] https://www.health.harvard.edu/womens-health/are-sunless-tanning-products-safe

[ii] https://www.fda.gov/radiation-emitting-products/tanning/ultraviolet-uv-radiation#4

[iii] https://www.fda.gov/radiation-emitting-products/tanning/risks-tanning#1

[iv] https://www.fda.gov/radiation-emitting-products/tanning/risks-tanning#1