Did you know that a tan wasn't always considered attractive? It wasn't until the 20th century that it was truly appreciated, and today it remains a desirable feature.
The History of Tanning
In the past, people avoided suntans because they were associated with low social status. This stemmed from the fact that people from lower social classes engaged in manual labor, and therefore their skin was more likely to be darker than that of the upper classes, who avoided excessive sun exposure. Therefore, beauty standards of the time primarily valued fair skin. This changed in the 20th century, partly due to social and moral changes.
Famed French designer Coco Chanel played a significant role in promoting the tan, appearing publicly tanned in 1923 after a cruise on the French Riviera. This caused a scandal – she was criticized for failing to protect her skin, and initially Chanel acknowledged this as her mistake. However, over time, she began promoting the golden skin tone herself.
Another important step in the rise of tan popularity came with the invention of the bikini by designer Louis Réard. First introduced in 1946, it sparked considerable controversy, as no previous sunbathing suit exposed the female body to such an extent. The outfit was so scandalous that Louis Réard struggled to find a model willing to wear it for a show.
As bikinis and other sunbathing suits gained popularity, cosmetic companies began producing tanning products. At first, these were oils intended to accelerate tanning, and later, other cosmetics were developed to help achieve a golden glow. Tans became fashionable, so more and more people spent time at the beach, and some began to consider the possibility of creating artificial sun.
Friedrich Wolff created the first tanning bed in 1975. The inventor sold the patent for his invention to Americans, and since then, the United States has been a leader in the tanning market. The 1980s and 1990s saw the rise in popularity of indoor tanning , and in the early 21st century, indoor tanning products became widespread, accelerating the tanning process, enhancing the tan, and nourishing and conditioning the skin.