Headteacher bans fake tans to crack down on 'orange' pupils

**Honey** · July 22nd, 2008, 07:24 PM

Headteacher Carol Robinson, who has cracked down on fake tan at her school in Blackpool.

It may be de rigueur for celebrities such as Victoria Beckham and Jordan.
But for a group of schoolgirls fake tan, or more precisely the orange glow that comes from its over-enthusiastic application, has been ruled out.
The sight of streaky-legged pupils has become so common at Baines School that the head has written to parents to try to get them to discourage their daughters from coming to lessons covered with spray tan.
Carol Robinson, acting head of the comprehensive in Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire, said that while she was not banning fake tan, she hoped parents would support her.
In her letter, Mrs Robinson said the school strived to 'promote natural beauty and contentment with one's own looks' among pupils.
'The current trend for fake/spray tans does little to enhance the appearance of our young ladies,' she said.
'We ask for your support in ensuring girls do not come to school looking varying shades of orange.'
Mrs Robinson said the school preferred pupils to apply fake tan than risk their health by going on sunbeds or sitting in the sun without protection.
But she added: 'We're simply asking for parents' support in ensuring that it isn't over-the-top. Of course, we appreciate a false tan is probably much healthier than lying in the sun for hours.
'We're asking for co-operation in ensuring our pupils do not arrive for school in various shades of orange.'

Tangerine dream: A headteacher has asked parents to help clamp down on their children's use of fake tan (file picture)

Many pupils at the school support the head.
Alison Taylor, a 17-year-old sixth former, said: 'I agree fake tan should be banned. I think it looks a lot nicer to be natural than bright orange.'
Fake tan soared in popularity in the 1990s amid concerns about the use of sunbeds and their link to skin cancer.
In some areas, children as young as 11 use sunbeds, some of which are coin operated and up to three times more powerful than a decade ago. It has become such a problem that doctors said some youngsters were developing an obsession known as tanorexia.
Dr John Kellett, a consultant dermatologist, said: 'Fake tan doesn't do any harm at all to health. If the alternative is for young girls to go on the sunbed then it is preferable.'
A spokesman for Lancashire Education Authority said dress code and appearance were matters for individual schools.

Bad example: Schoolgirls are avid fans of fake tan as they seek to emulate their idols such as glamour model Jordan and Victoria Beckham (above)
FACT FILE

Fake tan lotions do not contain dyes or paint but work because their active ingredient - dihydroxyacetone (DHA) - causes a chemical reaction with amino acids in the dead layer of skin on the surface. This causes 'browning' of the skin without the need for sun or UV exposure.
Advice on applying fake tan, including how much is acceptable, appeared in the latest edition of Debrett's Etiquette Guide for Girls.
Last month organisers of Royal Ascot published a new fashion code, which warned racegoers that poorly applied fake tan on bare legs would be frowned upon.
In January this year TV bosses banned former Pop Idol star Gareth Gates from wearing fake tan after complaints he was looking 'too orange' by viewers of Dancing on Ice
Research has shown that women who use fake tan are twice as likely to use sun cream than those who don't.
Malignant melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer, is the most common cancer in 15 to 34-year-olds and results in 1,800 deaths a year.

Headteacher bans fake tans to crack down on 'orange' pupils | Mail Online

**SVZ** · July 22nd, 2008, 07:28 PM

I think that's bullshit, fake tanning has NOTHING to do with "denying your natural beauty".

They might as well ban makeup and showering, since they should be OK au naturel

**sparkly** · July 22nd, 2008, 08:20 PM

I don't want to look at orange, streaky people either, but a rite of passage for teens is to publicly humiliate themselves.

**fatguyinalittlecoat** · July 22nd, 2008, 08:43 PM

The article says she didn't actually "ban" anything, though. She just wrote a note to parents suggesting that they encourage their daughters to not overdo it on the tanner. She didn't do anything out of line, imo. I'm sick of looking at all the artificial shit kids are decking themselves out with nowadays, too.

**Sojiita** · July 22nd, 2008, 08:47 PM

It is Britain for God's sake..why would they want to look tanned there..not to mention 'orange'? It is just odd. Like trying to live in Iceland or Winnipeg and be tan.

That said, if they want to be orange idiots, so be it.

DitaPage* · July 22nd, 2008, 09:12 PM

Thats hilarious. I have to admit orange skin disturbs me.

**MrsDark** · July 22nd, 2008, 09:17 PM

I say let em look ridiculous. Or learn to apply properly. Either or these two is better than skin cancer. Plus it's entertainment for us who have to look at em.

**katerpillar** · July 23rd, 2008, 05:53 AM

I remember in school I used to get teased all the time for being pale. I wasn't one of those emo kids deliberately who tried to look ghostly, or anything - I'm just very fair skinned, and I had more sense than to try and change it for the sake of society's most pointlessly stupid beauty ideal.

It sort of sucks how much pressure there is to be "tanned" (or orange) when you're in school. Hopefully rules like this will reduce the pressure somewhat, so pasty kids like me are free to go about their business without being made to feel inferior because they don't have skin the shade of a basketball. Honestly, over my life I've felt more pressure about my skin colour than any other aspect of my physical appearance. Why? What's so bloody wrong with being pale and staying pale if you're born that way? It's ridiculous. It's not like it's inherently unattractive - at least, not if you bother to think for yourself.

Also, SVZ - most schools in the UK (and Australia) do ban makeup on students. They wear uniforms, too.

**suhani** · July 23rd, 2008, 10:56 AM

no more orange pics from school then? lol

**dolem** · July 23rd, 2008, 12:00 PM

Originally Posted by katerpillar

I remember in school I used to get teased all the time for being pale. I wasn't one of those emo kids deliberately who tried to look ghostly, or anything - I'm just very fair skinned, and I had more sense than to try and change it for the sake of society's most pointlessly stupid beauty ideal.

It sort of sucks how much pressure there is to be "tanned" (or orange) when you're in school. Hopefully rules like this will reduce the pressure somewhat, so pasty kids like me are free to go about their business without being made to feel inferior because they don't have skin the shade of a basketball. Honestly, over my life I've felt more pressure about my skin colour than any other aspect of my physical appearance. Why? What's so bloody wrong with being pale and staying pale if you're born that way? It's ridiculous. It's not like it's inherently unattractive - at least, not if you bother to think for yourself.

Also, SVZ - most schools in the UK (and Australia) do ban makeup on students. They wear uniforms, too.

I couldn't have said it better myself! I've had people try to explain to me that if I wore bronzer I would look better. I'm pale, bronzer would make me look like a freak, I've tried it out before. My mom has red hair, I inherited her pale skin. I'm ok with being pale, I really don't care at all. It's everyone else who takes issue with it.

My boyfriend in high school used to beg me to go tanning because he thought I'd look better tan (yes, he was actually quite a jerk). I went a few times and would just get red. He never understood. Thankfully my husband now doesn't care and just likes to compare how "tan" he looks next to my pale arms.

**Sasha** · July 23rd, 2008, 01:40 PM

Originally Posted by Raspberry gashes

Thats hilarious. I have to admit orange skin disturbs me.

I have some sort of optical allergy to bright orange-the sight of it literally makes me ill-dizzy and nauseous.

**AliceInWonderland** · July 23rd, 2008, 02:10 PM

this is awesome! i grew up in oregon where everyone fake tanned too cuz it was "cool" and i was orange as fuck when i look back at me senior year; so sad

**katerpillar** · July 24th, 2008, 08:58 AM

Originally Posted by dolem

I couldn't have said it better myself! I've had people try to explain to me that if I wore bronzer I would look better. I'm pale, bronzer would make me look like a freak, I've tried it out before. My mom has red hair, I inherited her pale skin. I'm ok with being pale, I really don't care at all. It's everyone else who takes issue with it.

My boyfriend in high school used to beg me to go tanning because he thought I'd look better tan (yes, he was actually quite a jerk). I went a few times and would just get red. He never understood. Thankfully my husband now doesn't care and just likes to compare how "tan" he looks next to my pale arms.

I don't even feel bad when bimbos with orange skin give me a hard time about being pale. It's hard to feel like the ugly one when the person teasing you or giving you "honest beauty advice" looks so ridiculous.

As for the bitches with real tans who give me a hard time about my paleness... I just comfort myself with the thought that they'll have gross leathery skin before they're even in their 30s - while I'll still have lovely youthful skin.