Typically, you cannot get a tan through regular leggings, as they block most UV rays from reaching your skin. However, some companies, like Cooltan, produce specially designed “tan-through” clothing, including leggings, made from lightweight fabric with a unique construction that allows a certain amount of UV rays to pass through, enabling you to tan while wearing them.
Have you ever wondered if you can get tan through leggings? Or if you can get sunburn through black leggings? Or if you can get sunburn through leggings?
When you are trying to figure out if you can get tan through leggings….. or if you can get sunburn through black leggings….. or if you can get sunburn through leggings….. one of the most important things to consider is how close the fabric will be to your skin.
- If the material is very thin and close to your skin….. then it may be possible.
- But if the material is thick and far away from your skin….. then it may not be possible.
Even though there are a lot of different fabrics that make up clothing….. they usually fall into one of three categories: knit fabrics….. woven fabrics….. or non-woven fabrics… Each of these categories has its own set of characteristics that will determine whether or not you can get tan through them.
Can You Get Tan Through Leggings?
Can you get tan through leggings? The answer is yes! You can get tan through leggings if they are not too loose… The reason is that the UV rays penetrate into your skin and cause tanning… Tanning is a process in which the melanin glands in your skin produce more melanin to protect your skin from the harmful rays of sunlight.
- If you wear loose-fitting leggings….. you will not be able to get tan through them because the fabric is thick and does not let the sunlight reach your skin.
- If you wear tight-fitting leggings….. the fabric can mold itself to your body and thus help you get tanned as well… So….. yes….. you can get tan through leggings provided they are not too loose and provided that you stay out in the sun for long hours.
- You can get tan through leggings….. but it’s not likely unless you really work at it… And if you do get tan through leggings….. your tan may be uneven because you’re exposing just part of your legs to the sun (your upper legs).
If you want to get healthy and gorgeous….. consider this alternative: spray tanning. Spray tanning isn’t just for beach babes anymore! With spray tanning….. you can give your body an all-over glow without ever stepping foot into a tanning bed… These systems are affordable and easy to use….. plus they have minimal risk!
Can You Get Sunburn Through Leggings?
You can definitely get a sunburn through leggings….. whether they are black or white….. skinny or baggy… Sunscreen needs to go on your skin….. preferably 20 minutes before you hit the sun… If your skin is covered with clothing….. then you are protected from UV rays only while the clothing is in place.
You see….. leggings are just fabric and they don’t provide any kind of SPF protection… So while they can keep you warm and stylish while you’re out and about….. they will not provide any kind of sun protection… For that….. you need to find some kind of clothing that has a built-in SPF component.
Can You Get Sunburn Through Black Leggings?
You can get a sunburn through black leggings if the fabric is thin enough to allow for UV exposure through the fabric… You can absolutely get a sunburn through black leggings.
The answer is yes….. you can get sunburned through black leggings… But it’s important to remember that just because you got burned doesn’t mean your clothing is to blame… Most fabrics allow some amount of light to pass through….. but that doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t effective at blocking UV rays.
Black fabrics are particularly good at blocking light because their color absorbs all but the most powerful rays… However….. they don’t block 100 percent of UV rays….. so it’s still possible to get burned under certain circumstances.
Can UV Rays Go Through Leggings?
UV rays are most commonly visible in their harmful form as sunburn… Unfortunately….. they can also be seen through clothing….. which causes skin cancer… UV rays can be reflected off any material….. and light colors reflect them more than darker colors.
This means that clothes that are lighter colors….. like white or pastels….. may be more likely to reflect UV rays than clothes that are darker colors… However….. this is not always the case.
Tight clothing is particularly prone to reflecting UV rays because it is so thin… For example….. a person wearing tight-fitting jeans with a white shirt is likely to be much more exposed than someone wearing loose-fitting jeans with a black shirt of similar length and weight.
The same theory applies to skirts and dresses; the tighter the fit around the body and waist….. the more likely it is to allow UV rays to pass through… Longer skirts and dresses (and shirts) have a higher likelihood of being made out of heavier fabrics and therefore blocking out some of these harmful rays.
Leggings are another type of garment that is especially prone to allowing UV rays through them… So… UV rays go through leggings? Yes….. they can… UV rays are very harmful to your skin… They harm your skin cells and cause sunburns.
UV rays are invisible to the human eyes but can be seen with special lenses… When these rays come in contact with your skin….. they penetrate easily and cause various damages like melanoma….. dry skin….. wrinkles….. and many more.
So you can imagine how dangerous these UV rays are when they go through a thin fabric like leggings to reach your skin.
Can You Wear Leggings After a Spray Tan?
The worst thing to do after getting a spray tan is put on tight-fitting clothes… This includes leggings….. jeans….. and any other garment that is tight-fitting.
The reason for this is that the tan will come off on your clothes before you even take them off… It’s best to wear loose-fitting clothing after getting a spray tan to avoid this from happening… You’ll have a much longer-lasting tan if you do this!
You don’t want to have streaks or spots of your spray tan solution on your favorite pair of leggings!
After a spray tan….. it is best to choose loose and comfortable clothing for the first few days.
- Choose loose-fitting clothing
- Wear clothing that is not too tight or form-fitting
- Avoid wearing clothing that is uncomfortable or scratchy….. such as wool and velvet
- Choose clothes that are easy to remove in case of any mishaps while taking them on and off
In summary….. the amount of skin that can be exposed and still remain protected from the sun depends on the fabric… For example….. thin fabrics like silk….. satin….. and spandex offer very little protection from UV rays… Light-colored fabrics like white….. khaki….. and tan offer a moderate amount of protection from UV rays… Heavier fabrics like denim and leather offer the most protection from UV rays.
Tighter woven fabrics like denim also provide more protection than loosely woven fabrics like cotton… Most clothing manufacturers use tightly woven fabrics for darker colors and lose woven fabrics for lighter colors because it’s easier to dye lighter colors in the darker fabric… We call these “Dyed Black” but what we are really saying is lightly-colored black leggings that offer some protection….. but not much.
It’s hard to predict how much sun protection you will get from a pair of leggings or pants because there’s so much variation in fabric weight….. color….. weave….. and thickness between different brands and types of clothing.
You may also be interested in… How Do You Wear Leggings on Your Period? and Do Leggings Go Under Leotard?
Louise Wilson is an accomplished author, passionate textile historian, and renowned fashion enthusiast with a rich background in the world of apparel.
Graduating with honors in Fashion Design, Louise further expanded her skills and knowledge by completing a master’s degree in Textile History. Her academic pursuits have led her to explore the fashion capitals of the world, including Milan, Paris, and New York, enriching her insights into the global world of fashion.
As an author, Louise’s passion for fashion has found its way into her writings, where she intricately weaves narratives of style, design, and fashion history.