With prom and spring festivities right around the corner, self-tanning season has officially begun.

Many girls on campus self-tan to raise confidence, especially when prom and formal events are coming up.  Some people self-tan themselves with gloves, but others spend money and get it done at a tanning salon. Popular tanning places near campus consist of Studio 72, Tan & Share, and Wilbraham tanning.

Self-tanning began in the 1950s with dihydroxyacetone, a chemical that can brown the outer layers of the skin. Eva Wittgenstein, a researcher at a Cincinnati hospital, noticed that the chemical was staining her patient’s skin brown. She went on to discover spray tans, according to the New York Times.  Spray tans and self-tanning have become so common over the years. Some of the popular brands include Tanologist, Bondi Sands, and Foaming Selfless Tans.

Maya Mallett, a junior boarder from Alexandria, Va., often self-tans.

“I typically self-tan once a week and get spray tans the night before special events in the winter or spring. I like to get them when I go home because I am a member at the local salon and often have events at home that I want to look tan for,” she said.

On April 5, Maya flew home to Virginia for prom at her old school. Maya feels more put together when she self-tans.

“I feel like everyone looks better with a tan and it definitely boosts my confidence. I would rather be orange than pale,” she said. “I have also been self-tanning for over five years now, so I have gotten used to the comments.”

People who self-tan often receive comments such as, “you look orange” or “what did you do to your face?” Self-tanning mistakes often result in putting too much or asking for too dark of a shade.

Maya doesn’t care if people judge her self-tans.

“Sometimes its fun to joke around with other people who self-tan when the tan is splotchy or uneven, because it happens to everyone who tans,” she said.

Mia Bauer, a sophomore border from Holyoke, Mass., also self-tans weekly.

“I try to self-tan every Thursday no matter what. If there is an upcoming special occasion, I will plan accordingly and self-tan two days before I attend the special occasion because that is when my self-tan looks best,” she said.

Mia also sees the positive benefits of self-tanning.

“I feel the need to self-tan because I personally believe that the orange undertone that some self-tan has is a better option than being pale,” she said. “In my opinion, the majority of people look and feel better about themselves when they are tan, so self-tanning does boost my confidence.”