© Getty Images

What is tanning? -

Tanning is when you expose your skin to sunlight in order to get darker skin. The UV rays emitted by the sun stimulate melanin production in your body. Melanin is the dark pigment that makes you look tanned.

© Getty Images

Not on trend -

Originally, tanning was not the fashion at all. Tourists liked to swim in the sea, but usually the beaches were pretty empty in the summer months. In the 18th century, women even used to draw veins on their legs to make their skin look translucent.

© Getty Images

Cover up -

As you can see in Édouard Manet's painting of a 19th-century woman, people did not like to expose their skin. It was not only for propriety's sake but also because freckled skin or tanned skin was seen as less affluent. Blemishes signified that you had to go in the sun and do the chores yourself, instead of getting the servants to do it.

© Getty Images

Cover up -

Even when Caucasian people did go to the beach, parasols were used to protect their delicately white bodies. Bikinis were not even invented yet.

© Getty Images

Niels Ryberg Finsen -

Without meaning to, Icelandic-Faroese physician and scientist Niels Ryberg Finsen unintentionally set off the craze. In 1903, he used UV light as a way to treat illnesses derived from a lack of vitamin D. For it, he was awarded the Nobel Prize, which pushed the treatment into the mainstream.

© Getty Images

The first sun bed? -

Light therapy was normalized and served to reduce people's fear of the sun. However, the sun was not yet trendy, but still strictly medical.

© Getty Images

Sun cream -

Caucasian people wanted to catch sun rays to be healthy, but also wanted to stay white. Et voilà: sunblock was created! But it was not very advanced, as it did not contain any of the sunblocking agents we use today.

© Getty Images

Women's revolution -

The 1920s saw women have more power than they had ever enjoyed previously. In some countries, they could vote and even had more of a chance at financial independence. To reflect this, new boyish fashion trends swept through magazines.

© Getty Images

Hello, ladies! -

Women embraced their new social position with more risky clothes. Hemlines were shortened, backs lowered, and hair cut. All in all, there was more skin on show.

© Getty Images

Behavior -

Much to traditionalists' annoyance, women became freer in their actions. Drinking, smoking, and dancing became wonderful pastimes for new-wave women.

© Getty Images  

The beach -

The home of tanning was shut for most of the summer owing to people's fear of the sun. However, in 1923, the new trends demanded that the French Riviera beaches were kept open for the whole summer season.

© Getty Images

Coco Chanel (1883-1971) -

Of course, the mother of fashion had something to do with the tanning trend. Chanel was seen getting off her boat with a honey hue in 1923. People saw her bronzed body and decided that it was a better look than being pale.

© Getty Images

A new industry -

All of a sudden, there was a new industry that cosmetic companies could jump on. Sun-related products started hitting the shelves.

© Getty Images

New products -

Beach clothing, oil, and swimsuits became very popular. However, tanning was not so popular that the marketing ditched the protective element, yet.

© Getty Images

New products -

The 1920s fashion movement meant that swimsuits were now geared towards showing off the shape of your body and the glow of your skin. It was becoming evident that it was easier to look blemish-free with tanned skin rather than pale skin.

© Getty Images

Coppertone -

Oils had been released, but none made an impact as Coppertone did. Its marketing pushed it to the top of shopping lists everywhere.

© Getty Images

Birth of the bikini -

It's hard to imagine not having bikinis on the beach, but they were actually only invented in 1947. A simple white mid-waist bikini became the rage and allowed women to get a full-body tan.

© Getty Images

'Dr. No' (1962) -

Fast forward through the conservative '50s where tanning continued to grow in popularity. The James Bond film 'Dr. No' hailed in a craze for the carrot tan. Honey Rider, played by Ursula Andress, made every woman want a thick tan and a low-rise white bikini.

© Getty Images

Invisible danger -

Even though sun creams existed, they were not very protective and people were as yet unaware of the dangers of sun exposure. Many wouldn't even use cream and just go straight for olive oil–yikes!

© Getty Images

Barbie -

Even Barbie adapted to the changing trend. In 1971, Barbie was recreated a few tones darker. The new orange Barbie reflected the fashionable trend to be deeply tanned.

© Getty Images

The sun bed -

Another major milestone was the invention of the sun bed in 1978. Now people in all areas could access UV rays and become a crisp brown.

© Getty Images

The unknown truth -

Nowadays we know that 90% of all skin cancers are linked to UV exposure, but caution was thrown to the wind back then simply because they didn't know.

© Getty Images

Tanning progresses -

Soon after the invention of the sun bed came the introduction of self-tanning oil. In a way, it was probably a good thing so people would not use normal oils. But still, the little protection they provide is probably outweighed by the increased intensity of the UV rays.

© Getty Images

Look at them now - One of the main problems with tanning is that, even if you do not get skin cancer, the long-term effects are very noticeable. The sun speeds up and deepens the aging process, giving you wrinkles before your time.

© Shutterstock

Too much? -

There is the other option of a fake tan. The final result is much better these days, but it does make quite a few people look like Oompa Loompas! We recommend doing your research before going for a fake tan.

© Getty Images

Better brands -

Luckily, it is now possible to go to the beach and use good brands to protect your skin. Generally, the higher the SPF, the better.

© Getty Images

Beware -

A note about most tanning oils: although they are protective, they also do not last very long on your skin. So if you do go down the oil route, make sure you reapply often.

© Getty Images

Day to day -

Even if you're not on the beach soaking up the sauce, the sun can still affect your skin. It is recommended to use a moisturizer with SPF in it to protect your face.

© Getty Images

Enjoy -

If you take the precautions that they didn't take in the '70s, you can enjoy one of the most pleasurable passtimes without the adverse effects. Enjoy!

Sources: (Fashionista)(Elle)

See also: Celebrity-approved sunscreens for this summer

© Getty Images