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Thread: Skin Bleaching vs. Tanning

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    Veteran Member Ebony's Avatar
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    Default Skin Bleaching vs. Tanning

    I as talking about skin bleaching with one of my girlfriends . She works at a club in NYC and told me one of the Jamacian girls she works with pretty much bleaches her whole body. I was taken aback by this and considered this girl to have some sort of identity crisis i.e she is trying to be 'white'. Anyway my girlfriend and I started a heated conversation about this topic. Why is it 'wrong' or frowned upon that a WOC (women of color) and by this I mean any woman who is non Anglo incuding Hispanic and Asian, lightening her skin? Espically a black woman.

    She made a good point saying that almost all white dancers she works with either tan or put some sort of body bronzer on everytime they work. This tanned look seems to appeal to men and looks overall more healthy. This particular Jamican dancer saw it the same way, she was lightening her complexion to even out skin tone and also lighten her skin to appeal to a larger number of customers.

    The technique she uses is probably dangerous in the long run because she mixes various products and after her showers twice a day the applies the concoction to her entire body like you would skin lotion. After talking about this for about 1hr with my girlfriend I can see the benefits but I don't think I would go that far.

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    Veteran Member Ebony's Avatar
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    Default Re:Skin Bleaching vs. Tanning

    Miss George that is how I say it also. But then my friend told me that girls inject silicone and collagen into their lips, get radical facial surergeries (cheek bone implants, chin implants, face lipo) and nothing is wrong with it.

    I thought it was stange because she didn't go to a plastic surgeon or dermatologist to get this skin lighteners. She gets them from Jamacia. From there I knew she was probably dealing with some toxic stuff. I know is foreign countries their skin lighteners have mercury and steroids in them.

    I think if done under a doctors supervision it would be safe but I don't think any doctor would recommend for the ENTIRE body.

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    Featured Member cash's Avatar
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    Default Re:Skin Bleaching vs. Tanning

    ssoo this is what i still dont understand why is it ok to tann your skin but not ok for her to bleach her skin ....sure its risky but everything carries a risk ...why is it ok for people to inject silicone in their lips and ass but so wrong for her to bleach her skin who am i to tell her not to bleach her skin cause its dangerous who am i to tell another person not to inject silicone in their lips because its dangerous .....in my eyes they are both the same ....just that there is a double standards in society where people think that if you are black its wrong to do so and so but if you are white it is ok and acceptable to do so and so
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    Senior Member Tonya's Avatar
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    Default Re:Skin Bleaching vs. Tanning

    A white person tanning because they think they look better darker, ok. A black person bleaching her skin, I assume because she thinks she'll look better lighter, not ok. Well, I see the double standard. But I can't get past the history of this counrty and all the baggage and view skin bleaching as simply cosmetic.

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    Default Re:Skin Bleaching vs. Tanning

    I think its a personal decision and no one elses business.
    Although I don't believe Micheal Jackson's story about his skin disease, he does have the right to alter his skin color.
    I for one love skin color..
    Unfortunately in society certain colors are not always appreciated.
    Which is f*cked up !
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    Featured Member exotica17's Avatar
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    Default Re:Skin Bleaching vs. Tanning

    I agree here. There is definitely a double standard. Some women expose themselves to dangerous chemicals to lighten their skin, some expose themselves to harmful rays to darken it. Some women get collagen injected into their lips to make them more full. Isn't it funny, though, how no one thinks anything of relaxers or curly perms? Those chemicals can be dangerous, too. Any they are used to alter the natural texture of the hair.

    I think that any skin color is beautiful, as long as it is nice and even. Mine is very, very blotchy (when I used to dance, some customers thought I had gotten burned!). Also, after having my baby, my belly and other parts have gotten darker. So I am currently using hydroquinone on those spots to help them blend in with my other skin. There is, in fact, skin bleach that comes in a large bottle and may be used for the body as well as the face. Hydroquinone has been linked to very severe burns and skin damage, though. That is only because it was improperly used and contained steroids and very high amounts of hyrdroquinone.

    People do crazy things in the name of "beauty", though, don't they? I'm considering Botox, myself.

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    Veteran Member MotherDaisy's Avatar
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    Default Re:Skin Bleaching vs. Tanning

    maybe you could seach the internet and print out some alarming material on skin bleaching and get it to the girl who is doing it

    Is bleaching painful......it sounds horrible

    American's have a lot of weird beauty rituals that we consider normal. Think of all the hair dying, fake nails, shaving, tottooing, piercing, extreme dieting and other pain we endure for looking good.

    Maybe this is normal in Jamaica?
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    Featured Member cash's Avatar
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    Default Re:Skin Bleaching vs. Tanning

    Quote Originally Posted by MotherDaisy link=board=27;threadid=7118;start=msg80979#msg8097 9 date=1078452986
    maybe you could seach the internet and print out some alarming material on skin bleaching and get it to the girl who is doing it

    Is bleaching painful......it sounds horrible

    American's have a lot of weird beauty rituals that we consider normal. Think of all the hair dying, fake nails, shaving, tottooing, piercing, extreme dieting and other pain we endure for looking good.

    Maybe this is normal in Jamaica?
    i agree with what you have just said about us in america having alot of weird beauty rituals some are even more dangerous than we know .i.e....the use of relaxers as someone else have stated....
    us: us: us: devil in disguise....

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    Veteran Member Ebony's Avatar
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    Default Re:Skin Bleaching vs. Tanning

    Well she has always bleached her skin and it is VERY commor in West Indian countries especially Jamacia. My girlfriend says this Jamacian girl has very even skin and she says it doesn't burn or anything. Also she makes more money that 'darker' black dancers at her club and get compliments all the time from customers on her beautifl skin. This is what made by friend want input on this subject. It turned out as a sort of debate between us.

    But she has been doing this for YEARS literally and like I said earlier she gets the stuff from overseas. Not like Canada overseas but Asia and Europe.

    I was thinking of going this to my stomach area and bikini line. But I'm making an appointment with a dermatologist. I wouldn't want to do my beautiful skin (the largest organ in the body) any harm.

    But another note some of the Brazilian girls that work at the same club use self tanners from Brazil that have harmful chemicals in them like iodine (but with great results they say).

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    Default Re:Skin Bleaching vs. Tanning

    the only bad thing about all this would be long term effects. People have their own standards of beauty and we all do things to improve the way we look, by the way in Japan skin bleaching is very popular as it gives off a more "soft" , "femanine" appearence (or so they think). In europe skin bleaching was also very popular in the victorian age too.So maybe its not so much that your friend has a problem , maybe its just a universal issue.

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    Default Re:Skin Bleaching vs. Tanning

    This is a done and done topic. It is very common amongst black women to tan or bleach their skin depending on their lightness/darkness. They carry out cosmetic bleaching and skin-peeling in the UK and in African countries to lighten skin tone. Yes, it carries implications in the long term but don't most things that will alter your look significantly?

    Pale girls say a tan makes them money where everyone else is fair. So why should it be different for a brown girl to bank where everyone is so dark? While I do not like the idea of sunbeds, and the like for myself, she's being wise, seen a niche with no takers and is making full use of it. Good on her. I just hope she's putting her long term health as #1 priority.
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    Default Re:Skin Bleaching vs. Tanning

    Totally a double-standard.

    It's like how you never hear someone complaining that a black person is "acting white," but we have the word "wi___r" (I think it's just as bad as its counterpart, sorry) to describe white people that act "too black." So Fucked Up.

    lots of white people don't want to lose their privilege, so they don't want anyone moving in on it by 'looking white.' And a lot of people of color get upset with it because they see that person as a race-traitor.




    This is really probably TMI but I want to find a safe way to bleach my butthole!!! gross right? But I just always worry about that awful brown-eye syndrome that some girls get when the bend over or spread. Ew.

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    Default Re:Skin Bleaching vs. Tanning

    Yes..In many ways I do view it as a double standard.

    Ebony, I believe for many women of color (especially black women) we grow up with the belief that white is right. The lighter your skin, hair and eyes are, the easier it is for you. The straighter your hair and nose are, you have it made!

    Society spoon feeds us this image that we have to "become" this ideal woman. When you look @ TV, and watch these commercials mostly all of the models are fair skinned/light skinned with light eyes. For the girl you speak of Ebony, she must assume that she needs to be this way to be accepted. From the outside looking in, everyone may think she is the most beautiful girl..but to her, she has a million flaws. Until she learns to look within herself, no one can tell her any different.







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    Default Re:Skin Bleaching vs. Tanning

    Quote Originally Posted by abadvi link=board=27;threadid=7118;start=msg84621#msg8462 1 date=1079384487
    Totally a double-standard.

    It's like how you never hear someone complaining that a black person is "acting white," but we have the word "wi___r" (I think it's just as bad as its counterpart, sorry) to describe white people that act "too black." So Fucked Up.
    Sorry, but people do complain all the ttime that a black person is acitng white..as a matter of fact, i heard it all through junior high schook and high school..

    But I do agree that there is a double standard going on here..I mean, think of all we do..nails, waxing, hair - no one is saying anything bad about extensions or wigs or hair color? and these are all things we do to improve ourselves..to make ourselves look better..for our customers..for that money..So who am I to say that she shouldnt do it?? However, as a black woman, I do question her motives..is it because she's filling a niche like someone else said, or is it becuase she's unhappy with herself..her heritage..and her skin color? I just hope that she appreciates the beauty in her skin color..and that would be why I'd never do it myself..
    At this time in my life, the only way I keep moving forward is to know that things will eventually get better..

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    Default Re:Skin Bleaching vs. Tanning

    Wow I was watching a docu on skin bleaching 2 days ago, and was going to start a thread on the subject and then i came across this thread today.

    Anyway i agree with most of you.... definitely a double standard. Tanning and bleaching are the exactly the same.... The only difference imo, is the process of how each one is done, but yet tanning is considered far more acceptable.

    Quote Originally Posted by Malibu link=board=27;threadid=7118;start=msg84612#msg8461 2 date=1079383145
    This is a done and done topic. It is very common amongst black women to tan or bleach their skin depending on their lightness/darkness. They carry out cosmetic bleaching and skin-peeling in the UK and in African countries to lighten skin tone. Yes, it carries implications in the long term but don't most things that will alter your look significantly?

    Pale girls say a tan makes them money where everyone else is fair. So why should it be different for a brown girl to bank where everyone is so dark? While I do not like the idea of sunbeds, and the like for myself, she's being wise, seen a niche with no takers and is making full use of it. Good on her. I just hope she's putting her long term health as #1 priority.
    Bu you wrote that exactly how i had it in my mind... i agree with you 100% girl...

    Here in th UK, skin bleaching is very common.... esp. amongst the Jamaican and African girls.... I can usually tell though.

    I hate the whole light-skin vs darker skin thing we have going on between black women..... which is a result of the images we see in the media, i personally believe. Just take a look at hiphop and R&B vids.....

    I have a very rich medium reddy-brown complexion, probably due to my heratiage.... but when i was younger ( around 9 ) i was 2x darker than i am now ( for some reason i became alot lighter when i got older ) and i remember wanting to be lighter, because the light skinned-girls were always deemed more attractive..... My mother and father are have very light skin and ppl would ask me why i came out "BLACK", it was very upsetting for me....

    Now i am considered more attractive because of the colour of my complexion and because i have long hair and a straight nose.... Ppl will argue with me when i tell them my other is from Africa, telling me i cant have a pure African mother and that i must be from the Carribean because they assume all African ppl are very dark, with big lips and noses and have nappy hair.... I find this VERY offensive. See we also have this African vs Carribean thing going on.... such a damn shame.

    Quote Originally Posted by MotherDaisy link=board=27;threadid=7118;start=msg80979#msg8097 9 date=1078452986

    Is bleaching painful......it sounds horrible
    No its not painful..... but some girls in Ghana ( where my mother is from ) use HAIR RELAXER to bleach there skin, WTF!.... now THAT must be painful!

    Overall i believe to each his own.... i have no problem with a women bleaching her skin whether its to lighten her complexion or to give it a clear smooth overall tone..... I just dont think the health risks are worth it though.

    Seraya.


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    Default Re:Skin Bleaching vs. Tanning

    Quote Originally Posted by abadvi link=board=27;threadid=7118;start=msg84621#msg8462 1 date=1079384487

    It's like how you never hear someone complaining that a black person is "acting white,"

    Uh uh..... It happens trust me.

    Quote Originally Posted by abadvi link=board=27;threadid=7118;start=msg84621#msg8462 1 date=1079384487
    but we have the word "wi___r" (I think it's just as bad as its counterpart, sorry) to describe white people that act "too black." So Fucked Up.
    Black ppl acting "too white" have the names Oreo, coconut, bounty just to mane a few...



    Quote Originally Posted by abadvi link=board=27;threadid=7118;start=msg84621#msg8462 1 date=1079384487

    This is really probably TMI but I want to find a safe way to bleach my butthole!!! gross right? But I just always worry about that awful brown-eye syndrome that some girls get when the bend over or spread. Ew.
    LMAO! Eww.

    Seraya.


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    Veteran Member Nina's Avatar
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    Default Re:Skin Bleaching vs. Tanning

    Tans are temporary like wigs/ false eyelashes/ a pushup bra--- you still know who you are underneath.

    Skin bleaching is forever-- you've changed yourself forever.
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    Veteran Member Topaz's Avatar
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    Default Re:Skin Bleaching vs. Tanning

    this is true...

    but getting called 'house nigger'...'watered down'...and getting told 'hum...massa must have been all up in your family tree'...and "you ain't a real sista"...hurts the same as when someone gets called 'darkie'...'black spot'...'field nigger'...etc...

    it hurts just the same...just wanted to let y'all know that...
    Why do some people still have to fight...to get the same opportunities...that are given to others??...

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    Senior Member Tonya's Avatar
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    Default Re:Skin Bleaching vs. Tanning

    Quote Originally Posted by Topaz link=board=27;threadid=7118;start=msg86470#msg8647 0 date=1079816041
    this is true...

    but getting called 'house nigger'...'watered down'...and getting told 'hum...massa must have been all up in your family tree'...and "you ain't a real sista"...hurts the same as when someone gets called 'darkie'...'black spot'...'field nigger'...etc...

    it hurts just the same...just wanted to let y'all know that...
    Topaz, you need to get out of where ever you are living. I've never had anyone say anything remotely that cruel to me.

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    Member dymondiva420's Avatar
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    Default Re:Skin Bleaching vs. Tanning

    Quote Originally Posted by Tonya link=board=27;threadid=7118;start=msg86478#msg8647 8 date=1079817139
    Quote Originally Posted by Topaz link=board=27;threadid=7118;start=msg86470#msg8647 0 date=1079816041
    this is true...

    but getting called 'house nigger'...'watered down'...and getting told 'hum...massa must have been all up in your family tree'...and "you ain't a real sista"...hurts the same as when someone gets called 'darkie'...'black spot'...'field nigger'...etc...

    it hurts just the same...just wanted to let y'all know that...
    Topaz, you need to get out of where ever you are living. I've never had anyone say anything remotely that cruel to me.
    Unfortunately, that type of dumbness happens everywhere..I've been called"oreo" or told that I talk/sound like a white girl..I was once asked if my mom was really my mom because she's very light skinned (i'm like a caramel complexion), and when I said yes, I was told that my daddy mustve been a direct descendent of a field hand..
    I've learned to appreciate the beauty in my skin and in me..and to, as Jay-Z said..brush those haters off..lol
    At this time in my life, the only way I keep moving forward is to know that things will eventually get better..

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    Featured Member ami's Avatar
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    Default Re:Skin Bleaching vs. Tanning

    I am very pale. So pale people often ask if I am ok. I can't even buy powder or foundation in my colour because "pale" (says so on the bottle) is too dark. I tell people "I like my gothic tan" because I do. I like all natural skin tones. my definition of natural in this case is anything that dosnt take extreme amounts of effort. someone who is naturally white who spends thier entire summer on the beach in a binkni is still a natural colour to me. I really just don't like the orange thing some people get. but thats just my opinion...

    and now for more of my opinion. I think people can do what ever they want with thier own body, no matter how silly or stupid it may seem to me. I see people get implants all the time, I have large breasts naturally and don't understand why in the world anyone would pay for such a curse. whatever. If its yours you can do with it as you please.

    "and it hurt none, do as ye will"

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    Default Re:Skin Bleaching vs. Tanning

    Quote Originally Posted by miss george link=board=27;threadid=7118;start=msg86690#msg8669 0 date=1079851295

    And Seraya, since you saw the documentary--you say bleaching is supposed to be just as safe as tanning? That suprises me--I thought bleaching was much more dangerous.

    This whole topic makes me think---you know, it doesn't really matter what you do to yourself superficially. It's the reasons why you do it that matter anyway.

    Your last comment is so true i totally agree, that its the reason behind it that matters....

    The documentry i saw highlighted the how dangerous bleaching is.... but i honestly think sun beds are just as bad.....

    Btw this is very common amongst asian girls i e. Indian, Pakistan also because the lighter they are the more beautiful they are considered.... i know a lot of Asian girls and they have one famous bleaching cream they use called " my fair lady", which is very popular product apparently in there community.

    Seraya.


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    Featured Member cash's Avatar
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    Default Re:Skin Bleaching vs. Tanning

    for those who thought bleaching was a lasting thing ...i deffinaely think that it need upkeep its the same as tanning if you don't continue you will go back to your natural color i know this because i live where there are alot of indians i communicate with some and seraya its is so true that in their neighbourhood the lighter you are the more beautiful you are considered they also have a lot of indian stores around her that sells a lot of the stuff that they use
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    Default Re:Skin Bleaching vs. Tanning

    Yea cash your right you need to upkeep it

    Seraya.


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    Default Re:Skin Bleaching vs. Tanning

    I am afraid all of the comments above relate to the wacky world of fashion. Personally I do not believe anyone altering their complexion is any whit different than dying hair, straightening, adding curl, painting toe/finger nails, wearing wigs, getting BA's, or taking speech lessons to get rid of a lisp or strong local/regional accent (or for men shaving versus beards--long hair short hair/ toupees, or minoxidil). It is all self image and perceived public impression.

    History is full of examples of such fashions changing over time. 60-70 years ago the fashion was to be as pale as possible because that made it look like you did not work outdoors, i.e. it was an indication of social status. Then the perception was a tan made you look "healthy".

    You can't change what other people think, just what you think. I would be more concerned with the long-term health aspects of HOW you change the appearance, than what other's think.

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