How short does hair need to be in order to tan scalp?

[slynewbie]

Been getting a decent amount of sun....been a bit sunburnt on front of the head (where I was thinning originally). However, I don't seem to be burning on the sides or back....yet they still look pretty white IMO. I normally tan....so there was a contrast when I shaved my head.

My question is....since I started shaving 10 days ago....I normally shave every 2 days (and when I shave....I shave so there is no stubble). Is it possible the hair is growing back in that day or two where it's not letting sun through to tan those areas? I am exposed to a decent amount of sun every day (I have a convertible and have kept top down over this period for 30 min. or so at least per day).

So...do I have to be in the sun with no stubble in order to tan the head? Or can I have a day or two of stubble and still have sun get through to tan it? I have light brown hair....pretty thin on top....

[Paul the Headblader]

bald-short:-)

[Frontier Guy]

slynewbie, I have nothing to back it up ... but I think the scalp just takes longer to develop color than other areas I don't know whether there is a physical difference in capability or if it's just a matter of having to develop "tanning" characteristics.

I don't think stubble will impede tanning significantly, so don't worry about that.

More, I think it's just a matter of time. And some people just have an easier or more difficult time achieving even coloring.

Your profile doesn't indicate what part of the world you are in so I can't gauge the intensity of sun there. But I am in the subtropics (and it's summer) and I spent 30 minutes outdoors mid-morning and later afternoon to develop color. And it was still frustratingly slow.

It will come with time. Don't worry about it. Just another opportunity to learn "patience."

[waine]

Slynewbie, I have said this before, my head is still not the colour I want it to be after 112 days and having spent a considerable amount of time in the sun with no sunblock.  Under flourescent light my dome seems a bit on the yellow side.  OK it is winter here, so perhaps in summer it will tan faster, but my point is that this process takes a long time on certain people it seems.

[Snakehandler]

Try some lotion with color in it like Ocean Potion Ever Glo and gradually increase your exposure to the sun. And ask someone else to monitor your progress. We never seem to properly assess how dark we are getting or not 😄

[balddoc]

I became frustrated with scalp colour and resorted to self-tanning lotion. Problem solved:-)