The summer would not be complete without a golden tan. As a matter of fact, neither would any of the other seasons. In this trendy new millennium it's just not acceptable to run around with pale skin. Sadly this isn't a good thing for all of us.

To tell you the truth, I have no intention whatsoever of sunbathing or hitting up the local tanning salons. I try to "just say no" to premature aging and skin cancer. And there's no way I'm going to pay for it. However, laying on the beach and cancer in a box are no longer the only routes to a perfect tan.

The cool thing about acquiring a tan now is you can actually have your cake and eat it too. If you don't know where I'm coming from, it's high time you checked out spray tanning booths. It just may be your solution to a pale complexion.

If you missed last season of "The Real World" then you may be out of the loop. You see, in every one of these reality shows, the group is given a job. This time they had to run an airbrush tanning salon. This type of tanning business uses spray tanning booths to provide the clients with a rich, golden tan. The awesome part is that it's cancer and sun damage free.

Think along the lines of the tanning creams and lotions you can purchase in the drugstore. With airbrush tanning you simply step inside one of the private spray tanning booths and get misted by a tanning solution. It tans the dead exterior skin on your body, just as the creams and lotions do. Therefore it's wise to exfoliate well before heading into the spray tanning booths. I'm amazed at how far these alternatives to the sun have come. I can still recall back in high school when self-tanners would make your skin look orange.

Now you have a solution for this summer. No longer do you have to prance around on the beach as pale as a baby's bottom. You can take advantage of spray tanning booths at a local tanning business, or even purchase your very own. But be aware that these spray tanning booths are not cheap by any means. I recommend taking advantage of them in the summer, and going the pale route in the winter time. It's not like anyone is going to see you beneath your coat and boots.