Bunny tail is the small white circle that appears just above the tailbone after a lay-down tanning bed session. It’s caused by pressure, not by your skin failing to tan — and once you understand that, it becomes much easier to prevent.
When you lie on your back, your tailbone presses firmly against the acrylic surface. That pressure reduces blood flow to the skin in that spot and physically blocks UV rays from reaching it. The skin stays pale while everything around it tans. The result looks exactly like a little white bunny tail — which is where the name comes from.
The good news is there are several straightforward techniques that work reliably. This guide covers all of them, explains what’s actually going on, and includes tips for fixing bunny tail if it’s already there.
Key Takeaways
- Bunny tail is caused by pressure from the tailbone pressing against the tanning bed surface, reducing blood flow and blocking UV rays from reaching that spot.
- Flipping onto your stomach for part of your session is the simplest and most effective prevention method.
- Raising your knees while on your back shifts weight away from the tailbone and lets UV reach the area more effectively.
- Sitting on the edge of the bed for the last two minutes of your session — rotating from one side to the other — is a popular salon trick that works well.
- Stand-up tanning beds eliminate bunny tail almost entirely because there’s no surface pressure.
- Shoulder blades cause the same problem on the upper back — this is known as “angel wings” and is fixed using the same techniques.
- If bunny tail has already developed, applying a self-tanner to the white area is the fastest fix while you work on better positioning going forward.
What Actually Causes Bunny Tail?
It helps to understand this clearly, because it changes how you think about preventing it.
When you lie flat on your back in a lay-down tanning bed, the bulk of your body weight concentrates on two points: your shoulder blades and your tailbone. The skin in these areas is pressed firmly against the acrylic. That pressure does two things. First, it reduces circulation — blood flow to compressed skin is reduced when tissue is squeezed against a hard surface. Second, it means the skin in that spot is in direct contact with the acrylic rather than exposed to the air and the UV lamps above.
UV light can’t effectively penetrate compressed skin in the same way it reaches open, relaxed skin. The area stays white while the surrounding skin tans normally. When you stand up, that white circle looks remarkably like a cotton bunny tail — which is exactly where the nickname comes from.
The same logic applies to the shoulder blades. The white spots that form there are called “angel wings” and are fixed the same way.
7 Ways to Avoid Bunny Tail in a Tanning Bed
1. Flip Onto Your Stomach
This is the single most effective thing you can do. Splitting your session — spending roughly half the time on your back and half on your stomach — means the tailbone is never pressed against the surface for the full session. It also gives your back, hamstrings, and the backs of your arms even UV coverage, which improves your overall tan significantly.
The exact split doesn’t need to be perfect. Even flipping with about five minutes left in your session helps. Most tanning beds have a timer, so it’s easy to set a mental reminder to flip around the halfway point.
2. Raise Your Knees
If you prefer to spend most of your time on your back, raising your knees is one of the most practical adjustments you can make. Bending your legs and planting your feet flat on the surface of the bed shifts your weight forward, lifting the tailbone slightly away from the acrylic. It takes pressure off the problem spot without requiring you to change position entirely.
This also helps expose the backs of your knees — another area that’s easy to miss in a lay-down bed.
3. Shift Your Weight Side to Side
Every few minutes, rock your hips gently from side to side so your weight alternates between your left and right side. This briefly relieves pressure on the tailbone from either direction and keeps circulation moving through the area. It’s not a complete fix on its own, but it’s a simple habit to add to any session.
4. Sit on the Edge for the Last Two Minutes
This is one of the most widely shared tips among regular tanners — and it works. In the final two minutes of your session, sit upright on the edge of the bed with the lid open (or fully raised). Shift your weight alternately between your left and right cheek every 30 seconds or so. The UV lamps are still active, and the tailbone area finally gets full, unobstructed exposure with no pressure against it.
It feels a little awkward the first time, but it’s genuinely one of the most effective techniques for anyone who finds bunny tail persistent. Many salon staff members suggest it as a standard tip for regular clients.
5. Use a Stand-Up Tanning Bed
Stand-up tanning booths eliminate bunny tail almost completely. When you’re upright, there’s no surface pressing against the tailbone or shoulder blades. UV exposure reaches your entire body evenly, including the areas that are always shaded in a lay-down bed.
Stand-up beds also tend to have stronger lamps and shorter recommended session times, so they’re worth factoring into your routine even if you don’t want to switch entirely. Using a stand-up tanning bed every third session or so is a great way to address pressure point areas while keeping lay-down sessions as your main method.
6. Exfoliate Before Your Session
This doesn’t prevent the pressure problem directly, but it ensures that when UV does reach the tailbone area, it’s working with fresh, even skin rather than a layer of built-up dead cells. Dead skin tans unevenly and fades faster — so areas that are already struggling to get UV exposure will tan even less effectively if the skin isn’t prepared.
Exfoliate gently two to three days before tanning, not immediately before (freshly exfoliated skin can be more sensitive to UV). Follow with a light, non-oil-based moisturizer to keep the skin hydrated. You can find more on preparation in our guide to how to exfoliate before tanning.
7. Apply a Tanning Lotion
A good indoor tanning lotion won’t eliminate a pressure-point problem on its own, but it helps in two ways. It keeps the skin hydrated, which helps maintain an even base tan that’s less obviously interrupted by pale spots. And if you choose a lotion with a bronzer, it adds a surface colour that can slightly reduce the visible contrast of a mild bunny tail while you work on better positioning.
An indoor tanning accelerator can also help your skin respond to UV more effectively overall, which may help harder-to-tan areas like the tailbone build colour faster when they do get exposure.
What About Angel Wings?
Angel wings are the same problem, just at the shoulder blades. When you lie on your back, your shoulder blades press against the acrylic surface in the same way your tailbone does. The result is two pale patches on your upper back that look like faint wing shapes.
The fixes are identical: flip onto your stomach, raise your arms overhead for part of the session (which lifts the shoulder blades away from the surface), and use a stand-up bed periodically. Some tanning salon FAQs specifically suggest putting your arms above your head for half the session to address angel wings — it’s a simple change that makes a real difference.
How to Fix Bunny Tail That’s Already There
If you already have a visible bunny tail and want to even things out quickly, a self-tanner applied carefully to the white area is the fastest option. Use a small amount and blend it carefully into the surrounding tanned skin so it fades naturally at the edges rather than creating a sharp line. A tanning mitt helps with this — it gives you much more control over blending than applying with your hands.
It’s worth noting that bunny tail isn’t a mark that fades on its own — it’s simply untanned skin. It will persist for as long as the surrounding tan lasts (typically seven to fourteen days), then both areas will equalise as the tan fades. If you re-tan regularly without adjusting your technique, the bunny tail will keep reappearing. Fixing your positioning is the long-term solution; self-tanner is a bridge to even things out in the meantime.
For more on applying self-tanner cleanly and evenly, our self-tanning tips and tricks guide covers application in full detail.
FAQ
Why does my tailbone not tan in a tanning bed?
It’s a pressure point issue. When you lie on your back, your body weight presses the tailbone area firmly against the acrylic surface. This reduces blood flow and blocks UV rays from reaching the skin there. The tailbone isn’t harder to tan — it just can’t get proper UV exposure when it’s compressed against the bed surface. Adjusting your position (raising your knees, flipping onto your stomach, or sitting on the edge) gives that area exposure and fixes the problem.
What is the correct way to lie in a tanning bed to avoid bunny tail?
Spend at least part of your session on your stomach. When on your back, raise your knees to shift weight forward and lift the tailbone off the surface. In the last couple of minutes, sit upright on the edge of the bed with the lamps still active, shifting your weight between sides. This combination covers the tailbone area properly across the session.
Should you flip over in a tanning bed?
Yes — flipping is one of the most effective things you can do for an even all-over tan. It prevents bunny tail, prevents angel wings, ensures the backs of your arms and legs get even coverage, and helps your sides tan properly too. Aim to split your session roughly half-and-half, or flip with five or so minutes remaining.
How long does bunny tail last?
Bunny tail is not a temporary mark — it’s untanned skin that will persist for as long as the surrounding tan lasts, which is typically seven to fourteen days. It doesn’t fade or heal on its own; both areas eventually even out when the wider tan fades with normal skin cell turnover. Applying self-tanner to the white area can cover it in the meantime, but fixing your tanning position is the only way to prevent it recurring.
Do stand-up tanning beds prevent bunny tail?
Yes, very effectively. Because you’re upright with no surface contact, there are no pressure points and UV reaches your entire body without obstruction. Stand-up beds tend to have stronger lamps and shorter session times, which is worth factoring in. Using one every few sessions alongside your regular lay-down bed is a good way to address pressure-point areas without switching entirely.
Can I use self-tanner to fix bunny tail?
Yes — a self-tanner applied carefully to the white area and blended into the surrounding tan is the quickest way to even things out cosmetically. Use a tanning mitt for the best blending result. Keep in mind that self-tanner is a cover, not a fix — you’ll need to adjust your tanning technique to prevent it coming back.
Conclusion
Bunny tail is one of those tanning bed problems that seems mysterious until you understand what’s actually causing it — and then it becomes simple to fix. It’s not about your skin type, how strong the bed is, or how long you tan for. It’s about pressure blocking UV from a specific spot.
Flip onto your stomach. Raise your knees. Sit on the edge for those last two minutes. Incorporate a stand-up bed occasionally. Do those things consistently, and bunny tail largely becomes a non-issue. If it’s already there, a self-tanner blended carefully over the white area sorts it out quickly while you work on better positioning for the next session.
For more on getting the best results from your sessions, take a look at our tanning bed tips for beginners — which covers everything from choosing the right bed to session lengths and skin prep.