'(25 Jan 2017) BLACK TAPE BIKINIS LATEST TANNING FAD IN RIO The Erika Bronze salon in the suburban neighborhood of Realengo is one of many using the latest fashion fad in beauty-obsessed Rio de Janeiro - strips of electrical tape. Holding black electrical tape and scissors, salon owner Erika Martins carefully places strips of it on one of her customers where a bikini would normally go. She says in working class neighborhoods and favelas, women often use similar techniques, as they are far from the beaches but are in search of perfect tan lines. Martins said she decided to start the salon after years of experimenting with the technique on herself and friends - now her Facebook page has 68,000 followers. Today, Martins\' rooftop fits 30 women and is at full capacity seven days a week, as long as the sun is out. Clients must book and pay about 20 US dollars in advance to guarantee a spot on one of her terrace loungers. \"My skin doesn\'t tan easily,\" said Hellen Marinho, who like many of the salon\'s customers is of African descent. \"I saw her doing a dark skinned girl and I liked it and decided to try.\" Sunscreen is applied to the exposed skin, followed by a special tanning lotion sold at the salon. Tanners who don\'t want sunscreen or want to stay out longer than recommended must sign a disclaimer absolving the salon of liability. Depending on the sun\'s intensity and the customer\'s skin color, Martins has them lay belly up for around an hour, and then belly down for the same amount of time. Dermatologists are more horrified than impressed with the technique, which they say can increase the risk of skin cancers, including melanoma. They say that applying sunscreen before tanning lotion is useless. Despite being sprinkled with water, some tanners feel dizzy or even faint after a rooftop session. Still, when it\'s over, women peel off their tape bikinis and marvel. \"We look sexier, it boosts our ego, and it looks prettier,\" said 22-year-old Milena Carvalho. \"It\'s the Brazilian woman\'s trademarks.\" Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/c9b6803af7ad755ad2f83523ac944952'
Tags: Lifestyle , brazil , AP Archive , Arts and entertainment , rio de janeiro , Latin America and Caribbean , 4077728 , c9b6803af7ad755ad2f83523ac944952 , Brazil Tanning
See also:
comments