Indoor tanning spas caught on like wildfire in the 1980's, right after the tanning bed was invented by Fredrich Wolff in the late 1970's. Today, tanning beds are not as fashionable as a few years back, now that the danger of melanoma, a type of skin cancer, has spooked a good number of the devoted tanning supporters.
Tanning still remains popular for:
- Young adults want to attract the opposite sex
- Preparing for swimming season
- Bodybuilders tanning for competition
- Heliotherapy for Seasonal Affective Disorder (or SAD)
Regardless of your motivation, you've decided that you want to give tanning a shot. You're ready to learn how to use a tanning bed. Realize that there are basically two styles of full body tanners available, the tanning bed and booth. Your option of booth vs. bed may be limited by the choices offered at tanning saloons in your area. Check with the manager of your local tanning saloon which of their packages will work best for your tanning goal.
Also, have them find an appropriate tanning lotion for you. There are as many tanning lotions as exist complexions and tanning goals.
Once you've bought your tanning package, the attendant allocates a tanning bed and a room.
After you find your way to your tanning suite, close and lock the door, and get out of those clothes and into the bed. You can keep the bare essentials on if you're worried about someone walking in on you or toasting your privates. Or if you're going for an even all-over tan, you may want to tan in the nude to prevent leaving tan lines.
How to use a tanning bed:
Apply tanning lotion on all of your skin, but not your face, since it can trigger breakouts, especially with the added heat/sweat. Raise the top of the tanning bed or open the tanning booth door, as appropriate.
If you're using a tanning booth, you might want to bring a CD, tape, or boombox so you can jam out while you're just standing there.
If you have long hair, you'll want to secure your hair up on top of your head using a hair tie. This will ensure that your hair doesn't get in the way of the tanning bulbs and ensure that you don't end up with unusual tan lines on your face.
Next, and this is important, put on the goggles provided by the tanning saloon during the entire time that the tanning bed/tanning booth is in operation. The ultraviolet energy from these is so strong that it can cause cataracts if you're not wearing tanning goggles. Closing your eyes is not enough. Your eyelids are so thin that the plenty of the UV will go right through them and still hurt your eyes.
At long last, fire up the tanning bed. You might need a single "start" button to press or a timer to set, depending upon how your tanning saloon works. If you're just starting tanning and are fairly pale, your first few visits should be from six to ten minutes. After a while you can build up to as high as 30 minutes per session.
An important tanning salon tip is that your complexion is the same, even though you're using a tanning bed. If you burn easily at the pool, you will probably crisp up even easier in a tanning booth.
Whether you use a bed or a booth, after your time is up, the lights will turn off, indicating that you've been roasted to tanned excellence. Exit the bed/booth, remove your sunclipse, and clean off the moisture with a towel. Dress yourself and gather your things!
Don't forget to collect your tunes as you leave. Don't take a shower after tanning; some soaps can work against your tan if you use them too soon after tanning. Now that you know how to use a tanning bed, you're good to go for a healthy, radiant tan.
About the Author
Aaron Andrews is a tanning bed enthusiast. He has worked in a number of tanning salons since the mid-80's, and then for a tanning bed manufacturer and tanning bed supply company. He now writes tanning tips articles about his experiences to help you make the best tanning decisions. Aaron operates TanIndoors.com - a site dedicated to impr
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