Tanning Information

Many people love the look of a beautiful, golden tan. That sun-kissed glow can look healthy and easygoing, causing your wardrobe colors to pop and adding a fun kick to your overall look. The days of needing to spend hours lying in the sun to achieve the perfect tan are long gone. You can just head off to the nearest tanning booth and spend a few minutes under the tanning bed lamps, getting the same amount of color an afternoon at the beach would give you.

An estimated 30 million North Americans – 65% to 70% of them women – turned to tanning salons in 2006 as a controlled alternative to outdoor tanning. In fact, the professional indoor tanning industry promotes responsible indoor tanning and sunburn prevention as “smart.”

Studies consistently have shown that once indoor tanning customers begin tanning in a professional salon, they are less likely to sunburn than they were before they started tanning. Studies have also shown that indoor tanners are less likely to sunburn outdoors as compared to non-tanners.

Two Common Types of Tanning Beds

You can choose from two basic types of tanning beds: the “clamshell” bed and the stand-up bed. The clamshell or capsule-type bed is the most common tanning bed. You lie down on the clamshell bed and pull the lid down so it is close to the top of your body.

The other type of tanning booth is the stand up booth. The stand up booth allows you to stand vertically and just walk into the booth. Many people prefer the stand up booth for comfort and the ability to move so you can expose all of your body to the tanning bed lamps. Many people also appreciate stand up booths because the only part of your body that comes into physical contact with the booth is your feet, and you can wear sandals or booties, if you prefer. Stand up booths are also faster than traditional beds. You can get the same amount of tanning progress in almost half the time of a bed.

Both of these tanning booths work in the same way. They interior surfaces of the tanning booth are made of Plexiglas, and bright UVA or UVB lamps shine their ultraviolet rays through the Plexiglas onto your skin, mimicking the work of the sun. The rays cause your skin to release melanin, which produces the tan color on your skin. The intensity of tanning bed lamps can vary widely, even within the same salon. Newer bulbs are hottest, so you want to find out if the bulbs are new so you can cut back on your tanning time and avoid burning.