Indoor Tanning: Tips & Tricks

I have spent the last three years working at a local tanning studio; I know there is a lot of controversy over indoor tanning, but I am not going to discuss it in this post. This post is for all of you who are finishing up summer vacation and are looking to maintain that gorgeous summer colour and considering indoor tanning as a way to do so. 

Some basics for tanning...

If you do not already have a tan and are looking to get one from scratch, it takes the average person 7-10 indoor sessions to develop a base - and this is only if you have these sessions spaced at no more than 3 days apart. This is the "building" part of the tan: the melanin (brown pigmentation) needs to accumulate during this phase, and if you do not go often enough it will just fade away. This stage requires you to tan at least three (3) times a week for two to three (2-3) weeks. I have had dozens upon dozens of people come in and say things along the lines of: "I am going on vacation this Friday and I need to be tan so I don't burn down in Mexico." I then usually ask questions such as "How well do you normally tan? If you are outside for half an hour on your own, without SPF, will you burn?" If the answer is yes, this person is usually out of luck. Tanning for only one week prior to your trip will generally not do anything for you unless you are absolutely loaded up with accelerators (see lotion section) and you usually tan very quickly outside. For most people, this is not the case and tanning, at this point, is literally a waste of your time and money. 

When just starting out, I usually recommend to my clients to start at no higher than the half of the maximum time of a bed, so, in our express (12 minute) bed, I would recommend starting with six minutes - usually four or five if the client is very fair. Do two (2) sessions at your decided starting time just to make sure that your skin was okay with the lighting. If you see any pink or redness, try a minute or two lower the next time you come in. After your first couple sessions, bump it up 1 or 2 minutes depending on how your skin reacts. The receptionist should be able to help you decide on what time will work for you. Most people, at my salon, achieve their base at about 10-12 minutes (in the 12 minute bed) and maintain the tan by coming once or twice a week. 

Getting the most for your money...

Start off using high intensity beds. Most people have this misconception that they have  to start with a basic regular bed. This is not true. You can start tanning in any bed as long as you start with a low exposure time (as mentioned above). High intensity beds, although more expensive, will develop your tan faster by using higher UVB bulbs, which stimulate melanin faster than using a normal bed. So, this means you could possibly see a good base tan within 5-8 sessions. Although these beds are generally more expensive, it's worth it because you will get better colour, faster. 

Ask your tanning studio if they have any early bird specials or cheap days. A lot of salons will have reduced prices for drop-ins before noon: this is a really great, and economical, for those of you who have the colour they want to maintain.

ALWAYS use a lotion. Most people are turned off of purchasing a lotion because they think that receptionists only try to them to make money. Although the receptionist probably does make some commission, it is likely only 5-10%, so it's not like your lotion sale is going to make or break her day. Lotions actually are the best way to get a darker, quicker tan (other than using a high intensity bed). 

Reasons why you  should use a lotion:

1. They all contain moisturizers. Keeping your skin hydrated while tanning is extremely important as it will help keep your skin from drying out and getting that wrinkly leathery look. 

2. Some of them contain bronzers. Bronzers, such as DHA, actually dye the surface of your skin upon application which gives the user an "immediate tan". The only problem I have with these bronzers (cosmetic bronzers) is that some of them, especially n the cheaper brands such as Australian Gold, are not good quality which means they can tend to give off an orange tint - which is not what you want!

3. Some contain accelerators. There are tons of different "accelerators" out there. My personal favorite is Tyrosine. Tyrosine actually causes your melanin cells to produce faster which means you don't need to spend as much time in the tanning bed. And, because this is an amino acid - not a cosmetic bronzer - the colour that develops will be the natural brown look that your skin would normally produce if you had tanned outdoors. The cheapest lotion I have ever used that is full of Tyrosine is Couture Sport for Women - I have never gotten more brown than with this stuff, and it smells like a sporty perfume (this is a great alternative to smelling like burning flesh and sweat).

4. Some contain silicone. My favourite lotion (Luminary by Designer Skin) is packed with silicone, bronzers, and accelerators. The best thing about it, though, is the silicone which leaves your skin feeling like silk.My boyfriend always knows when I use this lotion because of how soft and smooth it leaves my skin feeling. Silicone also tends to be quite slippery, so the lotion spreads a lot more, which means you get more use out of a bottle. Please note that some people have sensitivities to silicone and the product should be tested on small areas first.

Other tips for indoor tanning...

Always book an appointment if you have a time frame you need to stick with, especially during peak operation hours (usually opening time, 3-6pm, and closing time). The receptionist has no control over walk-in traffic.

 Always apply your lotion within 15 minutes prior to your tanning session. This prevents any accelerators from deactivating due to oxidization. 

Use tinted moisturizers between maintenance tans to help keep your skin dark and healthy. My favourite is Tinted Love by Designer Skin: it is relatively cheap and lasts for months! And I always get compliments on the colour of my legs (where I use it most).

Be kind to your receptionist - she controls the appointments and can also give you little hints as to when new deals or promotions will be coming along. Plus, remember that these girls usually make minimum wage and very minimal commission (it's usually only given if they make a high number of sales during the day, which pretty much leaves no hope, especially during the summer months!). 

On the note of sales - if you do decide to purchase products or services from a salon (or any retail outlet for that matter) purchase from the actual staff, not the managers or owners, as this means at least 5-10% of your sale will go directly to the girls who need it most. Buying directly from the owner means the boss will make all of the profit of the 200% mark up with nothing going to the girls you see every day doing all of the grunt work.

With all of this knowledge, you will be sure to impress your tanning salon experts! If you have any questions regarding indoor tanning, lotions, or products please feel free to leave it as a comment on this post and I will reply to it!

Happy Tanning,

Ashley