Getting sun-kissed skin is the latest obsession among the Millennials. And who does not want a subtle tan to have a feel of summer, spending vacation chilling on the beach? Well, you can start by getting an appointment with tanning salons or centres. Tanning is probably the safest method to achieve a toned and glowing skin. Of course, understanding safe tanning practices is a must, not damage your skin.
There are various things you should be aware of beforehand visiting a tanning salon. Those include your skin type, skin lotions, safety instruments, tan accelerators, and much more. It is better to educate yourself before showing up to the salon and make the most of your sessions. We got you, here are 8 tanning bed tips you need to know.
Table of Contents
1. Be sure that tanning is safe for your skin
Many people are not aware of if their physical conditions are suited to get tanned. Sometimes, people have adverse effects on their body and skin, which can lead to a range of complications. Please take the advice of your physician to know if you can get tanning sessions.
Sometimes certain medications can also produce reactions under the UV lights. If you are on some medications, be sure those do not react to the light. If you are not sure about it, take the advice of your physician. Your health safety should be a priority.
2. Know your skin type
Your skin type decides the amount of tan you can get and the amount of natural protection you have against the UV light. The skin type and its tanning capability can protect or avoid the sunburn. It can also help to determine how many sessions you need and how long you can be in each tanning session. Usually, the salon can help with this type of doubt, yet! You should know about your skin type.
Skin types-
- Always burns, never tans (Palest or White Skin)
- Usually burns, minimum tan (Light Beige Skin)
- Mild burns, uniform tan (Light Brown Skin)
- Minimum burns, always tans well (Moderate Brown or Olive Skin)
- Rarely burns, tans easily (Dark Brown Skin)
- Never burns (Darkest Brown Skin)
3. Different types of tanning Beds
Good tanning salons should have at least six options to choose from, depending on your skin type. The tanning specialist will let you know the best tanning bed that is right for your skin. Tanning beds come in six levels – low-pressure beds are level 1 and 2, medium pressure beds are level 3 and 4, high pressure is of level 5 and 6.
Low-pressure beds come with UV lights that are similar to the natural sunlight. These beds are best suited for skin types 4 and 5, for first-timers and for people who don’t need much tanning. The lamps produce the colour moderately faster, and the risk of sunburn is high, so it is recommended not to stay long in the sunbed.
High-pressure beds come with lamps that emit UVA rays; these beds are best suited for skin types 1, 2, and 3. They produce bronze or dark shade skin tones for those who seek more profound and darker complexion. They work faster, and the rays penetrate deeper, resulting in long-lasting tan with minimum to no damage to the skin.
4. Prep your skin for the best results
UV rays penetrate in outer levels of the skin, which stimulates a response in your body to produce melanin to make your skin darker. UV lamps produce UV rays, including UVB rays, which are not meant to penetrate deeply into the layers of your skin. Most of the time, our body is covered with layers of dead skin, and getting a tan without cleaning could produce uneven results.
Always clean your skin; if possible, exfoliate a day before visiting a tanning salon to get full benefits. Even tanning lotion or bronzers work by darkening outer layers of the skin. A fresh, clean and exfoliated skin will give a nice tone of even bronze tan over your body.
5. Know what products you can use
Before you buy tanning lotions, bronzers or tan accelerators make sure they are the perfect suit for your skin. Carry moisturizer with you to the tanning sessions, to avoid your skin from dehydration. Getting a tan doesn’t mean you don’t need SPF or Sunscreens. Always wear SPF when you are out in the sun even after getting tanned to protect you from getting wrinkles, dry skin conditions, and cancer.
6. Protection for sensitive parts
Always wear eye protection in tanning beds. Even if you close your eyes, the UV rays can penetrate the eyelids damaging your eyes. You can choose underwear to wear or stay naked in tanning beds; it’s your choice. If you want to wear underwear, preplan on how you want your tan lines to be or get your favourite bikini.
If you want to be completely naked, always cover your nipples and genitals as they are very sensitive and prone to burns. Always remember to clean the tan bed before you use it or get it cleaned before using it. Ask for a cleaning solution if they don’t provide one.
7. Make sure you are getting tan evenly everywhere
Moving around inside the beds will make sure you get even tan all over your body. Most of the time, people forget to get tan under armpits or places where the body contacts the bed, which results in a very patchy tan. Make sure you lift your arms, change positions to get a perfectly even tan.
8. Use of tan accelerators and bronzers
Tan accelerators or bronzers and tanning lotions will pace up the tanning procedure, which means less time under the UV lights. They are indeed very helpful and highly recommended. High-quality lotions are made from formulations that allow your skin to stay moisturized, minimize skin damage, and produce a deeper and better tan.
After you get the colour of tan you admire the most, don’t forget to take care of your skin after the session. Always moisturize your skin to avoid unwanted skin problems. Know where to stop tanning from reducing the damage to your body or prevent overexposure to the UV light. Know everything about the salon you are going to visit and it should be safe and well equipped for your needs.
