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This continues to be a work in progress. Stay tuned as it will be updated
frequently.
Why
tan indoors?
Whether you get your tan indoors or outdoors, you skin produces a tan the same
way - by absorbing ultraviolet light. When you tan outdoors there are a
large number of factors that affect how much ultraviolet light you get - sky
conditions (clear vs cloudy), latitude (how far north/south you are), altitude, time of day, season, the type
and strength of sunscreen; the list goes on. Fifteen minutes today may
give you a tan; fifteen minutes tomorrow could burn you badly.
By tanning indoors you are in a controlled environment where you get a
consistent amount of ultraviolet light day in and day out. Exposure times are
determined by equipment and trained professionals that take into account
previous tanning sessions as well as the tanner's skin type. In this way your
tan gets a chance to develop properly without burning.
Many people mix indoor and outdoor tanning - the indoor session gives them the
controlled exposure and gets the tan started; they can now go outside, put on
sunscreen and enjoy the day, replenishing the sunscreen as necessary. This
is the best of both worlds. This is SMART tanning.
CAN I tan indoors?
If you can tan outdoors in the sun, you can
tan indoors - it's the same type of light, in the same proportions, as you
would get outside. It is a higher intensity but it is over a relatively
short period of time so you can get the same exposure in 20 minutes indoors
that you would need over an hour to get outside. If you always burn
when outdoors, do not waste your time or money trying to tan indoors because
the result will be the same - you'll just burn sooner and faster. If
in doubt our staff will assist you in determining your skin type (see below)
and this skin type will tell you whether or not indoor tanning is for you.
How long does it
take to get a tan?
This depends heavily on your skin type (see
below) and health, and the frequency of visits. On
average it will take 3-7 sessions to achieve a good base tan if you tan every
second day and follow the regimen recommended by our staff. After a base tan is
established you can maintain it with regular visits. The frequency of the visits
depends on your individual skin characteristics and the type of tanning bed but
will typically be once or twice per week. Use of a quality tanning lotion
will allow your tan to develop faster, with better colour, and last longer.
Plus, you'll find that you need fewer tanning sessions to achieve and
maintain your desired colour.
How often am I
allowed
to tan?
For best results, you should wait 36-48 hours
between sessions as it may take that long for your skin to react to the last
session. It takes as long as 48 hours for your body to produce melanin
after your tanning session, so going more frequently does nothing to help
develop your tan - it simply dries and thickens your skin, which makes it
harder to tan.
Does a tanning
lotion REALLY help me get a better tan?
Yes. Indoor tanning lotions ensure that
your skin is best prepared for its exposure to tanning rays, and maximize
the tanning experience. Here are some good reasons why you should
consider using a quality tanning lotion:
-
Excellent skin care - lotions are
scientifically designed to rejuvenate your skin cells for noticeably
younger and smoother skin. Most higher-end lotions use the same
high-quality skin care ingredients that you would find in products
such as L'Oreal, Oil of Olay and many others.
-
Moist skin tans more quickly and
efficiently than dry skin. This means that you get better tanning
results with fewer visits. Using a quality lotion can actually save you
money AND give you a deeper, darker, more natural tan.
-
Darker results - achieve up to 50%
darker results than what your skin can do naturally. This is done by
adding ingredients that promote extra melanin production. Some
lotions contain extra bronzing agents that will give you extra colour
that will last 5-7 days longer.
-
Hydration - lotions add then seal the
moisture in your skin. Hours after your session
you skin will feel softer and smoother, and look darker.
-
Dry skin prevents you from getting a
decent tan. How?
-
Dry skin reflects UV light, preventing
it from producing or reacting with the melanin deeper in your skin.
-
Dry skin flakes/rubs off quickly,
taking your hard-earned tan with it.
-
You should use tanning lotion for your
skin for the same reason you use shampoo or conditioner for your hair -
it enhances, softens, moisturizes and improves the look and feel of your
hair. The same applies to your skin.
Must I wear goggles when tanning indoors?
Yes,
always. First of all our insurance policy demands that we ensure that each
customer has protective eyewear, and our waiver form reflects that. Secondly, UV
light can cause significant damage to the cornea and retina of your eyes,
resulting in cataracts or worse. Eyelids or towels are not enough as the
UV light will still penetrate them and do damage.
Not using proper eye protection may result in short term
effects such as tired, itchy eyes, headaches and loss of night vision. No one
should ever be in a tanning bed without eye protection. As with many other
things, the bad effects of not wearing goggles may not manifest themselves
until years later when you suddenly ask yourself, "Why do my eyes
itch/hurt?" - it may relate back to the incorrect/missing eye protection
from years earlier. Protection now is the key.
How long will my tan last if I stop tanning?
Once you stop tanning (indoors or outdoors),
your skin will fade back to its normal colour in approximately 28-30 days.
It takes about that long for the upper layer of your skin to be sloughed off
and replaced by untanned cells from the lower layer. Proper skin care
with tanning lotions and moisturizers will delay the exfoliation process,
however a tan can only be maintained through repeated exposure to UV light.
I hear mention of "skin types". What are they?
Skin types are the way individual’s skin is categorized based on its likely
reaction to ultraviolet light. Our staff will help you determine your skin type
and recommend a tanning regimen based on this. The skin types are as follows:
TYPE 1 - Always burns easily, severely, never tans.
TYPE 2 - Burns easily, tans minimally or lightly peels. Fair skin.
TYPE 3 - Burns moderately and will eventually tan.
TYPE 4 - Burns minimally and will tan well.
TYPE 5 - Always tans, rarely burns.
TYPE 6 - Always tans profusely. Never burns.
Note that anyone with skin type 1 will not be allowed to tan as the
likelihood of burning is too high.
It's summer. Why should I consider indoor tanning when I can get a good tan
outdoors?
Once you stop tanning (indoors or outdoors),
your skin will fade back to its normal colour in approximately 28-30 days.
It takes about that long for the upper layer of your skin to be sloughed off
and replaced by cells from the lower layer. Proper skin care with
tanning lotions and moisturizers will delay the exfoliation process, however
a tan can only be maintained through repeated exposure to UV light.
What about spray/sunless tanning?
Spray tanning is
becoming more popular because of the instant colour you get. In minutes
you can get a deep brown tan that will last for approximately 7-10 days.
It's perfect for special events like weddings or proms, or when you just want to
get rid of tan lines. If you are one who does not like the idea of tanning
inside or outside but still want/need some colour, this is the perfect solution.
Most spray tanning
solutions use DHA - a sugar-based product - to coat your skin. This "sets" into
your skin by reacting with the proteins and amino acids to turn your skin a nice
shade of brown. Our sunless offering consists of what is called "airbrush"
tanning, which is done by a certified technician who "paints" a tan onto
your body with a spray gun. It is NOT a booth that showers you with
solution that you then have to wipe off - it is carefully applied by the
technician who ensures that the right amount of solution is used in the
right places to ensure the best result. Additionally, our service
allows for part-body tanning (face/neck, or legs only, for example) so that
you can simply tan the areas that need it (upper body for strapless dresses,
for example).
There is more information in our Sunless section.
Is indoor tanning safe?
We do not use the word SAFE when it comes to indoor tanning - we prefer
the term SMART. Here's why: the
term "safe" implies that one can recklessly abuse something without any fear
of causing harm. Reckless use of ultraviolet equipment can certainly
cause harm to an individual so "safe" is not in our vocabulary. By
educating the public and preventing reckless abuse, professional tanning
salons are playing a key role in promoting a SMART approach to sunburn
prevention that recognizes that people do perceive different benefits from
being in the sun. In this way we are able to teach sunburn prevention
in a practical way that respects both the potential benefits and the risks
of sun exposure. And, we can apply it to both indoor and outdoor tanning
equally as our goal is to achieve adequate and proper sun exposure without
burning.
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