How to Choose a Tanning Salon

Tanning salons provide a great opportunity for the ability to tan year round. Choosing a tanning salon is a little different than choosing a hair salon or some other type of business where you have work done because you want to make sure the place you pick is of the utmost quality to make sure your skin is going to be treated the best way possible.

There are additional factors that you need to consider, such as how often do you want to visit a tanning salon. What are the hours the tanning salon is open. What options do they offer for tanning, do they only have beds, or do they also offer booths and spray on or airbrush tanning? After considering these questions, here are some other things to keep in mind when searching for the right tanning salon for you.

The best way to get the low down on a tanning salon is through a referral, either by a doctor, dermatologist, friend or family member. They will usually have a good idea of the best tanning salons in the area and which ones you should avoid.

Just like when you are renting an apartment, it is good to do a walk through of the tanning salon before you use it. Set up an appointment to visit the salon before you sign a contract or pay any money up front. You want to make sure the place is clean and well taken care of. Find out what type of tanning beds they offer and how they are cleaned after use.

Because tanning is a multiple time process, check with the salon to see what type of packages they offer. You should be able to get some type of discount for scheduling several appointments or booking so many sessions within a one month period. Call around to several tanning salons to check pricing before making your final decision.

The older or more traditional tanning beds come with both UVB and UVA light bulbs. These are the same rays that are given off by the sun. Studies have shown over the last 10 years or so that UVB rays can be harmful so keep that in mind when checking out a tanning salon and inquire what types of tanning beds they have. Most tanning salons have switched or upgraded to beds that offer more UVA rays and little to no UVB rays. UVA are usually considered less harmful than UVB rays because they reach the deep layers of the skin without doing damage to the skin layers at the top. Long periods of exposure to UVB rays can lead to burns, cancer and can in some cases cause harm to the immune system. Some salons will offer spray-on tans as well as beds that allow you to lay down or stand up in.

A good salon will offer protection for your eyes, some type of health assessment, indoor tanning lotions as well as a program for you to follow to keep your tan maintained. With so many tanning salon options out there, it helps to look for a place that offers a little something extra for their customers. It is easier to feel better about using a companies products, in this case their tanning beds, when they go the extra mile to provide the comfort of having a good tanning experience.