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@BrightYellowGaloshes: I was a first timer as of two weeks ago, so I can give you my perspective! I signed up for a package deal because there was a current special going on - $20/month with no contract and you can tan as much as you want. Since I had never been, they recommended that I start with a regular bed (level 1) and go for 5-7 minutes. I bought a non-scented lotion that they recommended (buy from Amazon or another place - it was like $35 in the store and $15 online!) and eye buds so there wouldn't be a line across my nose. You go into the room, strip down to whatever you are most comfortable in, apply your lotion and hop in! On the regular beds that I use, there is a green button inside the bed that you press when you are ready for it to begin. The bed will automatically cut off after the set amount of time you have requested. Good luck!
My advice- Respect the advice of the person working there! Dont' go in for too long. I usually go for a few weeks leading up to summer, and have had a few mishaps by assuming that since I've gone before that I can stay in for a longer time. I ended up burning very badly. This advice stays true even if you tan easily...because I do. The person working there will know best...and if they know what they're doing they'll work you up to longer times.
I used to work at a tanning salon and the girls there are your best friend.
yes start out in 3-5 minutes minium. there are different "strength" beds, always start in the lowest bed and work up. you can and will burn in them if you stay too long.
i prefer the stand up beds just because it will get 100% of you. the lay down ones you will have a slight color difference down your sides over time.
yes, use the lotion they advise. regular lotion will not help. they do have lotion that can be used in the beds and outside in the sun, they are not all like that.
in texas you can only go once every 24 hours and it's a strict law.
spray tanning has also came a long way - which i plan to do prior to my wedding - you won't get orange!
LOL @Atalanta
OP: do not do what I did a few years ago and put some type of lotion on...do not go with nothing on your skin.
While I wouldnt go to a tanning bed now, especially since they have some such a long way in spray tanning technology, I do have some sage advice from my former tanning bed days.
1) don't over do it. (lay the min amount of time even if it seems like a short time). Go every other day
2) buy the special lotion, its worth it.
3) always wear the goggles
4) Rotate in the bed. (I would lay on my back, stomach and sides)
5) cover your face with a towel or a shirt for part of the time if you can. Who wants wrinkles and sunspots on your face. You can always wear darker makeup to match the rest of your body.
6) bring an ipod.
7) only do it for the wedding. Do your best not to make it a habit, It is bad for you and its expensive.
Definitely use tanning lotion, do not NOT use a tingler haha. I felt l--I wont scare you, just I'd suggest you don't. And don't try to go in there too long. The girls at the desk should give you an approx time you should go in do not try to exceed that time, burning is the WORST and it is actually what's more dangerous about tanning. Um... exfoliate like the day before, don't shower for an hour after and.. um... I think that's it... Good luck!
@rubyme: Woah that is cheap! It's $54.99 here for a regular bed and $79.99 for an ultra/stand up one month unlimited.
I'm very fair skinned and I am getting a base tan for my wedding in Mexico this April. Number one tip make sure you tell the girls working there that you haven't tanned before. Also, ask how new the bulbs are. Some places keep their bulbs new and will have way stronger wattage than others which means you might get some color after 5 minutes in one and completely burn in another with newer bulbs. For your first time I wouldn't go anything longer than 5 minutes in a regular bed unless you tan extremely well. Start out in the regular bed and then move up to an ultra or stand up if you feel like you aren't getting results.
Buy your own goggles, don't use the ones they provide to you. You can get all sorts of diseases and infections from using the public ones. It's just not worth it for the $2-4 you will spend on a pair of your own. I also have a mini 60spf sun block that I put on the couple of moles that I have so they don't get any UV exposure. Never over due it or you put yourself at a higher risk for skin cancer! It's always better to be patient and to expose yourself the minimum time amounts rather than trying to tan quickly and ending up with a more harmful burn.
To limit my UV exposure I also use a tanning lotion that has fake tanner in it. You get darker faster and you don't have to hit the beds as often :) Just make sure to bring in a damp towel or wet naps to wipe your hands, knees, and ankles down or they will turn orange!
Good luck :)
I went for the first time ever a couple weeks ago.
Expect to feel like you're being abducted by aliens and that the glass may possibly burst.
the one thing no one else has said so far is to make sure you moisturize after! tanning dries out your skin over time. exfoliate before the first time you go maybe, but I wouldn't keep exfoliating after any more than you usually do.
also agree with using tanner with a bit of a tint to it. depending on the brand, it'll make for a nicer bronze. i personally prefer the beds because they're amazingly relaxing/destressing too, and the difference in colouration mentioned by angeljessie will be non-existent unless you plan on getting really dark.
also: most places that i've been to play music (you can change the radio station in your room). if they don't have music, i still wouldn't recommend an ipod unless you want ipod lines. and if your face tans quicker than the rest of you, i would also recommend covering it up! better too light than too dark.
i haven't been since second year, and you're definitely making me miss it.
Thanks so much for your help, ladies! : ) You're all great!
@.twist.: HAHAH I totally forgot about that sensation. When the glass or plastic or whatever the bed is made out of starts flexing. I thought I was going to crash right through it so many times and get cut up.
The ladies here have given a lot of great advice but I have one more thing to add--if you use lotion that contains a bronzer (and most of the lotions that tanning salons sell have some bronzer in them), make sure you wash your hands really well after you finish tanning--especially in between your fingers. You don't want brownish streaks on your hands.
And I must reiterate that you should start with the lowest time that you can. I took FI for his first pre-wedding tan last week and the girl working there told him to "jump start" his pale skin with a level 3--he's still peeling from the burn! Poor guy, I had no idea the girl would think to put him in a level 3 for his first time.
@panterapeach: I considered hopping out of the bed a few times out of pure terror.
@BrightYellowGaloshes: If you think you smell weird when you leave, it's because you do.
Great question! I'm going in a few days (my first time ever, too). And i'm glad this was asked, I'm actually kind of nervous about it so this has helped.
@Mrs.tobe: Oh man. I thought I smelled fabulous. Those tanning lotions are so fantasticly delicious!
@.twist.: I could always smell something underneath the lotion smell. My skin that was burned off maybe? Bleh.
But of course, it's been years since I've gone. Especially since I had a scare last year.
@Mrs.tobe: ahaha... maybe I didn't go for long enough to smell the burning... I think I went for 3 mins (because I'm a flippin ghost). But I sniffed my arms all the way home. I even made my fiance smell me.
You aren't the first person I've heard say they didn't like the smell, though!
Expect to keep thinking "is this thing going to turn off.... It has to have been over 5 minutes by now..... Maybe they forgot to program in the right time...... Should I get out..... Should I go ask.... What if they forgot and it's been, like, 20 minutes and I'm fried....it really seems like more than 5 minutes....maybe I'll just get out for a second to look at my watch.....maybe I'll try counting to 60 so I know how long a minute is....
I agree with all the PP's who said to go in the least powerful machine and only go in for a few minutes, increasing the time very gradually after the first couple sessions. I got my butt burnt on a high power machine once. Had to walk around with a red butt looking like a baboon for a week, much to my husband's amusement. Not so fun for me.
@CanAmBride: You are so right! Haha - I always count how many songs I've been in for. If it's more than three, I start counting the seconds!
I went yesterday and what an experience! I thought of you ladies the whole time! You're right on!
The lady who worked in the tanning salon was so, so helpful. The tanning bads look just like little space ships. They do creek and such and you wonder if the bed's going to collapse. Four minutes feels like forever. And putting lotion on before and after...it's such a strange combination of scents and such. But I'm ready to go again and again to get rid of these tan lines!
Thanks so much, ladies, for all of your help!
First time to a tanning bed...what do I expect?
Skin cancer, and premature wrinkles. it's SO bad for you!
@CanAmBride: hahaha I think those were my exact thoughts! Add.. is the bed creaking? Has one ever broken? etc.. lol
If you are only planning on preventing tan lines (not dark tanning), I'd suggest two things I didn't see yet:
1) cover your face -- even with a SPF lotions/makeup, it's already exposed to the sun all the time!
2) cover your hands -- same reason. I put on a nice cream and wear those little spa gloves.
Face and hands are both exposed to the sun the most and show age the most.
My first response: Don't do it; so bad for the skin.
However......years ago I would periodically go tanning. My one word of advice, be careful you don't fall asleep! I used to go after work and found the combination of the white noise from the bed, the warmth in addition to the fan that was blowing in the room, I would sometimes doze off!!! Thank goodness for a very loud ring from the timer!
I started going again for my upcoming vacation. Moderation is key! I go in once a year, only 5-6 sessions and it's perfect to get a nice subtle bronze to start the summer. I go in the least powerful bed, start at 6 minutes and gradually increase to 9 minutes, use a lotion, moisturize afterwards, and go no more frequently than every 3-4 days. I turn off the face lamp after 2 minutes each session as some beds have this feature and like a pp mentioned I don't want freckles on my face.
@Birdie Love: haha, that's exactly what I was going to write! If you fall asleep be prepared to have a mini heart attack when you wake up because you will be in a small and bright coffin! lol
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I've never been to a tanning bed before, but want to start to ride myself of the crazy tan lines I've accumulated over the years.
I know there's different types of beds, different lotions...any advice would be appreciated!