Home Tanning Bed Tips

 

If you are one of those people who hates revealing too much of your body in public, you might want to forgo the tanning salon and try to do some tanning at home. This is growing in popularity and there are many different companies which now manufacture tanning beds for home use, not just the commercial type.

Because you are dealing with dangerous UV rays, you will want to do some research on safe tanning tips before just purchasing the first tanning bed you find. There are many choices in home tanning beds, so the process might seem somewhat difficult at first, but if you gather some information and ask lots of questions, you should be able to buy a good one quite easily.

There are two kinds of tanning beds for the home--stand-up tanning beds and ones on which you lie down just like on a normal bed. If you have difficulty standing for a long period of time, the stand-up variety is out of the question. Some people prefer it because on the flat bed they don’t tan well on the skin that comes into direct contact with the bed. Spots where the skin touches the bed are called pressure points.

If you want a good, overall tan, without the hassle of leaving the house, a home tanning bed might be just the ticket. Talk about tanning tips with the salesperson, such as which bulbs to use to get the type of tan you desire. Hotter bulbs will tan your skin quicker but give lighter shades of tan.  Low watt bulbs, such as bronzing bulbs give a darker tan.

Tanning tips for home tanning beds include to always wear goggles to protect your eyes, go slowly and develop your tan over time, wear a sunscreen with a rating of a minimum of 15, and don’t tan more than once a week. Home tanning beds aren’t cheap--they begin in the $800-dollar range. Whether or not it is cost effective depends how often you would be paying to use your local tanning salon.

Tanning Lotions and Sprays

For people who don’t want to risk the chance of skin cancer from too much sunlight, whether real or artificial, there are lotions and spray-on self-tanning products. Make sure to read the directions well before applying. It may take a couple tries before you get the technique just right to get the color you want. You have probably heard tales of people who have over-applied liquid tanners and ended up with skin that is yellow or orange. The biggest tanning tip to remember here is to read and follow the instructions on the package. More is not always better.

No matter how you decide to tan, be safe about it. Protect your eyes and don’t spend too long in the sun, whether the rays are real or artificial light. Over-exposing the skin to UV rays over time is a direct cause of skin cancer.