The Tanning Bed: Stay Golden All Year Long

Unless you live on the beach or on a tropical island where the sun shines brightly throughout the year, it can be difficult to keep tanning when the seasons change. Thankfully, tanning salons provide a way to keep that golden look throughout the year. Here are some tips for keeping that look alive and doing it safely.

A hundred years ago, it might have been in vogue to appear pale all year long. It meant you didn’t have to work outside and you could afford to spend your days relaxing indoors. Today, things have changed. Whether they are truly correlated or not, a golden tan tells the world that you are active and youthful, not to mention the fact that many people believe a nice layer of bronze skin makes them appear a bit thinner. Of course, unless you live on the beach or in a place where the sun shines brightly throughout the year, it can be difficult to keep up that tan when the seasons change. Thankfully, tanning salons provide a way to keep that golden look throughout the year. Here are some tips for keeping that look alive and doing it safely.

It’s important to wear eye protection when going into the tanning bed. Most salons sell tiny goggles that can be worn over the eyes, but which will not have much effect on the tan itself (no one wants to walk around with those white, reverse-raccoon eyes). Some people choose to simply close their eyes, but this is a mistake. Most salons will insist you wear the goggles, and this isn’t simply for their own protection. Heed their advice and wear them. UV rays can take a toll on your vision. The goggles will provide complete protection and it’s simply not worth it to do it any other way.

You’ll probably want to use a good tanning lotion when getting into the bed. Sun exposure and exposure to the artificial lights in the bed can lead to your skin drying out, making peeling more of a concern following the session. Using a quality lotion will help your skin retain moisture and won’t have any effect on the light you’re getting to the pigment. If you want to give the bed a little assistance, you can try a lotion that has a bronzing component.

Finally, remember that your goal is not to go from pale to dark brown in one session. It won’t happen, so there’s no use in trying. All you will do is succeed in giving yourself a sunburn and that is no fun. Start slowly and work your way up. A good salon will be able to recommend a schedule for you that will lead to a slow but certain tan. By following this simple rule, you can get that fresh-off-the-beach look no matter what the weather looks like outside.