Preparing for a the Tanning Salon Visit

Making your first trip to a tanning salon? Don't make the usual rookie mistakes! There are a few things you can do to get yourself and your skin ready for a session under the tanning bulbs and on your way toward a sun-kissed tan. The time you spend preparing for your trip to the salon will enhance the tan you receive afterwards. So do it right and reap the rewards.

First, if you’re on any antibiotics or other drugs, know they can negatively affect your skin and cause photosensitivity, regardless of the limited amount of time spent under the tanning bulbs. Check with your doctor before you head to a tanning to see if any medicine you’re on can cause side effects when exposed to UV rays.

Make certain your skin is prepared to fully benefit from the tanning bulbs. The way to do this is to have spent some time – days or even weeks if you have time – moisturizing your skin.

Also, exfoliate the day before you tan to get rid of all of the dead skin cells. You can use exfoliating creams and/or bath puffs to scrape off the dead skin cells. Make certain your exfoliation process is a gentle one though as you don’t want your skin to be raw or irritated. In truth, you should be moisturizing daily and exfoliating at least every other day as these processes keep your skin healthy and smooth year round.

You should definitely make sure you’re using a moisturizer the day of your tanning salon visit. Make certain the lotion doesn’t contain any sunscreen and the day of your visit you will want to avoid any kind of astringents or any products that contain alcohol (these will dry out your skin and make it harder to tan properly).

When you go the tanning salon, ask the person who works there how many sessions they think you will need to achieve the level of tan you want. You will want to space out your visits so that you get your tan gradually. If you’re planning to go on a vacation, it’s best to start your tanning sessions at least a month prior to the trip. For individuals with hard-to-tan skin, you may want to look at beginning your tanning two months prior to your vacation.

Time spent in a tanning salon can lead to a nice even tan – the kind you rarely get from lounging on a raft poolside. Having a base tan can also prevent you from getting a burn while on your vacation. So consider time under the tanning bulbs one more to-do item before that vacation, or simply give yourself that boost that comes with knowing your skin is glowing and golden.