You may wonder: how hard can it be to get a tan? Well, it’s all about doing it wisely and making sure the tan you obtain looks beautiful, even and streak-free. The trick is also to prepare and condition the body in such a way as to ensure a longer-lasting tan. Below we tell you how it can be done.
Most importantly – a body scrub! The removal of dead skin cells will not only smooth the body wonderfully, but also prepare the skin to absorb the active ingredients contained in the tanning products you apply. This will ensure they are evenly distributed and penetrate the epidermis more efficiently to trigger a specific reaction. This is especially crucial in case of bronzers and tanning accelerators. It is the even distribution of the active ingredient that guarantees a streak-free tan. One that is uniform and intense. Additionally, when your skin has been exfoliated, the bronze skin effect will last longer. That is why it is worthwhile to perform both a body scrub and a facial scrub before visiting a tanning salon.
Make-up removal is essential It is worth noting that beauty care products often reduce the effectiveness of tanning. Face powders, foundations, BB creams, eye shadows, blushes and other colored beauty care products contain pigments, which act as physical filters, such as TiO2 (titanium dioxide). Depending on the product, they can significantly block UV radiation. That is why it is so important to cleanse the skin of the face and neckline, using an effective formula that removes impurities and makeup, before tanning. You can use a formula of your choice: micellar liquid, makeup remover oil, two-phase liquid, milk. It is not the type of formula that counts, but the result!
Goggles are mandatory UV radiation is not good for the eyes, especially if you are receiving quite a bit of it, which is what happens in a tanning salon. Therefore, for the duration of the tanning process, it is mandatory to protect the eyes with tight-fitting goggles. It’s not a matter of beauty, but protecting your health! You should also remember to remove any jewelry and your watch, otherwise you will end up with white, untanned marks on your body. You should also avoid using any deodorants or perfumes directly before tanning, as they may cause an allergic or photosensitizing reaction when combined with UV radiation.
Rules for effective tanning in a tanning salon:
Use professional tanning products, specifically formulated for use in tanning salons! – they ensure intense skin care during tanning, increase the effectiveness, intensity and speed of the tanning process, prolong the effects of tanning and protect your skin from photoaging. They do not contain sunscreens. Their task is to accelerate tanning, not to protect from it and extend the tanning time!
Always select the tanning product that best suits your complexion, tan intensity and bronzing effect you wish to obtain. You can always ask the tanning salon staff for assistance. They will be happy to advise you on which product is best for you.
Always choose good quality, recommended tanning salons, that have been tried and tested. Make sure the staff is professional and the tanning salon is equipped with modern tanning beds.
Before the tanning session, find out whether the bed has been cleaned and disinfected, whether the ventilation is working and how long the lamps have been in use. For the first 80 hours of fluorescent lamp lifespan their efficiency is too intense, and one should, therefore, shorten the duration of the tanning session. If, however, they have been in use for more than 800 hours, we should not use the tanning bed, as the lamps are too old and their tanning efficiency is next to zero. If a turbo bed is available in the tanning salon, you should reduce the time you spend tanning, as it requires half the amount of time as a regular bed.
Do not exceed the safe tanning time! – that’s about 10 hours a year. That includes not only salon tanning, but also sunbathing. If you are just starting to use tanning beds, repeat the tanning sessions every 2 to 3 days, but not longer than for 10 days. After that you should only use the tanning salon once a week. Do not combine natural sunbathing with salon tanning, as this speeds up the skin photoaging process considerably! It is recommended that you stop using tanning beds for four weeks every two to three months.
Adjust the tanning to your skin phototype – If you have a pale complexion, freckles, blond or red hair, make sure you use tanning products specifically designed for delicate skin. If you have fair skin, that may or may not have freckles, and blonde or auburn hair, you should limit yourself to short tanning sessions. Initially, they should only last about 3-4 minutes, and when the skin gets somewhat used to it, this can be increased up to 5 minutes. If you have a dark complexion, and auburn or black hair, you can tan for a maximum of 5-6 minutes.
Who should avoid using tanning salons:
children and young people under 18 years of age
pregnant women and women up to 2 months after delivery;
people allergic to the sun and people with sunburn;
people with heart problems, thyroid problems, kidney problems, vitiligo, hypertension, epilepsy, psoriasis, herpes, rosacea, and diabetes;
people with fresh skin wounds or scars (e.g. after a recent surgery), people with many birthmarks or moles;
people with a tendency to blood vessel dilation and capillary breakage;
people taking photosensitizing medications or formulas, e.g. contraceptives, antidepressants, diuretics, heart medication, antibiotics, and preparations containing St. John’s wort extract;
people who recently underwent depilation, closing of capillaries or exfoliation treatments;
people who have recently used cosmetics with retinol, AHA acids.