Tanning beds

restlesstiger31 said:But look, everyone is different, so...

And creams aren't one-size-fits-all either. You have to test out a few first before you can go around claiming that absolutely EVERYTHING is useless and doesn't work. 😉

I am honestly just a complete disaster when it comes to applying self-tanner. I can never get it even, and I always end up missing spots. So, for me, the tanning salon is basically a lifesaver. One time, I was a bit careless with my application and ended up looking exactly like a bright orange carrot. 😬

Make sure you’re drinking plenty of water on the day you head to the tanning salon so your skin doesn't end up parched. It’s also a good idea to load up on vitamins—specifically Vitamin C, B-complex, and beta-carotene. If you aren't big on taking supplements, just tweak your diet to get those nutrients from fresh fruits and veggies, especially citrus and anything else with an orange hue. 🙂

I’ve actually never used a tanning bed myself, but I figure it’s pretty much the same deal as being out in the sun. I suppose the one perk is that you can't really get a sunburn, though the downside is the radiation levels. Still, like the other girls mentioned, everything is fine as long as you stay within reasonable limits. Honestly, overdoing it isn't just unhealthy; it looks terrible when people end up with that fake, neon-orange glow... 👎

The idea of covering up sensitive areas didn't even cross my mind, but it sounds like a smart move since that skin is much thinner and more sensitive. I was planning on hitting the tanning salon a few times this year just so I don't feel self-conscious at the beach. Every time I come back home from Washington, D.C., I'm pale as a ghost. My whole group of friends starts heading to the coast by mid-May and they all have that perfect tan, while I'm just standing there looking fluorescently white under the moonlight... 🙂

It's fine if you're dealing with atopic dermatitis or psoriasis. If not, watch yourself. There's really no reason to bother...
Don't you think?

P.S. It’s a proven fact that tanning beds are a potential cause of skin cancer.
(I don't know the exact percentage, but the risk is there.)

Those tiny goggles used in tanning beds actually serve a real purpose, and you really ought to be wearing them. They’re so small that they just cover the eyelids perfectly, so there aren't any awkward gaps left over...

Betty Hill82 said:Regarding hair care—I didn't really take precautions until I noticed my color fading way too fast and my ends getting super dry. Now, I just keep it in a ponytail or cover it up with something.

I’ll probably end up doing something about it. Oh, right—I don't actually dye my hair...

Casey Palmer5 said:Those tiny goggles used in tanning beds actually serve a purpose and really should be worn. They're small enough that they just cover the eyelids, so there aren't any awkward gaps.

Fair enough, I'll wear them if they have them available. I'm heading in tomorrow at 9:00. I'll let you all know how it goes.

Oh, and one more thing—I was planning on starting with 5 minutes, then bumping it to 7 and then 10, but the technician is insisting I start at 10 every time. That feels like a lot... what do you guys think? Is that overkill?

It all depends on your workstation and how your dog reacts. If you’re at a new desk, they usually just run me through a quick few minutes of testing to see if my dog stays calm. If everything checks out, they let me back inside like I'm being ushered through a revolving door. 😁

Also, don't forget to pull the top part all the way down. 😁

A lot of people fail to get a good polish on the front side during those first few attempts. 😂 🤣

P.S.: Put me in that group too. 😁

I never actually bothered getting glasses; I just spent most of my time squinting at everything. 🙄

The lid, the hair, those eyes... I still remember 😬
Keep them coming if anything else pops into your heads 😁
I'll take a quick look at what you've all written before I head out 😁

Sophia Castillo35 said:Fine, I'll ask if they have them. I'm heading there tomorrow at 9:00. I'll let you guys know how it goes.

Oh, right—I was actually hoping to start with just 5 minutes, then maybe move up to 7 and then 10. But the lady there is insisting that you always have to start with at least 10... that feels way too long to me. Is it really that much, or is she just being extra?

Every decent tanning salon in town should have them available.

Wait, what do you mean you can't do less than ten minutes?? That is honestly ridiculous. If you have even slightly sensitive skin, that could be way too much to handle right out of the gate (personally, I'd try 8 minutes, and if they give you any grief, just tell them you have a super high sensitivity to UV rays). Seriously, I did 5 minutes the other day, and today I bumped it up to 8 (the one set to $1.75/min).

Casey Palmer5 said:So, I was out there for 5 minutes the other day, and today I managed 8 (that's $1.75/min).

$1.75/min???
That’s easily the most expensive rate per minute of sunshine I’ve ever heard of!

Where I go, they have rates from 2-$1.75/min.

I usually opt for the most expensive one because there’s typically zero wait time—which is a lifesaver since my schedule is pretty packed lately—plus, I’m a sucker for believing the newest equipment is always the best and has decent lighting.

After using those ones that cost $0.67/min, I actually ended up with an allergic reaction (God knows if they ever bother to change the bulbs or what kind of radiation those things are pumping out)...

I don't know, it all seems a bit excessive to me, regardless of whether the tanning bed is brand new or whatever else they claim.
Where I go, one minute costs $0.67, and during certain months of the year, the rate drops to $0.33 per minute. I’ve never dealt with any skin allergies or anything like that myself. There really isn't any need to wait, either; you just book ahead of time and the machine is ready whenever you arrive. As for maintenance? Based on my own experience, I can tell you they swap out the bulbs regularly, and their hygiene standards are incredibly high. There is simply no way they'd overlook something like that.👍

It’s about $1.00/min over here, which feels fair since I’m not in downtown Chicago—just heading to my own neighborhood. I guess I'll just see what happens 😁
Wish me luck, I'm headed 🙂 and should be there soon

Hang in there, Sophia Castillo35, we're all rooting for you!! 😘

Keep us posted on how it turns out!

Well, I'm back. It went okay, I guess; the attendant gave me 5 minutes. :klap:

Here's the deal—I walk in, say hello, and explain that I really just need 5 minutes because my skin is super sensitive and I have sun allergies, so I wanted to see how my skin reacts. She was just like, "Sure, go ahead, 5 minutes." I head inside, take a look, and yep, there's eye protection. There's also spray and wipes... So I wipe everything down perfectly and get ready to undress when it hits me—how awkward is it to strip down here? 😳 I'm thinking, Desirée, you idiot, you're behind closed doors (and the woman is calling out to me from outside)—what's the big deal?? 🙄 Anyway, I undress, tie up my hair, put the eye covers on, pull down the canopy (or whatever you call it), and think to myself: I hope I closed this right, otherwise everyone on this forum is going to laugh at me if I end up with a tan on only one side. 😬 🥳
Then the machine starts buzzing (man, it is loud) and I lie there for a bit while it whirs away. I start wondering: What now? Do I go out? Do I wait longer? This thing is buzzing... The woman yells, "You can come out once the lights turn off!" And I'm like, "I've got stuff on my eyes, I don't know if they've turned off yetttttttt..." 😂 Hopefully they have—I take a quick peek, and it looks like they are. I take the eye covers off—okay, lights are out, time to go. I try to lift the lid—it won't budge. Fak. Now she’s going to have to come in and pull me out while I'm standing here naked. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaa 😳 😠 Then I try again and again—pop, it opens. Thank God. ...I finally get out, spend forever getting dressed, and wipe down the tanning bed...

I survived my first time. 👋 Part two coming soon.
👋

PS - I had to delete some emojis. *Sniff*

So you turned a five-minute tan into an entire epic saga! 🙂

By the way, who is this woman in the story? Why is she yelling? And how is she even in the same room???

So, I decided to try out a tanning salon for the very first time today. I only stayed in for about 10 minutes. Since I have naturally fair skin and don't tan easily, I didn't want to overdo it right out of the gate. The setup itself was decent enough, but they failed to provide me with eye protection—which is honestly pretty sketchy. On the plus side, the AC was pumping, so it wasn't sweltering inside. One thing though: I hopped in the shower about half an hour after I finished. Is that actually a bad idea?

restlesstiger31 said:You basically wrote an entire saga about five minutes of tanning! 🙂

By the way, who is this woman in the story? Why is she shouting? They're in the same room, aren't they?

It’s actually one large room split into three sections by some white wooden partitions or whatever. You're technically separated, but barely—you can still hear everything and carry on a conversation.

I didn't shower. And honestly, I wasn't even hot. 😁