All over the country, tanning salons are getting a bad rap, but an increasing number of scientific studies are being published that actually highlight the benefits of indoor tanning. We at HD Tan want to share a couple of these benefits of visiting tanning salons such as our salon in Raymore.

Reduces the Risk of Sunburn

One little known fact about regular tanning is that it actually reduces the risk of sunburn. As your skin tans, the outer layer of your skin actually thickens and makes the skin less likely to burn when out in the sun too long. Getting a sunburn is going to be a lot more harmful to your skin than a healthy glow that acts as a barrier between the sun’s ultraviolet rays and your skin.

Minimizes the Effects of Health Conditions

You get Vitamin D from ultraviolet rays available with long soaks in the sunlight as well as tanning salons. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to many severe health conditions such as blood pressure, heart disease, and more. Also, Vitamin D is essential for healthy and great looking skin and minimizes the effects of emotional disorders such as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

Makes You Feel Great

Finally, visiting an indoor tanning salon regularly, as long as you are not overdoing it, can be a great way to just keep you feeling better. In addition to improving and reducing the risk of those health conditions outlined above, tanning provides your body with the essential Vitamin D it needs to feel better and for you to be happy. No matter where you live and what season, you can benefit from the many wonderful things that indoor tanning provides.

Many people utilize indoor tanning units in order to achieve a tan not only for looks, but to help prepare their skin for the sunshine and UV rays they will be exposed to on their upcoming vacation.

Timeframe

Make sure to give yourself an adequate amount of time, based on your skin type, to achieve a proper tan before your vacation. It is important that you don’t wait until last minute to get a base tan. If you wait too long, you won’t get the base tan you need to prevent overexposure while enjoying your hard-earned vacation time.

We recommend that you come in at least 3-4 weeks prior to your vacation in order to build up a proper base tan; this gives you time to build up a tan while using our UV tanning units in moderation.

Tanning Options

We usually suggest that you start out in a high-pressure tanning unit to build some color before using units that have higher levels of UVB exposure. High-pressure tanning units project more UVA, meaning that you are less likely to be overexposed and burned during the process. After reaching full time and tanning in this unit multiple times at the maximum (if you get to this point), we suggest that you mix up the types of tanning units and go into a bed that projects more UVB to prepare you for the outdoor sun.

Want a quick boost of color before the big trip? Try a spray tan at our Raymore location for more instant cosmetic color. (No, you will not look like Ross from Friends!) The spray tan can help you achieve a beautiful glow through customized color options in a short amount of time.

Tanning Times

Unfortunately, there is no magical chart that tells us how long everyone should tan in each type of bed. Everyone has different skin types and different sensitivities so everything varies for each customer. The tanning consultants at our salon are certified in tanning and can easily help you find the right amount of tanning time based on your skin type, the type of UV tanning unit you choose, and the maximum amount of time the tanning unit allows.

On your first visit, we don’t recommend that you go the full time on any UV tanning unit in most cases. Whether you believe it or not, you do not have to overexpose or burn your skin in order to achieve a tan! It is the tanning consultants’ job to assess your needs and skin type to help you achieve stunning color without overexposure occurring.

Pre-Tanning and Post-Tanning Products

We strongly recommended that the tanner use proper pre-tanning and post-tanning products sold in our salon. A lot of people assume tanning consultants are just trying to sell you on the idea that you need the lotion; the truth is, it is an important part of the tanning process. Good pre-tanning lotions help you get a tan more quickly, help the tan last longer, and most importantly, help to give back to your skin what tanning may be taking away from it.

Want to achieve the best color in the shortest amount of time possible while still taking care of your skin in the process? Then use proper pre-tanning lotions! Everyone’s skin is different, and this is why salons carry so many different products; the idea is to be able to find a product that’s right for everyone.

Post-tanning products are a little different. These products are referenced as post-tanning products because you use them after you tan. This can be immediately after you tan, after a shower later in the day, etc. Almost everyone uses a daily moisturizer, but as a tanner, you may have different needs.

Who wants to pay for a tan and then use something everyday that can be taking away from it? Make sure you are using a product to moisturize daily that doesn’t have ingredients in that are going to strip away your tan or prevent it from progressing—this is even more important if you are getting a spray tan.

Ingredients such as alcohols, mineral oils, and sulfates are all culprits of stripping/blocking a tan. Watch for these ingredients in your daily moisturizer. Our salon should always have post-tanning products for you to choose from, so you should never have to worry about this!

As our clients stop by for a sunless tan in Raymore, they often ask us about how they can get the most of their tan. What can be done to ensure that it will look great and last as long as possible? To them, we offer these 3 steps that they, and you, can take to ensure that your tan will look great this winter:

Exfoliate

One of the biggest issues with your skin during the winter is that it will dry out and get scaly. In some places, you may experience greater amounts of pollution that can make your face look dull and gray. Before you head to the tanning bed or get a spray tan, you need to prepare your skin by exfoliating. Find a process that will be soft but effective. You need to remove all the dead skin so the young and vibrant skin underneath can shine through.

Moisturize

To counteract the dryness of the winter, you should also moisturize your skin on a regular basis. Not only will it help keep your skin looking its best, but it will help the tan permeate deeper. During the winter, choose oil-based lotions to help protect your skin from the dry conditions. And always remember to apply lotion when you get out of the bath or shower. The water tends to dry skin out even more, so you’ll need the extra help from lotion when you step out of the shower. Pat your skin dry and let the lotion do its job. To counteract the dryness of the winter, you should also moisturize your skin on a regular basis. Not only will it help keep your skin looking its best, but it will help the tan permeate deeper. During the winter, choose oil-based lotions to help protect your skin from the dry conditions. And always remember to apply lotion when you get out of the bath or shower. The water tends to dry skin out even more, so you’ll need the extra help from lotion when you step out of the shower. Pat your skin dry and let the lotion do its job.

Wash

Hopefully, you’re already washing your skin on a regular basis. Make sure to wash your skin before tanning, especially since you should wait at least 3 hours after tanning to wash your skin. Waiting to wash your skin after tanning will help the tan permeate your skin more thoroughly. When it comes to washing your skin, the products are important, too. You should refrain from ones that are made of alcohol or other products that could end up drying out your skin. Fragrant soaps and body washes are known to dry out skin, so you may need to purchase something else to use this winter.

With the help of HD Tanning  and these tips, you can have tan skin throughout the summer. Whether you’re preparing for your upcoming spring break vacation or just want to maintain a sun-kissed look when the weather is dark and gray outside, sunless tanning is a great way to do it. Just make sure to take care of your skin and keep it soft and moist, so it will continue to look its best throughout the year.

Nothing gives you that beautiful glow like a natural-looking tan. Bronzed bodies, tanned and toned skin, and that perfect hint of color are easier and better-looking than ever before, but have you ever stopped to consider the differences between spray tans and tanning beds? Read on as our experts at HD Tanning, explain the pros and cons of each.

Tanning Beds

When summer season arrives, pale skin and the risk of sunburn aren’t exactly appealing. Tanning beds that provide varying levels of intensity (and therefore lighter or darker tans) are available, and they come in various forms. Standing booths, traditional beds used lying down, high-pressure beds, and many other options are available, depending on your preferences and needs. Generally, UVA or UVB rays are emitted via fluorescent bulbs, resulting in a beautiful, natural-looking tan.
There are many benefits to tanning in a bed. Most people find the experience to be very relaxing. Bed tanning results in a nice, even tan with no tan lines or only the tan lines of your choosing. The gradual buildup makes the tan long-lasting, and you can tan for longer or shorter periods of time in more or less intense beds, allowing you to completely customize your tan.

Spray Tans

If the thought of UV rays from the sun or a tanning bed concerns you, spray tans can be another great option. A fine-spray tanning solution mist that contains DHA results in an even, streak-free tan that will keep you glowing for a week or more.
There are many benefits to choosing spray tanning: The lower health risks, the fact that you don’t have to build your tan over weeks or months, the instantaneous results that do tend to deepen overnight if you don’t shower immediately, and the fact that you can choose the exact color you want all make spray tans an ideal option for many tanners.

Which Is Right for You?

There is no right answer for which type of tanning is better. Do test runs of both, or choose the one whose benefits fit your lifestyle and needs better. If you’ve ever considered spray tans in Raymore, we recommend doing a trial run before any important event. This allows you to test skin sensitivity as well as overall color in a low-stakes setting.

To effectively prepare your skin for a tanning session, be sure to exfoliate thoroughly, since rough, dead skin can result in an uneven tan. Shave or wax to remove unwanted hair. Remove oils and moisturizers from skin, and then apply balm sparingly to rough skin like elbows, knees, or lips before spray tanning.

This winter, if you want to keep your favorite sun-kissed skin color without subjecting yourself to the harmful rays of the sun, then we definitely recommend getting a sunless tan in Raymore. Here at HD Tanning , we love showing our clients how to get the skin color they are looking for without running the risks that come with UV lights in the tanning booths and beds.

Recently, we have had a lot of people asking about what sunless tanning is, and what it involves. Quite plainly, sunless tanning is just what it sounds like: it is a way to get a tan without involving the sun or the UV rays from any other man-made device.

There are a number of ways to get a tan without the sun, but we prefer our spray tan option. This is a specially designed concoction of natural pigments, moisturizers, and toners. This mixture will adhere to your skin and color it a shade of tan.

We use a specially designed spraying device to deliver the product. This ensures even coverage, and helps to avoid the streaks and strange residue that comes with the lotions and other products that are used elsewhere. Our spray doesn’t drip or cause any strange uneven lines when it darkens.

One of the best things about using the spray tanning method, aside from the obvious safety side of things, is that you can choose any shade you want. This means that you can get as dark as you want or stay as light as you want. This helps to avoid the necessary gradual process with the tanning beds, and can put a limit on the shade, which is not an option with the sun.

Basically, sunless tanning is a way to get the color you want in your skin with total control over the final outcome, and with complete safety from the harmful effects of UV rays.