hi i'm planning to go to a tanning salon/booth but i have no clue or watsoever about it. are all tanning salons the same? or will i get better results from one place compared to another...
and another thing... this is really dumb...but do i lie down naked or wearing a bikini?
is the effect the same as baking in the sun... and is it as harmful as the sun? how long does a session lasts and how much is it? i live in LA... thanx.

hi i'm planning to go to a tanning salon/booth but i have no clue or watsoever about it. are all tanning salons the same? or will i get better results from one place compared to another...
and another thing... this is really dumb...but do i lie down naked or wearing a bikini?
is the effect the same as baking in the sun... and is it as harmful as the sun? how long does a session lasts and how much is it? i live in LA... thanx.


I used to tan quite a bit, but haven't in a few years. I will try to answer some of your questions, but I really don't know a whole lot about the effects, etc. With my experiences in tanning, I have found that not all salons are not the same. If I were you, I would call around and ask how long it's been since they have replaced their bulbs. You want to find a salon that has most recently changed their bulbs. As far as what to wear in the bed, it is 100% up to you, if you want tan lines or not. ;) In my area, the law only allows you to stay in a bed for 20 minutes at a time. But, first timers usually only go in for 10 minutes the first few visits. That leads me to the cost....... you will just have to call some salons in your area, and ask about the prices, too. I found a salon in my area that offered a monthly membership. It was like $10 for the membership, then like $1.00-$1.50 per visit after that. My personal opinion, is if you plan to go often, and get a dark tan, then I would look for something similar to the membership plan that is offered around here. Then, when you have reached the color you want, and your membership has expired, you can then purchase a package like 20 visits for $30. Then, you could go once or twice a week to maintain your tan. Hope this helps. :cool:

Tanning in a bed is as damaging to your skin as tanning in the sun.........wrinkles, age spots and skin cancer are all side effects of using a tanning bed. If you want a tan and are at all concerned about the health of your skin then you should use a sunless tanner. There are sunless tanners you can apply yourself, and there are also sunless tanning booths (such as Mystic Tan) and there are also salons that will airbrush your tan on. These alternatives are much much safer than using a bed or tanning in the sun.

that's true and I think research has actually shown that tanning at a salon is even worse for your skin than the real sun

I used to tan a lot, I still go before the summer, just to get a base. I know it's HORRIBLE for my skin, but I can't help it. I love the feeling of being tan, of laying under the warm lights. Be careful before you go, and know the risks. If you still decide to go, it's nobody's choice but your own.