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My first ever tanning bed session! WEeeird!

SteelWeaver

SteelWeaver

New member
Went for my first tanning session last night - wow! I had no idea how weird and freaky those machines are! I felt like I was in a rocket when it fired up - it was kind of SCARY! Those fans and whirring and other unidentifiable noises. LOL!

So I put my music on and pretended I was going to the MOON! What a trip!

Is it supposed to be so cold when it first starts?

Do you really have to wear the goggles - they have the eye-pieces from swimming goggles there - do they work to do whatever they're supposed to do? (What are they supposed to do?)

Someone mentioned quarters in my last thread on this topic, but - heh heh - we don't have quarters here! Are coins really an option?

I think I prefer the beach ...
 
:devil:
My OL tans everyday. She does not use the goggles because they leave white marks on her eyes. There are no tan lines which is how I like it.
 
So I put my music on and pretended I was going to the MOON! What a trip!
Click to expand...
:lmao: Good idea!

It's so cold when you start cuz the fans are blowing on you, but the bed's not hot yet - that's normal.

How long did you go for? Did you burn?

The goggles are to protect your eyes from the ultraviolet light - & we all know how damaging that is. I think they do work, I would wear them - I don't want to risk damaging my eyes. I bought my own pair for about $10 - but you can also use the stickers (they should provide them, they're called 'winkies').

I don't tan my face at all - I know it causes wrinkles & I don't want to speed the aging process! Besides, the only reason I tan my body is to help accentuate muscle definition - I don't want a tan face.
 
I use the best sunblock I can buy on myt face and neck. Then use a good tan in a bottle for these areas. A few years back I tanned my face for one summer and it is now costing me an average of $1000 per year to undo the damage - it gave me wrinkles, uneven skin tone and sun damage on my cheeks that have to be lasered every 6 months. I have a bed and tan my body but don't go extremely dark. And I do use the goggles as I don't want the damage to my eyes.
 
definitely cover your eyes!!! it is extremely dangerous!!! i go everyday... it's very relaxing... i use a kitchen towel, double it over and cover my neck and face... then to make up for the difference in color- i use sunless tanning products for my face and neck... it works great... also... if i really want to get a "quick" tan for the night, i use the sunless tanning lotion all over and get in the bed.. it really makes you dark for the night... :D
 
I won't touch those goggles because I've never seen the staff clean them between clients Yuck. I also get more than enough (too much) sun on my face already, so I just cover my face and neck with a T-shirt and go to sleep.
 
hehe, I haven't been tanning since I was in high school, but I remember the first time I went, I was afraid I would fall through the plastic I was lying on, and I didn't relax the WHOLE time. I also stripped off everything, and sunburned my ass to a bloody crisp. Oh, those were the days...

Maybe buy your own goggles? They sell little individual ones, I believe, and they're not too expensive...plus, they're cootie free...
 
I tan several times a week,and always cover my face. They make these little seperated goggles that cover each eye,but don't leave noticeable lines. I just use make up to even my face/body. There are also beds that you can stand in,and aren't such "closed quarters!"
 
Self tanner and sun block are my best friends. :):) Lots of products on the market that don't leave streaks and a nice even tan. If you are worried about using them on your face, mix some self tanner with lotion, that will keep it nice and even.

:angel:
 
Thanks for the replies. So the goggles are for ultraviolet light ... surely just closing one's eyes, should take care of that? And if you use a towel, then you don't need the goggles?

I went for 30 mins, with step 1 accelerator - and hardly notice any difference at all - I definitely didn't burn. The machine is a 6000 watt (?) machine - is that average, or low?

I have self-tanners for face and body - I'll use them later on, once I have the base tan. There is a stand-up booth, too, so I'll use that one sometimes.

With fair Caucasian (is that word still used?) skin that tans golden reasonably easily, how long should it take to get a dark tan? I have 10.5 weeks ...

And, just for interest, how much do you pay on average in America for 30 mins in a bed?
 
"And if you use a towel, then you don't need the goggles?"

I don't think the skin of your eyelids or the cloth of a towel are as effective at protecting your eyes - not sure though. I figure better safe than sorry, since I know for certain tanning is dangerous.

"The machine is a 6000 watt (?) machine - is that average, or low?"
I've heard that if the bulbs are new or not makes a big difference. Otherwise, I dunno.

"There is a stand-up booth, too, so I'll use that one sometimes."
Aside from the 'close quarters' issue, you can put your hands up on a bar so you don't have to worry about white underarms or sides.

"how long should it take to get a dark tan? I have 10.5 weeks ..."
Personally I have no idea. The only time I've ever gotten really dark tan was on the beach in Greece - took a week of several hours a day.... slaving away in a bikini working for that tan :D

"And, just for interest, how much do you pay on average in America for 30 mins in a bed?"
Yikes - 30 min??? I think the timers don't go any higher than 20 min. I usually do 15 or so at first, up to 20 per session when I'm a little tan. A session is $6 or $7 here usually (Maryland).
 
Ok..so I have a tool bag in my truck...haha...I used to be a tanning bed repair service man. :) You need to either wear the goggles or the wink-ease stickers if you can. Having a dark tan is not as important as saving your eyes.

As far as the power of the bed or if it is a 30 minute bed or not...it does not matter. You should inquire about how many lamps that it has, what kind of bulbs they use, how many hours do they use the bulbs before they change them, and when was the last time that they were changed.

I have worked on many old piece of junk tanning beds that would "light" someone up with a burn because they always used good bulbs.

As far as time...if you have never tanned before, went the full time, and did not burn at all...you need to find a new place to tan. I tan very easily and about once a week still. I rarely ever go more than 1/2 time in a tanning bed here because I will burn. I use a good quality accelerator lotion and they use strong bulbs too. Just ask Night Fly about her tanning experience(s) in my home town:). We tried to warn her...both times!!!! :):)

B True
 
Whoa b fold! Really? Darn it! The beds are at my gym, which is a kind of old-style private gym - where the equipment's all old, etc. I think the tanning beds bring in most of this guy's revenue, and he's giving me a "competitors' discount" for tanning. I guess his tanning beds have been a bit over-used, because I haven't tanned for a couple of years, and I didn't notice any difference the next day.

How often should the bulbs be changed? Or, after how many hours of use? I guess I better go searching for another place - that sucks, I don't have time and this place is convenient. Grr.

But thanks for the info! I would have been wasting my money. :)
 
We used to sell bulbs that would last for 1,000 hours...but they were totally shot for the last couple of hundred of use hours. We changed our ever 600 hours to stay competitive.

Look for a tanning salon which has 32 lamp or larger beds. If they are less than 32...they are probably not commercial use beds. Some 28's are ok...but they are mostly designed for home use.

Feel free to ask questions.

B True
 
Does it matter what brand of bulb you use in your bed? I bought one a year ago, it doesn't get a lot of use - just me and my sisters.
 
We were the distributors for Super Sun in Kentucky...we always had good luck out of them...always. They are a fairly cheap bulb as far as price and we could offer them at a very very competitive price because we ordered and sold so many.

There are tons of different kinds of lamps, reflector, vho, those that put out more A rays than B rays...and vice versa.

Look around on www.tropicstoo.com I believe.

B True
 
If you need any help...please just pm me. I can give you some specifics on how to get lotion at a cheaper price and how to order from this site.

B True
 
Temple01 said:
will do - and again - thanks.
Now give us the scoop on Nightfly's tanning experiencs...
Click to expand...

Haha...you all want to know about my so called "tanning" experience in his home town, huh? Well...needless to say....I don't call what happened to me TANNING!!!! I call it FRYING!!! LOL.

It was awful. I went the full 20 minutes and I was SO red the next day. I had to do event training also...it SUCKED!!! It hurt so bad to even raise my arms...just imagine a snug fitting sports bra rubbing against me.

OH, and not to mention...My freshly shaved area was fried as well...it was NOT a pleasant experience, and I will NOT do it again...lol. :rolleyes:

I'm SO stubborn...I just won't listen sometimes...:)
 
You did 20 right out the gate????? OMG!!!!! I start at 5 and Slllloooooooowwwwwllly work my way up. You poor thing - that had to be miserable.


Hey does anyone know what the difference between a tanning bed tan is and a sun tan. I am usually pretty dark by the time summer gets here but I always burn my first trip to the lake unless I coat myself in good sunscreen.
 
Temple01 said:
You did 20 right out the gate????? OMG!!!!! I start at 5 and Slllloooooooowwwwwllly work my way up. You poor thing - that had to be miserable.
Click to expand...
Well...the funny thing is...I had already been tanning at home. I think the beds where I tan in Chattanooga are not nearly as strong as the ones in B fold's hometown were. I am thinking of switching places...especially since I am a hard tanner...except for with the sun..
 
Thanks everyone! I had no idea about all this stuff - and now I'm convinced this guy's machines are a waste - gonna go find me a salon. 5 minutes Temple! Hmph! And to think I lay there for 30 to no avail!
 
Steel - when you find a good bed I really recommend 5-10 to start. If you go to fast you will itch in the most inappropriate places LOL.
 
Temple01 said:
Steel - when you find a good bed I really recommend 5-10 to start. If you go to fast you will itch in the most inappropriate places LOL.
Click to expand...

OH yes...that is a BAD feeling too. I actually went to the doctor because I thought I had something wrong with me. LOL.
 
If the beds are strong...you will get a better tan if you NEVER get red. Going short intervals and on a consistant basis will give you a nicer looking tan and be much more healthy for your skin. I haven't gone the full time in years...always 1/2 time or less.

Night Fly...what about the 2nd time you burned here....hahaahha...

B True
 
Great info everyone, thanks!

And thanks SteelWeaver for bringing it up. I too am a first time tanner, going for my 3rd session tonight. My husband had been tanning before so he had told me 10 min. When I actually went to tan, the bed said only 3 minutes! I wasn't sure what to do so I did 8 min the first session, then 10 the second. Ten minutes seemed to be just right as I noticed a change with just a slight pink tinge to my skin so tonight I will go for 10 min as well. Thanks a lot everyone for the advice, especially about tanning the face. I had a feeling that tanning would wrinkle my face as I've seen the evidence on others who I know tan all the time, they seem to look old. I don't have any sunblock with me today to cover my face but you'd better believe for my next session I'll have it! I'm always getting told that I look like I'm in my late teens or early 20's and I don't want that to stop! Gotta keep my young look. It's pretty cool when the aerobics instructor says I look like I'm about 19 when I'm actually 29! And a tan is NOT worth looking old for!
 
If you have ANY redness or anything even close to it from a tanning session...you should NOT go to the tanning salon again till it totally goes away. Cancer is not caused from tanning...it is caused from repeated burning.

B True
 
b fold the truth said:
If you have ANY redness or anything even close to it from a tanning session...you should NOT go to the tanning salon again till it totally goes away. Cancer is not caused from tanning...it is caused from repeated burning.

B True
Click to expand...

Thanks!

So far my skin has only looked slightly flushed after a session and it seems to go away in a few hours. The only slight pink I noticed that DIDN'T go away in a few hours, was a thin area right along where the front of my thong was. Is that okay? I'll take your advice and won't do another session until any pinkness is gone. The advice is much appreciated! :)
 
You are probably ok. Lots of people take the notion of "getting the burn out" before they tan. They burn every day for a week or two to get their tan. They don't tan...they just add burn on top of burn on top of burn.

Your skin burns because it did not have enough moisturizer in it...not yet anyway. As you tan...your skin moisturizes. Drink lots of water and keep lotion on your skin all of the time. 2-3x a day with a good soft moisturizing lotion should be good. Drink lots of water too...especially if you burn.

Pretty tans come from going in shorter sessions more often. That is when a pretty tan develops...and it lasts longer and is safer.

B True
 
b fold the truth said:
You are probably ok. Lots of people take the notion of "getting the burn out" before they tan. They burn every day for a week or two to get their tan. They don't tan...they just add burn on top of burn on top of burn.

Your skin burns because it did not have enough moisturizer in it...not yet anyway. As you tan...your skin moisturizes. Drink lots of water and keep lotion on your skin all of the time. 2-3x a day with a good soft moisturizing lotion should be good. Drink lots of water too...especially if you burn.

Pretty tans come from going in shorter sessions more often. That is when a pretty tan develops...and it lasts longer and is safer.

B True
Click to expand...

Great info, thanks! Yeah, I've been piling on the lotion (fortified with aloe and vitamin E) once a day (after showers) and twice a day on the days I tan. I've also been taking extra vitamin E and using an aloe/vitamin E shower gel. I always drink a lot of water, usually a gallon a day. So it sounds like I should be okay. I told my step mom I was tanning and she about freaked out, telling me not to or I'll get skin cancer. Guess I'll tell her my risk is minimal since I'm not burning.
 
Wow, this has turned into a great thread! Thanks everyone.

I found a proper salon right next to my station - I'm going to investigate tonight, and will probably try them out tomorrow. They had pictures and prices and so on outside the building - they have several different types of machines, apparently all very cutting edge by the looks of them - these people mean BUSINESS. They even had a space-age looking huge armchair type machine.

Guess how much I will have to pay for 20 minutes ...

$20.

and that's on the cheap machine. There's a super special machine for hard-core tanners - 10 minutes, $20.

Maybe I'll take a good walk around my neighbourhood on the weekend ... Although I get the feeling I'll get what I pay for - this spot really looks SERIOUS about tanning.
 
SteelWeaver said:


and that's on the cheap machine. There's a super special machine for hard-core tanners - 10 minutes, $20.

B]
Click to expand...


thats the bed I use...good stuff! once you work your way up hit that bed!

you have to cover your eyes with something. I never did and today my eye site is SHOT! most people dont wear the protective goggles and their eyes are fine but for some ;...like meeeee... :( it seriously made my vision all messed up. I most CERTAINLY need glasses or contacts now! your eyelids are very thin and will not fully protect your eyes so be safe sexy thang:p
 
I feel that the high pressure tanning systems...go once a month type of deals...is really bad for your skin. It goes layers deep. I will see if I can find some old research that I had on these systems when I get back into town.

B True
 
What's the deal with the little white spots you get on your skin from tanning??

One person told me it was a type of skin fungas, another just said it was sun damage?

I have rarely used tanning beds, occasionally if I have a trip planned somewhere hot and beachy, then I will go. I use self tanner and sunscreen all the time.

My neighbor is only 32, she goes all year long. In the summer she gets so dark is sick looking. In the winter she goes enough to be darker than me with a tan. I have noticed on her chest and shoulders she is getting those nasty looking sploches of freckles. I told her it was sun damage, she does not seem to care.

Another time we went on a cruise to Mexico, I warned her to move out of the sun on the deck and get into some shade. She said she was fine, that she was so tan that she would not burn. I tried to warn her that the sun rays are much stronger and you don't notice the heat with the breeze from the deck. I kept telling her she was getting burnt and she refused to listen. Later that night we went to dinner, she had developed a blister that covered her whole bottom lip and could not eat. Plus she burnt her scalp as well.

Finanally, she bought a hat, kept it on, and stayed off the sun deck!! Still, what a waste to pay all that money and burn yourself to a crisp on the 1st day and not be able to enjoy the food, drinks, snorkeling, swimming, etc.

:angel:
 
I never tan anymore.. Not worth it.. If you want a tan, buy self tanners. Why compromise your skin??

My Aunt in Florida tans and she looks so much older than her age now. Even my cousin, who is Beautiful looks older than me ( I am older) because of tanning beds.

I would much rather be without a tan and have GREAT skin. You can always add a little color with blush or self tanners.
 
Thank you starfish, but somehow I doubt self-tanners alone will show up much on stage, and in my particular case, the venue that is being used doesn't allow pro-tan, dream-tan, etc. so I don't have any choice ...
 
Don't forget...people assume that if you tan on a regular basis that you are going to be one of those people who are extremely dark and you are pretty sure that their skin "creeks" when they move...lol.

It is just like female bodybuilding...everyone fears that they will get "too big" so they don't lift weights at all. People fear that they will get "too dark" so they don't tan at all.

B True
 
I don't think the beds will make you any darker than you normally would be....trust me my deep dark tan is most peoples normal coloring:D Always start out slow and definately use an spf for my face, afterall certainly don't want to deal with wrinkles at an early age...

About the white spots...no matter how hard I try I cannot tan the very bottom of my back right at the tail bone? always a white spot there, but no where else....what's up with that?:confused:
 
That white spot on your tail bone is probably from where you are laying on your back and you are not getting good circulation in that area...hence it is not tanning. Lay on your side or on your stomach a few times...see if that helps.

B True
 
Update: So, I went to the nice professional looking place. They had spacious private rooms (a LUXURY in Japan - the space), big fluffy white towels, spotlessly clean, gentle music piped in, very much more high-tech looking machine than at my gym - altogether a MUCH nicer atmosphere. They had a special on for March - 30 mins for 1500 yen - not bad.

Before I knew it, I'd been in there 20 and my skin was prickling, now my tummy's burnt :bawling: :bawling:

Yes - I'm the fool - you all told me so ... but I just wasn't watching - I had the towel over my head.

This is weird, though - my back, back of legs, sides (obviously) and arms are still white as sheets, but my butt cheeks, stomach and upper thighs are burnt.

Should I turn over and lie on my stomach to tan my back? (After I wait a week or so for the burn to go away, grr). And lie on my side to do the sides? (For now, before I do the stand-up machine).
 
A lesson that it seems we all must learn for ourselves LOL.

yes, I use the rotiessre (sp) method otherwise my back is always darker than my front. At first do one session tummy, one session back but when you get to going longer do half tummy half back and you should come out even. I can't stand to lie on my side in those things but you may be able to.
 
Temple01 said:
A lesson that it seems we all must learn for ourselves LOL.
Click to expand...

Ha ha - yes - I'm a firm believer in the learn by your own experience school of thought. OW! heh heh

Mmm - your back gets darker? But my front got more exposure? How odd - is it not related to the distance your skin is from the lights? You'd think your case would be more common, simply because the back is closer to the lights on that side ...

But spatterson gets white spots on her bubble butt, yet my butt cheeks are the parts that burnt in that area - do I have an odd body? :confused: Hahhahh ha ha ha.

Would it be stupid to try and take advantage of the cheap special they have on by just turning every 5 minutes? Or keep the whole session short and just do one part at a time, like you said?
 
And now, for the unwanted dissenting opinion.....

I know that you were ALL just waiting to unload all those UVA and UVB rays on somebody! So, without further adieu, I present a number of links touting the skin damaging effects of tanning beds.

<CLICK! Flame retardant suit on!>

First, a message from the US FDA and your neighbourhood dermatologist:

http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/tanning.html

Next, the National Cancer Institute. (note the use of the word MAY)

http://jncicancerspectrum.oupjournals.org/cgi/content/full/jnci;94/3/155-a

Melanoma Melodrama:

http://www.healthwatcher.net/ISCAN/ishazard.html


Physicists For Responsible Irradiation aka The Health Physics Society (This is actually quite good!)
http://www.hps.org/documents/ultravioletradiation.pdf

Anectdotal Speculation: (remember Reefer Mania?)
http://www.acs.ohio-state.edu/units/cancer/tanning.htm
http://www.acs.ohio-state.edu/units/cancer/handbook/uvlight.pdf

The WebMD speaks:

http://my.webmd.com/content/article/2946.941

and

http://my.webmd.com/content/article/1728.81051



Of course, if your a betting person, you could wager your potential for NOT getting skin cancer eventually.......
 
I thick towel folded over should cut the ultraviolet rays out for you. I t-shirt will not. Ultraviolet light can travel through the cloth of a cotton or cotton blend t -shirt! Oh, and your eyelids definatly do not provide protection of any sort to your eyes...

As for the warnings against tanning... I know we've all heard it before, but I feel like if someone is going to do something, they might as well do it the safest way possible. Go slow, tan a little at a time in increments, dont burn. Burning isnt tanning.

I had a woman stand in front of me, puffing on a cigarette, chastising me about abusing my skin and how her good friend ended up getting skin cancer from tanning... I'll take my chances, thanks. I told her that when I get done having my skin scraped I'll stop by and oil her iron lung. We dont speak anymore... :)

Be sure to exfoliate often, moisturize after (and after showers and such) and be aware of how your skin looks. Be on the lookout any sort of discolorations on your skin that could potentially be tumors... dont forget to look at your back in the mirror, or have someone else check it.

As for burning your back, the way I avoid it is I dont use tanning lotion on my back. It seems to work.
 
BE - quit raining on our parade LOL

Actually, my mom, grandpa and dad have all had skin cancers removed. My gpa had to do 6 weeks of heavy radiation on his nose as it was so deep and it looked pretty damn unpleasant.

I have spent the first 37 years of my life lilly white so I figure by the time this catches up with me I will be too old to care.

If anyone is going to do this I can't say it stronly enough
SUNBLOCK YOUR FACE, EARS AND NECK - tan in a bottle is the only way to go on these places!
 
OK, HuMPPPHHHH!!!!! For all the smart alecs who keep popping into this thread to say we're all gonna get skin cancer ... here is my disclaimer:

THE ONLY REASON I AM DOING THIS IS FOR A COMPETITION !!!!

OK, is that clear enough? I don't NEED a tan, or necessarily WANT a tan, but none of the doomsayers has yet come up with a viable alternative to tanning for the deep brown competition look, and until Ben and Joe Weider change the unofficial requirements for displays of muscle on stage, I (and all other BB'ers) ARE STUCK WITH IT.

For the second time, the particular venue my show is in doesn't alloow dream-tan, pro-tan etc, and even if it did, I have yet to hear of a bodbybuilder who ONLY used those products, without tanning, so can we quit with the annoying comments, please? I'm perfectly aware of the risks.
 
spatterson said:


:lmao:

No! The CHEEKIES tan, it's the the 1 inch margin on either side of my crack that's stark white.
Click to expand...


OOoooohh, I seee! Ha ha - so I don't have an odd body - I have a bubble butt too!
 
Yes...roll over. There is no circulation going there...that is why you are not tanning there. I get the same spots on my back...around my shoulder blades...well...when I was smaller I did.

B True
 
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