ETS Tanning Bed Blog

Tanning bed bulbs are probably one of the most critical components of your business. You may have the slickest indoor tanning facilities, the best tanning beds and the hottest lotions, but if your bulbs aren't up to scratch, your customers simply won't get the tan they want.

That said, tanning lamps are a huge investment, so how do you choose the right tanning bed bulbs? And once you've made your choice, how do you care for and maintain them? It's not that easy, which is why I've put together a breakdown of the differences between the various types of tanning bed lamps and some guidelines on how to keep your indoor tanning bulbs working at maximum efficiency.

Different Types of Indoor Tanning Lamps

Low Pressure Indoor Tanning Lamps

You may know these as fluorescent lamps and yes, they contain mercury. So, you will need to dispose of them properly once they're done working. Low pressure tanning lamps work by discharging gas that excites a stream of electrons, emitting ultraviolet radiation and then causing the phosphorous coating on the lamp tube to light up.

RUV-A Indoor Tanning Lamps

RUV-A lamps are also known as reflector lamps. This type of tanning bed lamp has an internal reflective coating that focuses all of the UV light output to the front of the lamp, reducing the total tanning time and increasing the UV output.

High Output Indoor Tanning Lamps

HO (high output) lamps and VHO (very high output) lamps, work on an 80 to 160-watt ballast and are the most common type of lamp of indoor tanning beds. VHOs are typically found in stand-up beds.

This category also includes high-pressure lamps (metal halide lamps), and though small, these quartz lamps emit an incredible amount of ultraviolet light.

When comparing lamps, are the UV-B percentages and ratios important?

When you divide the UV-B energy of a lamp by the total UV-A and UV-B output, you get what's often referred to as the UV-B ratio. A number of tanning bed and lamp manufacturers will throw these numbers at you, but the truth is, it doesn't actually show the true output of the lamp.

And what about the Te and Tm ratings? Are they important?

Because the UV-B ratio doesn't really tell us much, the FDA uses a much more intricate system using Te and Tm ratings. Te is essentially how long it takes an indoor tanning lamp to produce a sunburn, this is called the minimal erythemal dose (MED) and it's the maximum amount of time allowed per indoor tanning session. Tm is how long it takes the lamp to stimulate tanning, or melanogenesi.

How do I know when to replace tanning lamps and which brands are compatible?

First, let me say that if you're an ETS Tan customer, you can always call us with a question and we can help walk you through the answer, whether it's troubleshooting a bed or deciding if it's time to replace a lamp.

Lamps should be replaced once they've lost about 25-30% of their original output. At that point, they're simply not effective and you're letting your customers down. One way to keep an eye on your lamps is to meter them on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. When taking a reading, let the equipment warm up first and always try to take the reading in the same place every time. To make it easier, keep a lamp log next to each bed to track your readings and results.

If you're replacing a lamp on your own, make sure the replacement is FDA-compatible with the original lamp, meaning it must have the same Tm and Te ratings and can't affect the exposure time of the equipment. Luckily, most lamps will say which lamps they can or can't replace.

But remember, as an ETS Tan customer, you can always call us for technical help or assistance ordering replacement parts for your indoor tanning beds. We'll be here for you

Indoor tanning works, but how well it works often depends on you, the tanner. Follow these tips to get a golden tan with serious staying power:

Avoid the Shower Before and After you Tan

You shouldn't shower right before you tan. Showering can actually strip the body of its natural oils and you want your skin to be as moist as possible to both help the tan develop and prevent your skin from drying out.

Showering right after a visit to the tanning salon is also going to wreak havoc on your tan. A hot shower, soap, and a loofah is a recipe for an exfoliation disaster. So. . .

Don't Exfoliate

Exfoliation actually works to take a tan away. It's great for keeping your skin healthy and fresh-looking, but every layer you scrub away is a layer of tanned skin. Unless you're committed to regular tanning, try to keep the exfoliating to a minimum.

Wear a Shower Cap in the Tanning Bed if Your Hair is Treated

Wear a shower cap if your hair is treated because some of the dyes and chemicals will hurt the acrylic on an indoor tanning bed. Plus, some chemicals may also react with the UV-B rays resulting in possible discoloration. Tan and green outfits may look great in the fall, but for your skin-hair combo, not so much.

Moisturize and Use Lotions

This one should be drilled into your head by now, but it's so critical it's worth saying again and again: always moisturize after you tan . UV lights can dry out your skin and moisturizing can prevent tan-stripping flaky skin.

Tan Naked

Tanning naked is the only way to avoid tan lines. If you're concerned about "certain areas" that may have never seen the light of day, you can use commercial cover ups or a small piece of cloth for protection to protect yourself during your time in the tanning bed.

If you're going to start indoor tanning, you should begin with at least an understanding of the different skin types and where you fall within that spectrum. Why? Because the tanning needs and restrictions for Type 2 skin are going to vary compared to, say, Type 4 skin.

We provide all of this information to our tanning salon owners. If you're new to tanning, any salon owner can (and should) be able to provide you with this information.

Skin Type 1 - Sensitive skin, burns easily and severely and does not tan.

If you're very pale, have light eyes and have always burned easily, this is your skin type. Typically, redheads and people from far Northern Europe are Skin Type 1, and usually shouldn't tan.

If you fall under this skin type and still want to start indoor tanning, you really need to tread carefully. Work with your tanning salon to start as slowly and delicately as possibly. Don't push it, and don't assume you're going to get significantly darker.

For some very fair individuals or people with albinism, tanning simply isn't possible, indoor or outdoor. If you have Type 1 skin, consult your physician before you begin a tanning regimen.

Skin Type 2 - Light skin, burns easily and tans minimally.

If you're pale, but will occasionally tan, then this is your skin type. Skin type 2 is typical of most white people in North America and Western Europe. Start with a limited exposure and gradually work your way up. You'll need patience, but eventually, you'll get a great tan.

Skin Type 3 - Normal, burns moderately and tans average.

If you have a slightly darker skin tone, maybe brown or light brown hair, indoor tanning is perfect for you. Because you can limit your exposure, you're less likely to burn and your skin type makes you a great tanning candidate.

Skin Type 4 - Dark, burns minimally and tans easily and above average.

Olive and darker skin tones fall into this category. You rarely burn and tanning is a breeze for you. With the right lotions and exposure times, you can create a deep, rich indoor tanning tan that looks great.

But aren't there 6 skin types?

It depends on who you ask. We only put 4 skin types on the warnings on our tanning beds. But the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the American Academy of Dermatology have developed six skin types. Classification into the various skin types is based on two causes: a person's sensitivity to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun or tanning beds and the person's skin tone.

The six types are:

I - White skin, easily burns, never tans.
II - Sensitive light skin, rarely tans, burns more often
III - Light skin, tans more, burns equally
IV - Light dark skin, tans more than burns
V - Darker skin, rarely burns, tans darkly
VI - Dark skin, never burns, dark even tans

 

If you're considering making the switch to stand-up tanning beds or outfitting your salon with a few stand-up models, keep reading for an overview of the benefits of these versatile, fast and cost-efficient machines. 

No Pressure Points

On a tanning bed, the tanner lays on a flat or slightly curved acrylic, meaning the flow of blood is inhibited to certain pressure points (like the shoulder blades), a phenomenon that can affect how these areas tan. And because the tanner is lying flat, certain parts of the body are not exposed equally to the UV rays affecting the uniformity of the customers tan. In a stand-up tanning booth there are no pressure points and the entire body can be exposed to the UV rays with the help of built in handles that allow the tanner to easily keep the arms raised during the tanning session.
 

Shorter Tanning Times

Stand-up tanning booth tend to have faster tanning times than their laydown counterparts. The ETS Tan 756V is an 8-minute stand-up booth , making it perfect for tanners who are pressed for time. Stand-up tanning booths in many salons are considered higher level tanning units and can return higher revenues.

Smaller Footprint

Stand-up tanning booths take up less floor space and can return more revenue per square foot however each salon will need to determine customer demand and offer tanning booth options accordingly. ETS offers three levels of tanning booths that can easily match up with tanning bed levels offered so that the salon can offer both options at  three levels.

Built-In Changerooms

Most stand-up tanning booth models (and ALL of the ETS Tan stand-up booths) come with optional add-on dressing areas eliminating the need for rooms and the cost that come with them.

Comparable, if not Lower Pricing

Here at ETS Tan, our top-of-the-line stand-up tanning booths sell for around $19,000 with our smallest model priced at $9000. With the same number of lamps as the laydown units, they're either priced similarly or, in some instances, lower.

Sanitation

 

Imagine this window ad at your tanning salon:

"Our new bed is clinically proven to show up to a 74% improvement in fine lines and wrinkles, try it today!".

Is this possible? You might be asking...

Well, the ETS Tan Rejuvasun with Omnilux is a tanning bed that features Omnilux Anti-Aging light therapy. These beds offer both red and near-infrared light waves (which are indeed clinically proven to show up to a 74% improvement in fine lines and wrinkles) and are the latest trend in tanning bed technology.

Customers concerned about their skin and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles are clamoring for tanning beds offering light therapy technology.

A tanning bed tan can actually be better and more exact than a sun tan achieved outside. Why? Because when you’re out in the sun, you can’t control how much ultraviolet (UV) light your skin is absorbing. However, when you opt for a tanning bed tan, you can actually regulate and control your UV exposure.

As a result, you can gradually increase your UV exposure over time in a controlled environment. This lets you take charge of your tan’s deepness while also minimizing the risk of burns. Here’s how:

Knowing Your UV Rays for a Better Tan

Tanning beds are designed, essentially, to imitate the sun. The sun emits three types of UV rays; UV-C, which is the most harmful; UV-B, which begins the tanning process; and UV-A, which completes the tanning process.

The ETS Tan Rejuvasun is a tanning bed that features Omnilux Anti-Aging light therapy . These beds offer both red and near-infrared light waves (which are clinically proven to show a 74% improvement in fine lines and wrinkles) and are the latest trend in tanning bed technology.

Customers concerned about their skin and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles are clamoring for tanning beds offering light therapy technology.

How it Works