A stand-up tanning bed offers the things you can’t find in a normal lay-down session: space, intensely even color, and quick results.
Instead, settling for a lay-down tanning bed makes us waste our time! We go to the salon again and again to increase our tanning results.
Here’s how you can prepare for a stand-up tanning bed – in one comprehensive guide:
How to Use a Stand-Up Tanning Bed:
We’ve broken down the best way to get into a stand-up tanning bed. Check out our tanning bed tips below:
What to Prepare:
- Body scrub
- Loofah
- Lotion
- Moisturizer
- Tanning lotions
- Goggles
- Bikini
Before: All the Preparation You Need!
Get ready for your tanning time! You don’t have to worry about complications if you do the following:
Step 1: Exfoliate and Moisturize Your Entire Body
Before you even get to the tanning salon, MAKE SURE YOU EXFOLIATE.
Use a loofah and your favorite body scrub to get rid of old skin cells.
After, hydrate your skin accordingly. Choose something non-greasy but moisturizing as your lotion. Take your time with your arms and legs.
Step 2: Get Rid of Makeup, Jewelry, and Deodorant
Before you do your tanning session, you have to get rid of:
- Makeup. It can increase skin sensitivity! UV light with those kinds of cosmetics will burn your skin instead of giving you a great tan.
- Jewelry. You don’t want an uneven tan! Standing makes it easier to get an even color, but it’ll be for nothing if the UV rays catch your jewelry, not your skin.
- Deodorants. There might be SPF in it. Make the most out of UV rays, and don’t wear any!
Oh, and dress appropriately. That means being naked as much as possible.
Step 3: Find the Best Results with Tanning Lotion and Proper Protection
Unlike being out in the sun’s UV rays, you don’t need sunscreen this time around. However, you should coat your lips with SPF lip balms to prevent them from darkening, too.
Instead, you have to protect your hair from ultraviolet rays and get tanning lotion. A good indoor tanning lotion or tanning oil will maximize the benefits of your salon time!
Meanwhile, your hair – ESPECIALLY if you’ve got long hair – has to be tied up. You don’t want an uneven tan to happen, after all.
During: Getting the Best Golden Glow
Ready to tan? It’s time! After fulfilling all the steps above, it’s time to focus on the tans you’ll get.
Step 4: Use Goggles Inside
Stand-up tanning beds function like any other tanning bed, but the light is much more intense.
You don’t want your eyes to be damaged while in any stand-up bed! Wear goggles for proper eye protection.
Step 5: Stand Where You'll Get Most Exposure
As much as possible, stand IN THE MIDDLE. There’s more space in stand-up tanning beds, so once they close the door, find the middle point. Stay there and get tanned!
Step 6: Raise Your Arms and Position Yourself Properly
Make the most out of the even tan that you’ll get!
Once you’re in the booth, you may notice bars that you can hold onto. Raise your arms, hold onto them, and spend the time in your tanning salon to get as much coverage as possible.
After: Preserving Your Tan
Step 7: Moisturize and Hydrate Your Tanned Skin
After you step out of the stand-up beds, let the tan spread slowly. Your skin adapts then.
DO NOT shower right away! It’s tempting, but tanning beds require some downtime.
But can you still shower a few hours after the tanning session? Yes. It’s the immediate shower that’s a BIG no-no.
Just because you don’t wash right away doesn’t mean you don’t moisturize or hydrate. Drink water and use a moisturizing tanning lotion. Your skin is more prone to drying up after a stand-up tanning bed session, so get the most out of hydration.
It also helps if you use products made for after-tanning products. They can moisturize you while making your tan last longer and better!
Step 8: Exfoliate, Schedule, and Repeat!
Take care of your skin! That means regular exfoliation after your tanning session. If you still want to increase your color, you can schedule how many sessions you can do with indoor tanning.
BUT REMEMBER: Rest is a must for your skin.
Before you get into intense tanning sessions and all the tips you need to get there, rest before anything else!
Stand-Up Tanning Beds vs. Laying Down: What's the Difference?
How do they benefit you in a tanning salon? Find out more in our comparison below:
The Lay-Down Tanning Bed
It’s all in the name. A lay-down tanning bed is what we’re most familiar with! You open up the tanning bed, get in with a bikini on and some goggles, and set up your tanning time.
The basics are mostly the same as a stand-up tanning bed. However, you may want to consider a lay-down tanning bed if you want the following:
- Breathe and relax more. With a lay-down bed, most people find that they can unwind better. While it does take a longer time, you can do your beauty rest and find tanning as a meditative activity.
- Subtler results. Tanning sessions in lay-down tanning beds are lower in wattage. As a result, you have to increase your tanning sessions every week to get the tanning you like.
The Stand-Up Tanning Bed
Now, most people aren’t as familiar with this set-up – unless it’s the tanning booth kind that sprays you all over.
But the stand-up tanning bed functions just like the lay-down tanning bed, with a few MORE PERKS:
- Shorter sessions. Less time is wasted when you go for a standing bed! The intense tan develops quickly with each session, so you don’t need to increase your time. As a result, you also spend less.
- No more pressure points. Lay-down tanning beds can be so uncomfortable, plus it always results in an uneven tan. With a stand-up tanning bed, you get a great tan with none of the uneasiness of a lay down type.
- Intense, tanned color. Want a dark, deep glow right away? A stand-up tanning bed provides just that.
If your goals align with a stand-up tanning bed, go for it! Tanning can be costly, so you should get the most efficient way to tan as much as possible.
Why Choose a Stand-Up Tanning Bed?
You should never hesitate to maximize your tanning experience. Instead, a stand-up tanning bed makes it better! Here are some reasons why you should pick a stand-up tanning bed above all else:
#1 Tan Quicker, Tan Better
Always in a rush? You might settle for quick tanning booths, but you find that the coverage is awful. There are rough spots and uneven tones all over.
But guess what? Stand-up tanning beds allow you to get the tan you love fast! The UV light is powered by more energy in comparison to lay-down tanning beds. As a result, you get golden skin in just a few minutes.
The golden glow can spread everywhere, too! Standing up allows the tanning bed to reach wherever, whenever.
#2 Clean, Hygienic, and Easy to Scrub
Let’s not lie to ourselves: tanning salons can be… Icky. You know there’s an abundance of bodies slathered in lotion going in those acrylic slides.
Stand-up tanning beds don’t have this problem. Your skin will barely touch the acrylic sides, so your skin won’t be irritated.
Tanning lotions will also be less prone to dripping all over the bed. You’ll be able to prevent tanning bed rashes from forming.
As a result, if you want to own a stand-up bed, it’s also easier to clean up!
#3 There's More Room for You!
You don’t have to suffer the claustrophobic feeling of lay-down beds! Instead, you can turn over with more space and feel free to let the tan reach your arms, legs, and even the tips of your toes. Your tanning session is more comfortable.
Do Tanning Salons Have Stand-Up Tanning Beds?
YES! They’re popular in the tanning business.
- If you don’t want to do lay down tanning, you can get a quick, healthy tan with the best possible results. The salon attendant will teach you everything you need to know!
- If you want a darker tan, a stand-up bed can be the best option for you. You can gradually increase your tan with the stronger bulbs these beds have!
- If you want to have the utmost convenience with your tanning session, you can search online for a good stand up bed or lay down bed.
There are multiple stand-up tanning beds for you to get into!
Instead of driving to and from the tanning salon and scheduling sessions, you can just tan in the comfort of your home. Just be sure to find out how much tanning beds cost first before buying anything. Don’t blow your budget!
To Sum It Up
In summary, you just need to exfoliate, moisturize, and protect yourself before getting into any kind of tanning bed. A stand-up tanning booth requires the same thing.
Now, if you want to fully compare and contrast, try out a lay-down tanning bed at your local tanning salon first.
Switch from a lay-down bed to stand-up tanning beds after a month. It’s your preference that determines the results!
Have a happy tanning session! We hope we helped you out in getting ready for stand-up tanning beds and comparing lay-down tanning beds to stand-up ones.
Just remember though… Tanning beds won’t give you Vitamin D like a normal stroll under the sun can. So don’t use it as a substitute for going outside!
You’ll still need some outside light from time to time despite being already golden and tanned.
CHANGELOG:
September 6, 2021 – Updated article formatting and content
July 16, 2021 – Reviewed and updated article links
