Ok, these may very well be stupid questions, but for the life of me I cannot find this information on The Internets. All the articles on tanning I can find discuss whether it is safe or not, and little info on the act of tanning itself.

I'm heading to the Caribbean in a month, and I have made the decision to try a tanning bed to get a bit of a base tan before I go.

1. What do you wear? Is there any need to protect the privates, or do you just go in the buff? Goggles should be provided by the facility, right?

2. Is there any etiquette or procedure things I should know of? I assume that wiping down the bed after you're done is to be done?

3. I am pretty pale and sun sensitive, so I'm going to start out pretty slow (4 minutes?) -- and I'm looking at going 3 times a week for four weeks. Is there any recommendations on how to schedule the length of each visit? Do I just make sure I don't turn red?

Thanks for any help!

1. What do you wear? Is there any need to protect the privates, or do you just go in the buff? Goggles should be provided by the facility, right?
Most places do not offer goggles anymore - they'll sell you a pair for a couple dollars. As for the what to wear question - a lot of folks go in the buff - be cautious as your privates don't typically maintain much levels of the chemical that causes your skin to tan so they burn easily.

Tanning dries out your skin - another consideration about the privates.(a lot of friends I know where thong-ish type things to keep mr happy pale - but elimiante the majority of the tan line)

2. Is there any etiquette or procedure things I should know of? I assume that wiping down the bed after you're done is to be done?
Every place I ever went wiped the bed down for you - typically they're required to steralize the bed after you use it anyway.

3. I am pretty pale and sun sensitive, so I'm going to start out pretty slow (4 minutes?) -- and I'm looking at going 3 times a week for four weeks. Is there any recommendations on how to schedule the length of each visit? Do I just make sure I don't turn red?

You'll get a feeling for this. I started out going twice a week for the first couple weeks then started going for longer and then 3 times a week. Just enough to not burn.

I had the same frustration you did - every thing you find online tells you how evil it is - not anything useful.

Ask the people at wherever you decide to tan - just tell them flat out like I did - that you had never done it before and have no idea what to expect. They want your business, so typically they are more than happy to show you the ropes.

Ok, these may very well be stupid questions, but for the life of me I cannot find this information on The Internets. All the articles on tanning I can find discuss whether it is safe or not, and little info on the act of tanning itself.

I'm heading to the Caribbean in a month, and I have made the decision to try a tanning bed to get a bit of a base tan before I go.

1. What do you wear? Is there any need to protect the privates, or do you just go in the buff? Goggles should be provided by the facility, right?

2. Is there any etiquette or procedure things I should know of? I assume that wiping down the bed after you're done is to be done?

3. I am pretty pale and sun sensitive, so I'm going to start out pretty slow (4 minutes?) -- and I'm looking at going 3 times a week for four weeks. Is there any recommendations on how to schedule the length of each visit? Do I just make sure I don't turn red?

Thanks for any help!

1. It depends on you. Alot of people do go in naked to try and get rid of any tanlines, but I guess you do run the risk of getting burnt, um, down there. Just do what you feel comfortable with.

2. Usually they have towels for you or give you one when you get a room. I have always wiped mine down with the cleaning thing in the room, regardless of whether or not they do. I wouldn't want to clean up other peoples sweat, and it's not really that big of a deal.

3. If you have time like that, definetely take things slow. You don't want to try and rush it and burn yourself up. Do a short time, then wait a couple days to see how it felt, and move up or down from there. And the first time usually does give you a little burn.

Also usually they have water-based (not greasy) type tanning lotions you can use if you want. I've heard that they help, and might give you a slight spf protection, but they're also expensive so I've never used one.

Anyways good luck, it can get kind of addicting once you start seeing results, just like lifting weights.

Thanks for the quick replies guys! 4 weeks left to get a tan and get my sixpack showing.

NAKED! BUCK NAKED!! i hate tan lines, yah man start slow, the people at the salon should have good advice how long to start off with.

dont' worry too much about your junk gettin crispied, just make sure whatever lotion you use isn't the really intense burning kind cuz one dab on the ol' twig and giggle berries and you're in for a bad week.

i tanned before going to florida in july a few years back and while it helped i STILL had baked like a chicken breast.

1. Nothing. Get naked. Goggles are provided by some places, but not all. I would buy my own if I were you, they're not expensive.

2. I always wipe down the beds afterwards, and I always bring the towell and goggles up to the front, put them in the laundry hamper, or whatever. Just use common sense really, be polite.

3. Depends on the bed really. Some have 8 minute max, some 20, some more. It all depends. You should start off very short and work up over a couple of weeks.

1. I go nude, and never had a problem burning anything of value down there. I also dont wear goggles, but keep my eyes shut the whole time. I hear that its still not good for you (to go in with no goggles, even though you keep your eyes shut) but then again I hear tanning in general is not good for you. I do this because I dont want to get raccoon eyes...a tan face and white around the eyes.

2. I wipe down the beds before and after...just to be sure. I also wipe down the little pillow, cause I just have a feeling it doesnt get wipped down all that ofter. I also bring my own towel in there, but some places provide them for ya.

3. Yeah the place you go should reccomend a length of time. As far as how often, I wouldnt go more than every 3 days...I'd try to space it out a bit more at the begining too.

A couple other things to note...
One place I used to go to got me more red than tan. A bed with good bulbs should get you tan, not burnt. If you are real pale, you might get burnt at first, until you get your base tan.
Ive been to one place and took a shower shortly afterwards...and my skin got even more burnt after the shower. Everytime I went to that place and took a shower it had the same effect. So just to be sure I'd wait several hours..or try to tan at night and shower in the morning.

A couple more things for ya.

You might want to pick up a tanning lotion. They sell lotion for tan beds specifically. I wouldnt use the same old stuff for the beach, but get one specific for tanning beds. They should sell them at the place. Some are pretty expensive though.

Some places have radios and headphones for you, some dont. So you might want to bring your own if you think you'd like that.

It gets pretty hot in the bed, so if the tanning place has a fan, use it! Especially at first. Every place Ive been to has fans.

You can get yourself an..ahem!.."man bag" (actual name, not making this up) so you won't have tanlines or other "issues"....

I bought a pair of underwear that provides less coverage than anything I would normally wear... that way you protect the privates and still appear completely tan to anyone who's not seeing you naked. And besides, when a hot chick says "Look how tan you are!" you can pull down the top of your jeans a little (exposing those killer abs) and show her the tan line.

Another area to watch out for is your underarms and the insides of your thighs... they will BURN since they are not often exposed to sunlight either.

The salon should give you a schedule... tell them exactly how long you have until you leave and how many days you plan on coming in and they'll be able to set you up. I agree that they will have much more experience in determining this than you will since you've never done it.

I go to a place that has stand-up booths as well as beds... the booths are faster (max time is 11 minutes, as opposed to 20 for the beds) but sometimes I'd rather take a nap while tanning, so I go back and forth depending on how I feel.

It's best to be clean when you get there (shower first) and then delay showering again for as long as possible. Once the water hits your skin, it stops the tanning process. I recommend a lotion as well... both before AND after tanning. Walmart sells a brand called Ocean Potion which is less than $4.00 a bottle (a bottle lasts me about two weeks, and I go 3-4 times a week). Any kind of aloe vera product will work for after-tanning... it keeps the moisture in and prolongs the tan.

Be warned that you WILL burn the first time you go... but it's not the painful kind of burn like you get from exposure to the sun. And I'm definitely a "no goggles" person... I just keep my eyes closed. I used to use goggles, but when I first started I had a case of the "raccoon eyes" the day before a big social function I had to attend... I actually had to go out and buy some of that "self-tanning" stuff to blend in the circles around my eyes.

1. What do you wear? Is there any need to protect the privates, or do you just go in the buff? Goggles should be provided by the facility, right? Every place I have been to provides goggles, but I never wore them. I always had white circles around my eyes, and that just looked stupid. But I tan easily, so a week or two of short tanning sessions (10 min) I am pretty tan. If you're pale and need to tan often, goggles are prob a good idea.


2. Is there any etiquette or procedure things I should know of? I assume that wiping down the bed after you're done is to be done? I don't wipe the bed or remove my towel from the room. Some may consider it mean, but I do it so that I know for sure that room and bed will get properly cleaned before somebody else uses it. If I clean the bed, remove the towel, they may forget to clean or just skip it because they can get away with it. I don't feel bad that they have to clean somebody else's sweat. That's just part of their job.


-Mike

Please do not tan without goggles. This is a very, very bad idea.

Not trying to be rude, I just don't want people to do this.

You can avoid "raccoon eyes" with goggles. Keep adjusting them while you're laying there. Move them around slightly, up/down/left/right. Or buy the disposable sticky ones which are really small.

Please do not tan without goggles. This is a very, very bad idea.

Why is this a bad idea? Especially if you keep your eyes closed.

I've had people tell me its still not good, but no one could tell me why.

The eyelids are a very thin layer of skin. Have you ever noticed that if there's a bright light you can still see it even when you shut your eyes? Wear your googles please and do what GTX has said, move them around on your eyes -- up, down, or to the side every few minutes. You won't get racoon eyes unless you're planning on getting so tan that your skin is the color and texture of leather (like some of those older women who have lived in the bed since they were 16 are).

I've tried to go in the nude before but my butt always gets really burnt and that hurts like hell. Not the cheeks, etc. so much, but right above the crack in that little v-like spot. I think I probably just wasn't smart about it and decided to go nude after I had already progressed a way in my minutes.

As far as the junk, if I do go in the nude, I bunch up whatever type of underwear I'm wearing and tuck it around the you know what. I'm always concerned (probably unfounded) about directly irradiating the undercarriage. Anyways I don't know about you but that part of my body seem to have a slight natural, genetic tan so it's not like there's a white-ghost hanging between the legs.

If you were boxers you can pull them down and up to simulate a speedo, which reduces the area you're not tanning. Alternatively, you can just wear your speedo or get out the ol' man thong. I'm actually not a big fan of tan lines, but, as I said, that damn butt gets burnt all the time.

Tanning lotion is a very smart investment, but don't wear sunscreen into the bed that's a no-no.

If you find a good salon, they'll be able to manage your minutes very wisely for you and keep you from being burnt. You don't have to be overly cautious but just use common sense. Make sure they move you around between the beds as different ones will be at different stages in their bulbs' lifetime and thus have different intensities.

BTW, they'll ensure that you have googles whether you have to buy a pair or not. Everywhere I've been they supplied them.

I've tried to go in the nude before but my butt always gets really burnt and that hurts like hell. Not the cheeks, etc. so much, but right above the crack in that little v-like spot.

I had that problem with it for about two weeks - but your body eventually starts producing melanin there too. (thats what its called right - melanin?) The thing I had the hardest time getting used to was right above Mr Happy - the freaking skin was SO dry no matter how much lotion I used - and its really uncomfortable sitting around work trying to scratch that general area and not look like you're doing something perverse. (Again - two weeks later I was fine)

I agee with GTX and Chic about the eyewear - moving is better than risking burining out your retinas. (Thouhg I was guilty of going without every now and then too)

I just tan in the nude as well. If you're worried about your junk, put Mr. Happy in your sock, or do what was mentioned, and just drape your underwear over it all.
Definitely right about the eyelids thing. Granted closing your eyes is better than having them open in the bed (obviously) but your lids dont block the UV light, which is why you need the goggles that block that. You dont need eye damage.
For the first time tanning, especially if you are pasty, just do a small amount of time in the bed. Usually a salon wont let you do a lot the first time anyway. Dont be dumb and go the max the first time, or you'll screaming like a cooked lobster.

Anyways I don't know about you but that part of my body seem to have a slight natural, genetic tan so it's not like there's a white-ghost hanging between the legs.


Um, how descriptive. I LOL'ed actually.

Ok... you've convinced me. I'll wear my goggles from now on. I'm tan enough that I won't get the severe marks anymore anyway.

Great information, thanks all.

escher -- good idea on the sock, should work nicely...

I called and made an appointment for tonight -- they sell goggles for cheap, so I'll be sure and do that.

Cheers

Oh, and if where you go has set timed beds, like 20 minute beds and 10 minute beds as some have. Remember that 10 minutes is like a 20 minute squeezed into 10, so its about twice as powerful. Learned that one the hard way...

used to tan, but don't anymore.

always ask how old the bulbs are. the older the bulbs, the longer it takes. The newer the bulbs, the quicker you burn. I always tanned in the buff. Didn't wanted lines. And once I had my base tan, I would alternate every other tan session with the bed and then the stand up tanning booth.

One of my pet peeves of people that tan - particularly women. Sometimes they don't move their legs and body around enough while in the tanning bed, so they end up with a section of white skin just below the butt. And you can see it everytime they walk in a bikini at the pool or beach.

To help eliminate this, I used to use the stand up tanning booths and would stand on one leg, and lift up the other leg- knee bent, so that skin was getting tanned under the butt cheek. Also a good time to work on your balance and core stability exercises. ;)

Well, I went last night, and it was really a pretty painless process. Purchased the goggles for $5, bought 100 minutes. Started with 6 minutes, and I think it was the right amount, because I can see just a bit of redness on my blindingly white backside.

Thanks for the tip on showering phillydude -- that's what I did. They informed me of this fact, only after I had already gone through the tanning bed.

Adjusted the goggles a bit during the session (thanks for the tip 1FastGTX).

One of my pet peeves of people that tan - particularly women. Sometimes they don't move their legs and body around enough while in the tanning bed, so they end up with a section of white skin just below the butt. And you can see it everytime they walk in a bikini at the pool or beach.

To help eliminate this, I used to use the stand up tanning booths and would stand on one leg, and lift up the other leg- knee bent, so that skin was getting tanned under the butt cheek. Also a good time to work on your balance and core stability exercises. ;)

This is the one thing I was wondering about while I was lying there. To start out I had my neck resting on the pillow -- I realized that was a bad idea when I was part way through -- don't want to end up with a white neck! I'm not sure how much I need to move around, but I imagine I should be able to watch to make sure the tan comes fairly evenly.

The one part of my body that felt weird after the session was the palms of my hands. Maybe it was the session of deads that I had completed just before, but they actually felt burnt. Do you keep your hands wide open, or semi closed?

To help eliminate this, I used to use the stand up tanning booths and would stand on one leg, and lift up the other leg- knee bent, so that skin was getting tanned under the butt cheek. Also a good time to work on your balance and core stability exercises. ;)

I adore tanning.. but stand in is the only thing id want to use. I feel weird about them though. It might just be the one by me that is horrid- the 10 minutes i used to go in for felt like a lifetime (they didnt have any music in there like my friend's salon does) and the standing just made me feel like i wasnt tanning certain areas. Maybe im just paranoid about white areas :p .. but im pasty like casper so my worry is very existent.

How long does it take to get a tan from a tanning bed?

It is usually 2-3 weeks to get your base tan, then after that you just go in for maintenance tanning sessions.

The first few weeks was every day or every other day for a few minutes at a time if I remember correctly, until you work your way up to the 20 minutes.

It is very relaxing. If it wasn't so bad for your skin and I didn't have a father-in-law who has had multiple cancer spots taken off of his face and hands, I may tan again. But it just isn't worth it for me.