Summer is the ultimate time of relaxation for most people. Kids are home from school, parents may go on vacation with their children, and adults tempted by the gorgeous weather may take time off to fully enjoy the summer. We have all heard of the term sun-kissed, the splattering of freckles that darken from the sun’s rays; but staying out in the sun also results in bronzed skin and a marvelous warm feeling that stays on your skin long after the sun has set. That perfect bronzed glow is a testament to a warm day (or days) well spent, but sometimes the weather simply doesn’t work in your favor – even if it is summer! Luckily, you don’t have to wait for warm, sunny weather to acquire your coveted tan, thanks to tanning beds. All you need to do is book an appointment at a tanning salon after applying a dark tanning bed lotion, and voila. No sunny weather required. However, before you step into a tanning bed, you will want the knowledge of how to make the most of your appointment, and how to find the best dark tanning bed lotion to maximize tanning results.

Prepping for the Tanning Bed:

Prior to stepping into a tanning bed, you should follow the below steps:

Shower! Showering before you slide into a tanning bed is essential. Showering preps your skin for the tanning process, but you don’t need to do anything special in the shower – your normal routine should suffice. Showering removes any lotions or products that are sticking to your skin and would have resulted in poorer tan results, and exfoliating ensures that no dead skin is lingering around to soak up the tan. After your shower, you will have skin that is prepped and ready to tan.

Shave! During your shower, you will want to shave the areas of your body that you want to tan. If you skip this step, your dark tanning bed lotion will sit on top of your hair follicles and result in an uneven tan.

If you have longer hair, bring an elastic to put it up, and if you are using dark tanning bed lotion then you should bring a glove to apply the lotion to avoid staining the palms of your hands.

Now all you need is to decide what kind of tanning lotion you want to use. Bring the tanning lotion with you, along with a change of clothes that you don’t mind getting stained and/or sticky from the dark tanning bed lotion.

How Does Skin Tan?

When skin is exposed to ultraviolet radiation produced by the sun, the skin reacts by creating a pigment known as melanin, which gives the skin its tan color and also serves as a block to the sun’s rays. As we get darker, it becomes harder for us to burn. Instead, once we get that base tan, we continue to get tanner and tanner! However, sunburns are always a risk. When your skin is exposed to the sun for too long and a sunburn occurs, this means that your skin can no longer create enough melanin to protect itself. So, it’s actually best for you to get a base tan as fast as you can to avoid potential burning. This is where tanning bed lotions come in to play! Dark tanning bed lotions are used to enhance a tan by making the skin look darker or tan faster. They are also known as tanning accelerators. Basically, once this lotion is applied, the lotion reacts with your skin to increase the body’s production of melanin, the pigment in skin. You can get a quick, nice tan without the risk of sunburns.

Dark Tanning Bed Lotion vs Regular Tanning Bed Lotions

You can use regular tanning bed lotion or dark tanning bed lotion, both are valid options, but the one that best suits you will depend on what you are aiming for with your tanning bed visits. Both types of tanning bed lotions will moisturize your skin and protect it from signs of aging, and they both additionally provide more even, longer-lasting tans. However, if you are looking for a little something extra in your tanning bed sessions, then dark tanning bed lotions are for you. Normal tanning bed lotions simply protect your skin and provide a slight accelerant for tanning, but dark tanning bed lotions do much more. As the name implies, dark tanning bed lotions are made with a darker pigment, so you will receive a darker tan. If you want to get darker quickly, then dark tanning bed lotions are for you!