There are probably quite a few things you would prefer to be doing other than sitting in a tanning bed developing your tan – like showing it off on the beach!
A tanning bed is one of the best ways to achieve a darker, bronzed tan without having to spend time outdoors in the sun, and there are some things you can do to tan faster in a tanning bed, so you don’t have to spend too long building your ideal tone!
How do you tan faster in a tanning bed? Being able to tan faster in a tanning bed starts before your appointment. You should exfoliate and moisturize your skin and shave if possible. When in the tanning bed, you should use a tanning oil or accelerator, and choose the right tanning bed to optimize your session.
There are quite a few things you can do to tan faster in a tanning bed, to make the most of your time spent under the rays, and to develop your bronzed, sun-kissed tone sooner!
How Long Does It Usually Take To Tan?
You will likely not notice much of a difference after only one session in a tanning bed, which might be a little frustrating, but those first few sessions in a tanning bed are when you build up the base tan that holds your visible tan.
The base tan provides a very small SPF, around SPF2 or SPF3, which is how you can start darkening your skin without doing too much damage.
It takes at least three sessions in a tanning bed to develop a darker tan, as this is when the melanin in the skin begins to noticeably darken. You will notice a darker tan between three and five tanning sessions, and then you can maintain your tan from there.
Keep in mind that there are various factors that can affect how quickly you can tan, such as your skin, the bulbs in the tanning bed, and the frequency of your tanning sessions.
Keeping Safe In A Tanning Bed
It is so important to keep your skin protected when in a tanning bed, as your skin is still exposed to UV rays that are known to do damage to skin.
The bulbs in a tanning bed can sometimes be more powerful than the mid-day sun, and this means that it can be harmful to not only your skin, but your eyes too.
So, while a tanning bed can help you develop a gorgeous tan, you do need to take certain precautions to ensure that your skin is kept protected, such as using a tanning oil with an SPF, or wearing eye protection and not tanning too frequently.
Ensuring that you take all these safety precautions in a tanning bed will not only keep your skin protected, but actually help you tan better, and it helps your tan last longer as well!
How To Tan Faster In A Tanning Bed
There are a few things you can do before and during your tanning session to help you tan faster in a tanning bed, to make the most of the session, and to give your skin a deeper, gorgeous glow!
1. Prepare Your Skin
One of the best ways to ensure that your skin tans faster is to prepare it before your tanning session! Here are some ways to properly prepare your skin before a tan:
Exfoliate
When tanning, the top layer of your skin is what tans and develops the darker color, but this top layer of your skin is where all the dead skin cells sit too. These dead skin cells shed, and they take your tan along with them.
For this reason, it is a good idea to exfoliate your skin, and remove the top layer of dead skin cells, so your tan will last longer. The newer layer of skin exposed will stick around for longer, and will absorb the UV rays better to tan quicker.
Exfoliating your skin is essential to developing a darker, longer-lasting tan quicker, but you should make sure to exfoliate the day before your tanning session, to give your skin some time to recover before being exposed to the UV rays.
Moisturize
Hydrated skin tans best, so it is a good idea to moisturize your skin in the days leading up to the tanning bed session. Hydrated skin will absorb the UV rays in the tanning bed better, which ultimately means that you tan quicker too.
Moisturized skin will also hold onto a tan for longer, which means that you can build up your tan better over a few sessions. Dry skin is prone to burning and will not tan as quickly, so avoid tanning with dry skin.
Shave
Shaving before a tanning session is another way to prepare your skin to tan quicker. If there is hair left on your legs, then the UV rays might not reach your skin evenly all over, and it can prevent you from tanning smoothly.
Shave the day before your tanning sessions, to ensure your skin is left clear and smooth to properly and quickly absorb the UV rays. Shaving also helps exfoliate your skin too!
2. Remove Any Makeup And Products
Make sure to properly remove any makeup or cosmetic products from your skin before getting into the tanning bed. These products on your skin can block your pores, and it can act as a barrier for the UV rays reaching your skin.
There is also a chance that these products might contain ingredients that react when exposed to UV rays, and your skin might become more sensitive in these areas.
Your skin will tan much quicker if there are no products on it, so remove makeup, deodorant, creams, and anything else that you may have applied to your skin before the tanning session.
3. Choose The Right Tanning Bed
The right tanning bed is key to helping you tan faster. Some tanning beds have more UV bulbs than others, and some emit stronger lights.
There are some tanning beds that are designed to tan you faster, so do some research before picking out the salon you want to use.
Also consider the difference between lay-down and stand-up tanning beds. Stand-up tanning beds tend to help you tan faster, and they often give a more even tan too. However, if you prefer laying down while tanning, there are some strong lay-down tanning beds.
Make sure to also choose a tanning bed that offers full-spectrum UV rays, both UVA and UVB, as this most closely mimics those rays from the sun, and this will help you tan quicker.
4. Use A Tanning Bed Lotion
Tanning bed lotions were designed to help protect your skin in a tanning bed, and help you tan faster too.
You really shouldn’t get into a tanning bed without a tanning lotion applied to your skin, because without it, your skin will become dry and damaged when exposed to the rays in the tanning bed.
The right tanning lotion will definitely help you tan faster, but there are a few different types of tanning lotions for you to choose from:
- Tanning Accelerator: Tanning accelerators have ingredients which help your skin tan faster, and they even help your tan develop once you have left the salon too. Most tanning accelerators are packed with moisturizing ingredients, which is important for safe tanning.
- Bronzers: Bronzer tanning lotions help you tan quicker and protect your skin, but they also have an instant bronzer that will give your skin a beautiful darker glow while you build up your natural tan. The bronzer will likely wash away after your first shower.
- Tingle Lotions: Some people love tingle lotions, and others find them too irritating on the skin, but tingle lotions do a great job at helping you tan faster. They tingle on your skin and increase the blood flow, which then increases melanin production, which then quickens the tanning process!
No matter the type of tanning lotion you choose to use in a tanning bed, it should have a small SPF, to be able to give your skin some protection from damage, but which will still allow you to develop a tan, just without burning and peeling!
Make sure to also only choose tanning lotions made for tanning beds, as outdoor tanning lotions contain mineral oil, which can severely damage the interior of tanning beds.
5. Change Positions
Changing positions in a tanning bed is so important to get an even tan all over, but it also means that you can expose all parts of your body to the UV rays to help them tan quicker too.
You can ask the technicians at the salon to set a timer for you to remind you of when you should change positions, or they can either come through and remind you themselves.
Stand-up tanning beds make this much easier, as you do not have to change positions other than lifting your arms up, but it is something that you need to do when in a lay-down tanning bed.
6. Schedule Frequent Tanning Sessions
You should not use a tanning bed every day, but scheduling frequent tanning sessions is a great way to safely build up a darker tan quickly.
You will not be able to tan fully in one session, no matter how many fast-tanning tips you use, so you will need a good few sessions to build up your tan.
To start, and to build up a good base tan, you should plan to use the tanning bed two to three times a week. This will give you the base tan you need quicker, and you will be able to build your desired tan from there.
When you reach the tan tone you are after, then you will need to maintain it by tanning once or twice a week in a tanning bed.
Make sure to always use a tanning lotion when in a tanning bed, to keep your skin better protected at all times.
7. Chat To A Tan Technician
The tanning technician at the salon will be able to give you some great tips on how you can make the most of your tanning session, so they are definitely someone you should chat to before climbing into the tanning bed.
They will also be able to take a look at your skin tone and skin type, as well as understand the tan you are wanting to achieve. They might even be able to give you recommendations on the right type of tanning lotion to use.
8. Use A Tan Extender And Moisturizer
Tan extenders can be applied to your skin after the tanning sessions, and these can help to make your tan develop darker, be more radiant, and help your tan last for longer.
Moisturizing your skin with a hydrating cream can also help to keep your tan darker and radiant for longer, and it can help prepare your skin for the next tanning session, and help you tan faster then too.
The Best Tanning Accelerators
Here are a few of the best tanning accelerators that will help you tan quicker in a tanning bed:
1. Australian Gold Dark Tanning Accelerator
The Australian Gold Dark Tanning Accelerator will help intensify your tan in a tanning bed, helping you achieve a darker color quicker.
While it helps you tan quicker, the accelerator also has Australian natural ingredients, such as Kakadu plum extract and tea tree oil, which help fight off free radicals and protect the skin from damage.
Biosine complex in the accelerator helps keep the tan long-lasting, so you get to enjoy your darker color for longer! The accelerator can be used both indoors and outdoors.
2. Ed Hardy Coconut Kisses Golden Tanning Lotion
The Ed Hardy Coconut Kisses Golden Tanning Lotion is an ultra-darkening skin lotion, which contains coconut oil, coconut milk and cocoa butter, to improve the hydration of the skin, but to also tan more evenly and darker.
The formula also has Tattoo Fade Protection, which helps to prolong the life and radiance of your tattoos, helping them stand out beautifully after your tan.
Using this lotion, your skin will tan quicker, and it will be protected and nourished through the process, giving you the best results possible.
Final Thoughts
There are a good few ways that you can tan faster in a tanning bed, including preparing your skin before the sessions, making sure you use the best tanning lotion in the bed, and caring for your skin afterwards too.
Make sure that whichever tips you use to tan quicker, you are keeping your skin protected and hydrated, to try and reduce the damage done by the UV rays.
Tan safely and quickly using the above tips, and enjoy your new beautiful glow!
Related Questions
Here are some popular questions on the topic!
What is 10 minutes in a tanning bed the same as?
In a fairly strong tanning bed, 10 minutes is the equivalent of spending up to 2 hours in direct sunlight at midday. You only need 10-20 minutes in a tanning bed to be able to develop a beautiful tan over a few sessions.
Can I tan three days in a row?
It is strongly advised to not tan 3 days in a row, as this can be really damaging for your skin. You should tan 3 times a week at most, but less than this is better for your skin, and reduces the chance of burning and peeling.
