Choosing the Right Tanning Salon

By Tanya on March 1st, 2011

Whether you’re looking for a tanning salon to help you develop a base tan for a tropical getaway or to help you maintain a healthy glow year round, there are several things to keep in mind when choosing the salon that’s right for you. To help you make the right decision, we’ve put together a list of criteria that all clients should keep in mind when looking for a new tanning salon.
Salon Tour

If you let the staff know that you’re looking for a new tanning salon, one of the first things that you should be offered is a tour of the facility. This allows you to see first-hand whether the salon is clean and the equipment well maintained (see numbers 2 and 3 below), but it also gives you plenty of opportunity to ask questions about the staff and facility to determine whether the salon is a good fit. You may also wish to see how the facilities are laid out. Do they offer you enough privacy? Will you be tanning in a high-traffic area that may be noisy during peak hours? These are all important things to know before your first tanning appointment.

1. Cleanliness

A dirty or unkempt salon or spa isn’t just an eyesore—it’s a health hazard! When you walk through the salon, pay attention to the floors, the bathrooms and the surfaces. These are your first indication that the salon takes hygiene seriously, and they should be free of visible dirt, dust and grime. Your salon should also have regular daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning schedules, and equipment should be sanitized after each use. If the equipment and facilities look clean but you want to be sure, don’t hesitate to ask the staff about their cleaning schedules, products and methods.

2. Well-Maintained Equipment

Tanning equipment is used on a daily basis, and regular maintenance is crucial to ensure that it’s always in good working order. A salon that doesn’t have a regular maintenance schedule or whose tanning equipment clearly has old or worn out parts will eventually face down time as technicians need to be called in to do what could have been prevented with regular upkeep. That means that you may face rescheduled or interrupted tanning sessions in the future or have to use a different booth or bed that isn’t as well suited to your needs.

3. Staff Education and Training

Tanning can be a safe and healthy way to boost vitamin D levels and maintain a summer glow year-round. Ask if the staff are properly trained and up-to-date on the latest in tanning techniques and safety. They should be Smart Tan certified, and they should be open about what kind of education they’ve received.

4. Consultation

Whether you’re new to tanning or not, it’s important to receive a thorough consultation each time you switch to a new salon. Each client has unique tanning needs and wants, and even these can change over time and with the seasons. To ensure that you have the best results and tanning experience possible, the staff must understand your individual skin type, what kind of tan you’re hoping to achieve, and what tanning schedule can fit into your lifestyle.

5. Customer Service

You are the most important part of any salon or spa’s business, and you should always be treated as such. When you first arrive, you should be greeted immediately, even during rush periods. There should be a comfortable seating area, and the concierge or receptionist should give you an estimated wait time (if there’s any at all). When you’re taken to the tanning area, you should be asked whether anything has changed since your last appointment that may affect your session. And it should be made clear that you can always approach any staff member for assistance at any time during your stay.

6. Results

Different tanning salons use different equipment and different tanning products, and results can vary accordingly. Be upfront about what type of tan you want, whether you like to tan standing up or laying down, how often you expect to tan, how sensitive your skin is, and whether you have any allergies to certain tanning products. A good salon will be more concerned about your experience and results than your money, and the staff will let you know whether you can achieve your ideal tan using their facilities.

7. Location

All tans will require some degree of upkeep, so make sure that your tanning salon is in a location that’s convenient for you. Chances are, you’ll be scheduling appointments on a weekly or semi-weekly basis, and if your salon is difficult to get to, you’re less likely to keep your appointments and maintain your glow.

Remember, when choosing a tanning salon, your experience is what matters most. If you don’t like the facilities or if the staff aren’t open and responsive to your needs, it’s time to move on.

Stay tuned in the coming weeks for more information about Smart Tan certification and how to get the most from your tanning experience.

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