For people who just have to have healthy, bronzed skin, home tanning beds are high on the must-have list. Although salon tanning has been popular for years, and is a $5 billion industry, the home tanning bed sector is a relative latecomer to the scene. One reason is price. A good home tanning bed starts at around $1,900—and the price goes up from there.
Nonetheless, a growing number of consumers are opting to do their tanning at home. The home tanning beds are of high quality, and the convenience of being able to schedule a tanning session at any time of the day or night adds considerably to their appeal.
The other advantage of home tanning is cost effectiveness. While the beds are expensive, once the initial expense is over with, the only remaining expenses are maintenance such as lamp replacement. In contrast, salon tanning is an expense that never ends, unless you decide to give up and let your tan fade.
The best home units have multiple lamps—at least eight in the bench, plus separate facial lamps and arm lamps—to promote an even tan on all areas of the body. Tunnel design is a must—don’t bother with units that only tan one side of your body at a time, or you’ll be spending twice as long tanning as you need to. Look for a large bed size for comfort and to accommodate larger people. And make sure the bed has a good warranty. Some beds even come with built-in music players.
Much has been written about the risks of UV light exposure. Although these can’t be minimized, there’s another side to the story. Many tanning bed users report having an elevated mood when they indulge in a regular UV light bath, especially in the winter months. And UV light exposure on the skin is a great source of vitamin D. Recent studies have shown that a high percentage of North Americans are vitamin D deficient, which can cause serious health problems.
If you decide to buy your own tanning booth, then you need to commit to maintaining it. You should change the lamps on a regular schedule so your color will stay even. And you need to keep the equipment clean, and buy your own supplies, like indoor tanning lotion and goggles, that the tanning salon would otherwise take care of for you.