If you haven’t looked at my first post in this series, it is here.
(me in the tanning bed yesterday)
In the Beds
As I said, the base bed is fine for starting out. The person in the salon should teach you how to work the bed, because each one is different. You’ll want to start slow if this is your first time tanning. It’s not a race, if you burn you’ll be miserable and just peel. The last time I started tanning I did 7 minutes, but the first time I ever started tanning, I did 5. No, it won’t give you immediate color, but you are building the foundation to tan longer. If that does not burn you, do that number for 3 days, then move up 1 minute the next day. If it does burn you, wait until your skin is no longer red, then go down 1 minute. Most people who tan recommend tanning every other day for the best results. I’ll tan any day my schedule will allow. Tanning salons will only let you tan once a day.
Once you get all set up in the room, it should either give you some time before the bed comes on, or you’ll have a button that you press when you are ready. You can wear as much or as little clothing as you would like in the bed, but you should absolutely use eyewear that the salon can provide for you. Here in the U.S., you won’t be able to go into the bed without proving you have eyewear with you. I give my eyes enough trouble with lenses, lashes and liner, so I always use eye protection when I tan.
You can also use lotion if you’d like. I’ll talk about lotion in the third part.
Once you’ve got your lotion on, you are ready to lay in the bed. Lay flat on your back with your arms away from your body. If you are a little claustrophobic at first, you can leave the lid up until you feel more comfortable, or just lift it up if you start to panic. I did that for a long time but now I can even fall asleep in the bed with no worries! 
If you worry that the bed will go all Final Destination on you, most beds have openings at the head and foot, so you wouldn’t ever be trapped inside. 
I put my feet on a towel when I tan because my heels burned once and I couldn’t even sleep I itched so bad! So keep that in mind if there is a part of your body you have trouble with.
After your time, the bed will turn off and you can get out. Be nice and wipe the bed once and lay the towel and “this bed has been sanitized” tag on the stool or whatever thats in the room. Don’t leave it in the floor like a punk, they won’t be nice to you if you are an ass.
Leave the door open so they know you left, say goodbye to the girl at the counter.
High-pressure beds are a completely different animal. They are an amazing treat if you want to try something different (like the Sunboard at the salon I go to) but keep in mind that the time in those beds is different than the time in a base-bed. I went 15 min in a base bed with no problem, but burned doing 15 in the Sunboard. Be able to do at least 15-20 min in a base bed before you do anything high pressure. I know some of the beds have a place for you to plug in your mp3 player or have aromatherapy and stuff! You should at least try it once, it’s so much fun!
There are many factors that will affect how long it takes you to get a tan. If you use a lotion with bronzers, your skin type, and how often you tan. I can go from not tanning at all to people asking if I tan in about 2 weeks (at that point I’ll be going to the bed for 12 minute sessions) to crazy manba dark in about 2 months. (where I can tan for about 15-20 minute sessions) But please take your time and you will get good results.
Part 3 is lotions!
