What should a solarium client know?

Running a tanning salon isn't just about equipment, devices, andtanning products , but above all, about service, ensuring comfort, ensuring maximum safety, and ensuring customer satisfaction. You can read an article about the importance of customer feedback HERE . Today, we'll be writing about tips for employees on what tanning salon customers should know. So how can we make it easier for our customers to use their tanning salons in the most sensible way possible?

First… help an unaware client recognize their skin phototype!

A phototype describes an individual's skin's response to sunlight. According to the classification proposed in 1975 by Dr. Thomas Fitzpatrick, a dermatologist at Harvard Medical School, six skin phototypes can be distinguished. A given phototype is determined by the amount of melanin, the pigment present in the skin and responsible for tanning. To accurately determine a phototype, it is necessary to consider hair and eye color, and above all, skin type, its tendency to burn, and its natural protection against radiation.

The table below describes the six skin phototypes. It can help you determine which one you are, which is very helpful in determining how much time you should dedicate to tanning to achieve results you'll be satisfied with. Most importantly, it will help protect you from sunburn. You can read more about skin phototypes in this article: https://www.onyxtan.pl/blogs/blog/jak-jest-twoj-fototyp-skory .

Tanning lamps – which one to choose?

It's always worth explaining to the client what beds and lamps are available in the tanning salon. It's common knowledge that tanning lamps are an essential part of any tanning salon. Tanning beds can be equipped with red-light lamps, which help improve the skin's youthful appearance, but also with other types of so-called hybrid lamps, which give the skin much more than just a nice tan. Staff should know what to recommend to each client, who can benefit from weaker lamps, with a standard 0.3, and who can benefit from stronger lamps, such as those for bronzing.

Sunbed tanning cosmetics that are worth using

In a tanning bed, your skin is subjected to harsher conditions than on the beach, so the product you choose must provide maximum protection and properly care for your skin. This will ensure you achieve a healthy and lasting tan, and your skin will be in good condition. Specialized products accelerate the tanning process while also caring for your skin, making your tan look healthier, darker, and showing results faster. By using tanning products, you can enjoy 100% of your tanning time, but remember that it's essential to choose the right product for your skin type, tan level, and intensity. Remember that if you expose your skin to tanning lamps without using the right products, you're not protecting your skin properly. You're not providing it with the optimal hydration required for indoor tanning . Always use a professional product before tanning in a tanning bed to prevent dry skin. We wrote about the right products for indoor tanning in this article.

How often should you go to the solarium to maintain your tan?

There's no one-size-fits-all solution. Some people only need to visit once every two weeks, while others need to go twice a week. The dose of UV rays and the type of lamp are important. Everyone has different skin and the cells that produce pigment work differently. To maintain color, UVB rays are necessary in most cases. Their dose must be balanced and should not cause skin irritation. In most cases, one visit a week is enough to achieve a light tan year-round; for darker skin, people visit a tanning salon every fifth day. Professional tanning salon staff must be able to advise and select appropriate equipment, lamps, and tanning times. Generally, when starting a tanning session, it's best to visit a tanning salon 2-3 times a week. To maintain the results, it's best to sunbathe 2-4 times a month.

When not to use a solarium?

Unfortunately, not everyone can safely use a tanning bed due to the possibility of allergic reactions or skin problems caused by the imitation of sunlight. The following list of contraindications to tanning beds will help you avoid the unpleasant consequences of tanning.

1. If you have a very fair complexion and belong to phototype I.
2. Various types of birthmarks, discolorations, and moles.
3. Hypersensitivity to ultraviolet radiation and sun allergy.
4. Tanning in a solarium is not recommended for people struggling with acne or other skin diseases, as well as for people with dry and sensitive skin.
5. Unhealed tattoos, freshly applied permanent makeup, large unhealed wounds.
6. Very young age.
7. Pregnancy – it is not only about the adverse effects on the skin, which is more sensitive during pregnancy and more susceptible to irritation, but mainly about the proper course of pregnancy.
8. Low-grade fever and fever, inflammation, flu, as well as heart, circulatory system, kidney, thyroid diseases, and epilepsy.
9. Active cosmetic treatments, especially deep exfoliating chemical and physical peels, treatments using retinol derivatives, whitening treatments, freshly performed waxing.
10. Using cosmetics with retinol, hydroxy acids (AHA, BHA), shampoo with tar, St. John's wort, perfumes and deodorants immediately before sunbathing.
11. Use of oral and external photosensitizing agents.

It is important to familiarize yourself with these contraindications, and you can read more about them HERE.

Solarium Customer Card

Tanning salons often offer the option of obtaining a Customer Card, which can offer significant benefits. If you don't remember, for example, how long you last tanned or which cabin you used, the system will remember it all for you. These aren't the only benefits, as customer cards also offer various bonuses, promotions, and freebies, so it's always a good idea to ask the customer if such a card is available at a given tanning salon.

Iron rules

Every client should remember that tanning in a tanning salon is permitted from the age of 18. If a salon employee has any doubts about a client's age, they should not hesitate to ask for their ID. A notice should be prominently displayed in the tanning salon stating that minors will not be served.

Small information, but so important!

Before a tanning session, you shouldn't wear deodorant or perfume. Makeup should be removed and all jewelry should be removed. Compounds found in cosmetics and jewelry can cause an allergic reaction when exposed to intense UV radiation. The tanning salon employee who accepts a client for a tanning session should provide this information.

What rights do you have as customers?

• As a customer, you have the right to request that a protective film be placed on the device you use.
• You can stop tanning at any time – if you feel unwell, press stop
• Pay attention to notifications about new lamps - you will then need to adjust your tanning time
• Read messages in the cabin/on the device
• If you notice a fault when turning on the device (e.g. a lamp that doesn't work), report it to the staff before you start tanning; they will then suggest a different device.

Dear tanning salon owners and employees, remember to treat every customer with the best possible care, as their comfort and safety are paramount. If a customer has any questions or concerns, please speak with them, offer advice, and assistance. Most importantly, before using the tanning salon, the employee should assess the condition of the skin on the face and body, and present and recommend appropriate cosmetics. Assessing the skin's condition before and after tanning is crucial, as it ensures safe use of the tanning salon.