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By Ciara McNamara
Some people love the idea of owning tanning beds. A bed in
your
home will allow you to tan whenever you want, day or night.
You
won’t have to drive across town or rush to get to the salon
before they close. Although they can be expensive, if you tan
regularly, the investment may be well worth the money in the
long run.
3 Things to Look for in Tanning Beds
The Style of the Bed
You basically have two choices in the style of your bed: a
traditional horizontal bed and a standing booth. Unless you
have a room or large space to devote to a horizontal bed, you
may want to consider a standing booth. These take up less
space
in your home and can be placed in a corner. Basically, your
preference and the amount of space you have available will
dictate this choice.
The Bulbs Used in the Bed
The type of tanning bed bulbs used in a bed are the most
important feature. Beds use either UVA and UVB rays or UVA
only. There is controversy over which bulbs are safer for your
skin. There really is no safe way to tan, and you should take
precautions to protect yourself from damage to your skin,
regardless of the bulbs used.
You need to know exactly which kinds of bulbs are used in your
bed when it is time to replace them. Bulbs aren’t
interchangeable and you need to be sure to buy the right ones.
Also, look at the placement of the bulbs. How easy will they
be
to replace? You will most likely be performing this task
yourself and you want to be sure it will be easy to do.
Extra Features
The best extra features to look for include a face tanner and
a
cooling system. The face tanner will help you get the ultimate
tan all over your body. These have specially placed bulbs in
the facial area that direct light to this area, which is
difficult to tan for some people.
A cooling system is important if you get easily over heated
inside a bed. The cooling fan will keep your skin from getting
too hot. Make sure you don’t overdo it in the bed with this
feature. Just because you don’t feel the heat, doesn’t mean
you
aren’t tanning. Staying in the bed too long contributes to
over
exposure and can be dangerous for your skin.
Choices in Home Tanning Beds
Most home beds are traditional tan beds. These use typical
bulbs that resemble fluorescent tubes. Another choice in beds
are known as High Pressure Beds. These use high pressure
quartz
bulbs, rather than the traditional lamps. They are called high
pressure because the gas in the bulb is slightly higher than
the pressure in the atmosphere.
These beds allow you to tan on only one side at a time. You
will need to turn over half way through your session. Many
people find these to be more comfortable than traditional
beds.
These are normally found in salons, but you may come across
one
if you shop for used equipment.
Purchasing Used Tanning Beds
A used bed can be an affordable option to an expensive new
home
bed. In many cases, you can find a high quality bed at the
price
of a cheap bed. There are some things you should consider
before
purchasing a new bed:
o Make sure the bed you are considering meets the current
federal and state safety regulations. These change often and
you want to make sure the bed you buy is safe. A tanning salon
owner is a good source of information regarding safety
regulations. The internet is another good source of
information, as most states post regulations for salon owners.
o Find out how often the bed was used. If it was originally
used in a salon, it has probably gotten quite a bit of use.
Sometimes beds that have been purchased for home use end up
getting very little use. These can be great, giving you a
little used bed at a substantially reduced price.
o Compare the price difference of the used bed with a brand
new
bed. The bigger the difference, the better for you.
o Ask about the working condition and any repairs that have
been done. Also ask when the bulbs were last replaced and
about
the maintenance that has been done. You want a bed that has
been
properly maintained.
o Ask if there is any time left on the warranty.
About The Author: Ciara McNamara is author and designer of the
website www.tanning-beds-tips.com. The writer is
featuring Tanning Beds ( www.tanning-beds-tips.com/ )
and various articles in the field.
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