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Frequently asked questions.
Q.
Can anybody tan?
What's your Skin Type?
Sunlight is absolutely essential to all life on earth. There are various reasons, both biological and psychological, why exposure to light is desirable. In addition, many people believe they look better with a tan. Thus, having a tan may provide a psychological uplift for some. Knowing your skin type is critical when tanning indoors or out. When you're tanning inside, outside or choosing a sunscreen (SPF) knowing your skin type allows you to make educated decisions about lengths of sun exposure and sunscreen. Use the table below to determine your skin type. Caucasians make up type 1 through 4 with types 5 and 6 being very brown skin or black.
Certain skin types cannot tan, but anybody can get a beautiful golden-tan look with our UV-Free tanning booth. Our tanning professionals can help you determine the type of tanning best suited to your skin type. The six basic skin types are shown below:
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What Are Skin Types
"Skin Typing" is a method for determining one's natural ability to produce melanin. Skin types are hereditary and cannot be altered by outside influences.
Skin types range from a Skin Type I to Skin Type VI. Skin types are classified according to a person's tendencies to sunburn and/or tan. Most indoor tanners are a skin type II, III or IV. These people tend to burn upon exposure to varying dosages of UV light, but also have the ability to develop some pigmentation. While all of us, regardless of skin type, have about the same number of melanocytes in our skin, we vary in our ability to produce melanin. It is this production capability which results in a certain skin type.
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Type
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Skin Reactions to Solar Radiation
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Examples
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I
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Always burns easily and severely (painful burn); tans little or none and peels
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People most often with fair skin, blue eyes, freckles; unexposed skin is white
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II
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Usually burns easily and severely (painful burn); tans minimally or lightly, also peels
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People most often with fair skin, red or blonde hair, blue, hazel or even brown eyes; unexposed skin is white
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III
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Burns moderately and tans about average
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Normal average Caucasian; unexposed skin is white
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IV
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Burns minimally, tans easily and above average with each exposure; exhibits IPD (immediate pigment darkening) reaction
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People with white or light brown skin, dark brown hair, dark eyes. Unexposed skin is white or light brown
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V
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Rarely burns, tans easily and substantially; always exhibits IPD reaction
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Brown-skinned persons (e.g., Amerindians, East Indians, Hispanics, etc); unexposed skin is brown
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VI
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Never burns and tans profusely; exhibits IPD reaction
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Blacks (e.g., African and American blacks, Australian and South Indian Aborigines); unexposed skin is black
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Q. What should I wear in the tanning bed?
Each tanning bed is in a private room, you can wear (or not wear) whatever you are most comfortable in.
Once you enter your private tanning room it’s your choice. Some people wear their under garments, others bring swim suits, and many prefer to tan in the buff. (So they say) REMEMBER if you choose to tan without undergarments, those areas of skin normally covered will be more sensitive to the sun. Don't allow those areas to get full exposure when you start building your tan.
Q. Do I have to wear eye protection?
Yes, Arizona Heat Inc. requires all clients to wear eye protection during every tanning session because eyelids are not thick enough to protect your eyes from UV damage. Personal eye protection is available for purchase at all salons.
Q. Why are lotions necessary?
Tanning without a lotion will deplete your skin of its much needed moisture. Lotions can help stimulate the production of melanin so that your skin tans more quickly, gets darker and keeps its tan longer. Plus, our lotions have moisturizers that keep your skin soft and healthy. Our premium lotions deliver vitamins, moisturizers, oils, and other ingredients to revitalize the skin and encourage melanin production, which gives you a tan appearance.
Q. Why is moisturized skin important for a tan?
Healthy, moist skin will tan quicker, get darker and keep its tanned appearance longer because the melanin is produced rapidly and the skin also will not exfoliate as quickly when it is properly moisturized.
Q. I don't tan outdoors. Will I be able to tan in a bed?
If you can't get color from the sun, you can't get color in an UV bed. However, UV-Free tanning booth can give you a natural looking tan without any UV exposure at all.
Q. Do I have to sign a contract?
We offer individual sessions, multi-session point packages, unlimited monthly, 2 month and yearly packages. Ask your Arizona Heat consultant how to best create a package for your needs or see our pricing schedule on our website.
Q. How do I know the beds are clean?
Arizona Heat Inc. uses a FDA-approved disinfectant solution after every customer's tanning session. Salon staff are throughly trained to maintain an immaculately clean salon environment at all times and are responsible to complete a strict daily, weekly and monthly cleaning regimen. All Arizona heat salons are proud to offer our customers an exceptional tanning experience during every visit!
Q. How often do you change the bulbs in each bed?
We follow the manufacturer's guidelines for bulb replacement so that you will achieve the best results from your sessions. We have our computers set to disable the beds once they have reached 80% of the manufacturers suggested capacity.
Q. How long does it take to develop a tan?
Different people have different tanning abilities. Some tan faster and darker while others need to go slower to reduce the risk of sunburn. As with people, some equipment works faster and is better suited for certain skin types. On your first visit our staff will have you fill out a short questionaire and ask a few questions so we can help you choose a program that fits your time frame and budget. Clients typically notice a difference within the first 3 sessions. It is important to note that if you can not get a natural tan outdoors, it is very unlikely that you will be able to indoors using tanning equipment. Once you decide to start building your base tan drop into any of our Arizona Heat locations and our Smart Tan Certified staff will help you get started. We will help you choose a package that suits your individual needs and a lotion that can effectively stimulate melanin and moisturize your skin. As your skin absorbs lotion, amino acids and other ingredients are sent into your skin to stimulate cells and "get the tanning juices flowing." When you tan (indoors or out) moisture evaporates from the skin tissue. Good lotions contain anti-oxidants, free radical scavengers and moisturizing agents that help improve moisture and softness of your skin. You should use these lotions as long as you continue to build color.
Q. How often should I tan?
You should wait a very minimum of 24 hours before your next session. We recommend you follow a 3 tan per week schedule when building your base tan. After you have developed your base, you can reduce you schedule to once or twice a week depending on the tan you desire and the equipment your using. Using our premium or ultimate class equipment will greatly reduce the number of sessions per month necessary to keep good color.
Q. Do tanning accelerators / intensifiers really work?
Lotions created for Indoor Tanning help you tan faster, replace and maintain moisture. Many help reduce and combat the signs of aging. By supplying your skin with needed vitamins, minerals, amino acids and moisture these lotions can help you tan better than using no lotion at all. By using lotions you can increase your color and reduce the total amount of tanning time per session! Research from lotion and skincare manufacturers indicate that the use of products formulated specifically for indoor tanning actually can enhance and stimulate the body’s natural tanning process. There are two basic steps that one can follow in developing an indoor or outdoor tan. Pre-tan solutions are applied before exposure to ultraviolet light. These formulas include vitamins, botanicals and essential oils to nourish the skin and prepare it for the tanning process. The old rule of thumb—healthy skin tans the best—is key. A pre-tan solution lays the foundation for building a rich, healthy tan, and manufacturers of tanning products believe a properly cultivated tan can be the body’s most effective sunscreen! Amplifiers are products that moisturize the skin while tanning and allow ultraviolet light to penetrate the skin. Normally, some ultraviolet rays bounce off our bodies. Amplifiers reduce the skin’s capacity for reflection, so more rays can penetrate. Using post-tanning solutions is another vital step one may follow in a tanning regimen. They serve basically one purpose—to moisturize and replenish the skin that has been dried during the tanning process. This minimizes both peeling and flaking, and keeps the skin moist and healthy.
AT ARIZONA HEAT OUR ENTIRE LINE OF AFTER TAN MOISTURIZERS ARE ALWAYS 50% OFF!
(see in store for details)
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