Z's Express Tanning Salon
UV Tanning
Whether you tan indoors or outdoors, the process is the same.
Ultraviolet rays stimulate skin cells to produce melanin, the pigment that makes your skin tan. There are two types of ultraviolet light rays used in tanning beds -- UVA and UVB.
While you're here...
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Protect your eyes. Simply closing them or covering your face with a towel while you tan is not adequate protection against possible long-term eye injury. Wearing the required FDA-compliant eye protection can eliminate that risk.
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Protect your lips. They do not produce melanin and will burn easily unless you protect them with lip balms or sunscreen.
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If you are taking any medications, please check with your doctors or pharmacists prior to sun exposure. Some medications can cause reactions with UV exposure.
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The heat and light from tanning sessions can dry your skin. Because moist skin tans best, we recommend you moisturize before and after each tanning session to get the most out of each session.
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It takes time to build a tan. You probably will not see a drastically darker tan after one visit. Please be patient and follow the advice of the trained tanning consultants.
What's UVA vs UVB?
UVB rays are known as the “building rays”. This specific type of short wave ray builds melanin in your skin. Melanin is what produces the natural base tan and color in humans. In short, the more melanin you have, the tanner you can become after developing a strong base tan. This base tan protects your skin from burning when you’re outside under the hot summer sun.
While UVB rays can help build your tan, UVB rays, also known as the “burn ray”, can also cause you to burn if you take on too much too soon. It is important to be patient and use those UVB rays to build up a great base tan over time.
Building up the right amount of melanin can take time, depending on your skin type and genetics, so don’t rush. Just think, while you’re piling up your melanin inventory, you’re also taking care of your vitamin D levels at the same time. If you rush your tan, you’ll end up with a burn. The best tans take time.
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UVA Rays — Bronzing Rays
Once you’ve built up your base tan, use UVA rays, also known as “bronzing rays”, to bronze the melanin. You’ve built up a substantial amount of melanin, and now it is time to use it to achieve the bronze tan you’ve longed for. The UVA rays help emit pigment (color) out of the melanin you’ve generated.
UVA long wave rays are strong and penetrate the skin deeper, so you’ll only need to be exposed to the rays for a short amount of time to produce a beautiful, long-lasting golden brown tan.