Author: 
Just started Indoor Tanning, or want to make sure you get the most out of your monthly tanning package? Learn how to get dark fast without damaging your skin with these tips for getting tan!
This post may contain affiliate links. See our full disclosure policy HERE.
If you want that pretty golden glow before a special event, or just because you like being tan, there’s some things you need to know!
I’ve been tanning for years and unless I told them, no one would know. I’m not orange, I’m not overly dark, and my skin is very healthy.
Using the tips below will help you get dark quickly, and safely, without burning, and will help you maintain that color easily!
Indoor Tanning Tips
Let’s skip the lecture where you tell me that no one should tan and that it’s not safe, and pale skin is healthy skin, and that I’m going to regret this one day when I have skin cancer.
There, I think that covered most of it. Now that’s out of the way, let’s talk about how you can get tan safely and/or get the most out of your monthly tanning package!
Indoor Tanning can be expensive, but there are several tips I’ve learned over the years from experience, and from salon owners to get the best bang for your buck.
There are steps that every person who tans should follow, whether you’re an expert or a newbie, and I’m going to share those too! Obviously the idea of tanning is to get dark fast, without burning, and to do it all safely and affordably. It can be done, and I do it!
Tanning Lotion Tips
If you want to tan with a tanning bed (i.e. Indoor Tanning) then you NEED to be using a bronzing lotion. Now there are some things you need to watch out for.
- Cheap Lotion. First off, don’t buy cheap crap lotions, unless you want to be orange. Unless you’re an Oompa Loompa, you don’t want to be orange. Use this list I made on Amazon to see all the lotions I’ve tried that will be the best bang for your buck.
- Used Lotion. Secondly, buy new, don’t buy used. It could have been old or tainted, just don’t.
- Brand Matters. Thirdly, and this was kind of covered in my first point, but don’t buy your tanning lotion from Walmart, or use one meant for outdoor tanning.
- Tingle. Unless you want your lotion to be super tingly and hot while you tan, don’t buy one with a tingle.
HERE’S AN AMAZON LIST WITH ALL MY FAVORITE INDOOR TANNING LOTIONS ON IT!
What are the best tanning lotions to use in a tanning bed?
These are some of my favorite lotions that help you get that beautiful golden brown, but are affordable and if you buy them from Amazon from these reputable sellers, you can save 50% off buying them at the tanning salon.
Moist skin will tan, dry skin will burn. ALWAYS use lotion.
- Sicilian 200x Lotion is my current favorite and what I’m using right now. It smells amazing and leaves you a pretty golden color so fast! It lasts me a whole month of tanning.
- Solid Black is a lotion I used for a long time and I really like it too! It’s really affordable and smells great! This one is the cheapest for a bottle between these three and will also last me about a month.
- Supre Smoke is also a great lotion and smells awesome. This one tans you pretty quickly, but runs a few more dollars than the Black Chocolate Coconut Cream lotion does.
- Now, I do use an after-sun lotion that you can grab at Walmart, or just add to your cart on Amazon from Hawaiian Tropic that smells SO good. After-sun isn’t AS important, but it will get a burn to leave faster, and help a tan sink in better. Keeping your skin moist is basically the rule of thumb here.
TO SEE ALL THE BEST TANNING LOTIONS AND READ MORE LOTION TIPS CLICK HERE!
Tips for Monthly Tanning Packages
I know a monthly package can give you sticker shock (speaking of stickers, always use the little free tanning stickers from day one of tanning, and put it in the same place every time and you’ll see how fast you tan!), but they’re usually the best bang for your buck. Especially if you have an event or trip coming up, this is the best most affordable option.
- Great for Events. If you’re trying to get tan for a specific event like a wedding (wait, have you checked out some of my wedding tips and DIYS yet?!), homecoming, prom, vacation (no one wants to go to Florida (go there CHEAP!!) with thighs as white as the sands they’re walking on) etc, this is the best way to go.
- Know When Your Package Starts. When your event is just over a month away, go in and buy your tanning package for the next month. Most salons will have your package start that day, so be sure you’ve already ordered your lotion and come prepared to tan when you sign up.
- Best Bang for Your Buck. The reason you need a monthly tanning package, is because they’re typically unlimited and you can go as many times in a week as you want.
- Tan Often. THIS is how you get tan in a single month. The trick is to literally tan every day that they’re open. If you don’t tan in a tanning bed on a regular basis, you need to be careful your first week or you’ll burn.
- Be Smart. Even if you tan outside easily, or part of you is pretty tan, you have parts of you that are NOT tan, and those couple extra minutes of Indoor Tanning will burn you, and then you’ll have to wait to tan again until your burn is gone. That’s not only a waste of time, it’s also a waste of money.
How to Tan in a Tanning Bed Without Burning
Even if you’re white as a ghost, you can use these tips to keep from burning while you gain a golden glow tanning in a tanning bed.
- Start Slow. Sign up for a level two package. If you have a very pale complexion, start off with five minutes.
- Increase Time Gradually. If you don’t burn, then increase by a minute the next day. If you don’t burn, increase by a minute each day until you reach 8 minutes. Tan at 8 minutes for three days, then bump it up to 9 minutes. Tan at 9 minutes for three days, then bump it up to 10 minutes. Stay at 10 minutes for 4-5 days, as long as you’re not burning. Gradually work your way up to full time throughout the month, which should be 15-20 minutes depending on the bed.
- Don’t Tan Sunburned. It’s always best to start off with a smaller number than you think would be safe, so you don’t burn. DO NOT tan in a tanning bed if you’re already sunburned or if you get sunburned while tanning. Just wait. Trust me.
Indoor Tanning Tips and Tricks
- Rubber Gloves. When you put on your tanning lotion, wear rubber gloves to do so. My skin absorbs color pretty easily, and even if I wipe off my palms with a baby wipe before getting in the tanning bed, my palms still get orangey.
I use rubber gloves while applying the lotion, and it’s never an issue. It’s weird, but it works for me. - Salt Scrub. Once a week use a salt scrub on your skin. This will get any dead skin off and help you tan faster.
- Tan Naked. Tan lines suck. Just tan naked. Use lotion on your whole body. “I love getting in the shower and being blinded by my own skin!”, said no one ever. Tan fat looks better than white fat, that’s my motto. Tan it all, baby.
- Don’t Hold Still. If you do tan naked, about halfway through your tan, roll on your side and put your hands behind your head to make sure you’re not missing any spots.
- Don’t Wear Makeup. Not in general, just while you tan. Most salons will have a place for you to apply makeup after you get done with your indoor tanning session or will have a mirror in the room. Your face won’t tan as well with makeup on. Make sure you put some lotion on your face so it’s nice and moist and will tan and not burn.
- Use Tanning Etiquette. Don’t spend twenty minutes getting ready after you’re done tanning in your room. Get your clothes on, put on some deodorant, and get out, because people are waiting to use that room.
Like this post? You might like these too:
- Best Indoor Tanning Lotions – these are my tried and true favorites!
- How to Take a Cheap Florida Vacation – Florida is probably the cheapest place to vacation in the United States!
- 101 Ways to Save on Your Wedding – there’s a ton of tips you can use money without taking away from your big day!
- 21+ BEST Beach Hacks – use the tips all regular beachgoers know about to make the most of your time in the sand!
Get dark without burning or breaking the bank with these indoor tanning tips! Stay safe and enjoy your tan, friends!
So I did burn lol. I havent went in 2 days since and I’m not burning anymore but still red. How long should I wait to go back?
I usually say a week. Wait until you have no redness or burning in your skin at all. Go in for 2 mins less than you did last time and wear plenty of lotion. Hope that helps! They could have had new bulbs and it could have made your tan time vary. I should add a section about that too!
That’s great that you share your tips on indoor tanning but as a tanning salon owner there is a reason we have lotion for sale at our salon. Yes 1 is to make some money so we can continue to stay in business. 2 – the most important, is for the acrylic that you lay on. The wrong type of lotion can and does ruin and wear down the acrylics and make them cloudy. So by trying to save yourself 10 bucks buying on amazon, your taking a big chance that your buying a fake/knockoff product that won’t work like it’s suppose to and risk ruining the acrylic. As a small business owner I can’t afford over $1000 each to replace my acrylics a couple times a year so someone can “save” 10 bucks. I would have to raise my tanning rates. Which then in turn will cost the tanner more $$. So support small business buy your lotion from them and respect the acrylics by removing jewelry so you don’t scratch and damage it!! Thank you so much! Also small businesses can’t compete with Amazon and Wal-Mart! Again most of your tips are spot on and what we tell them every day so Thanks! Just help out us small business owners who are striving to give our customers the best and safest tan we can! Happy Tanning 😎🏝
Hey!
Thanks so much for your comment and for the kind words you left about my tips! I do understand that it’s difficult, especially in this economy, to earn money as a small business owner. However, one of the main points of this post was how to get the biggest bang for your buck. For some of us that extra $10 in lotion is a lot! BUT most times I see salon owners jacking up the prices of those bottles by 2x-3x what it cost them, and what I can buy the bottles for on Amazon. Not saying you’re doing this, just saying it’s common.
You’ll notice in my post, if you clicked the list of lotions I recommend, I only link to lotions on Amazon that are sold by the brand themselves, not third-party sellers. This ensures you are getting the correct product and is just as safe as buying from an established store front.
I left several tips about lotions specifically that warn readers about cheap lotions and not to buy from third-party sellers, so I feel like I’ve done my part. I can’t in good conscience, however, recommend my readers buy from the salon when I’ve been buying from Amazon for years. That isn’t an attack on you as a salon owner, as you can make whatever policies you feel comfortable enforcing for your business, simply me being honest with my readers about what I recommend and why.
I will make a note to add info about the jewelry! Great tip!
I have 1 month of unlimited tanning at a local salon with new Ergoline beds with face tanners as well as regular beds with face tanners before we go on vacation 2/1. I’m starting today because they’ve been closed for the holidays. What is the difference in using an Ergoline bed with one of the accelerator/bronzers you listed as personal favorites vs. using it in a regular bed with a face tanner? Which one will get me dark the fastest? I tan easily (except for my face) and rarely burn. I need answers quickly so I can be as dark as possible before we leave! Thanks in advance! 😊🌴👙
Hey! Face tanners are awesome, but they can be hard on your skin. Use plenty of moisturizer, and NO makeup for the best results. Use the one with a face tanner, I love those, and still use accelerator lotions daily. Try not to shower for 6 hours after tanning for best results. Good luck and have fun!
hey!! thank you so much for such helpful advice, but I only have one question!! how long do you recommend before showering after tanning in a bed, or how long after showering is reasonable before going to a tanning bed??
Great question! I need to revamp and update this article to include this. If you read your bottle of tanning lotion, it should advise you how long before showering. BUT I typically wait 4-6 hours after tanning before showering to let the lotion keep working.
Hello, this might be a stupid question but I have used spray tans before and when I use them I pretty much have to get my boyfriend to help me do my backside because I can’t reach it so how do you apply the tanning lotion thoroughly enough to your backside when you’re at the salon do you have someone help you or have a friend go with you?
Just do your best not to get streaks, that’s the most important part!
I am 63 and have not tanned in 5 years! But I felt better when I tanned !I do take lots of medications !Your advice was helpful and thank you for sharing ! But I am still wondering if it would be safe but sure need the vitamin D!
If you’re worried about it interfering with your meds, check with your doctor. I know some medications can cause you to be sensitive to UV rays.
Tanning helps me so much!! I know what you mean.
I wanted to thank you for this advice for tanning. It’s good to know that you should be using a bronzing lotion if you’re tanning with a tanning bed. I’m kind of interested to learn if some lotions are recommended for different kinds of tanning beds.
So all tanning beds should use UV lighting, with the exception of red-light therapy, which is an altogether different type of bed that needs its own post.
That being said, regardless of the level of bed, or if it’s a stand-up or lay down bed, the lotions I recommended in this post and the one I linked to that is about the best tanning lotions, will be the best lotions to use. Hope that helps you!
Thanks so much for your kind words!
The tanning lotions that you use, do any of them come off on your clothes? For example, I was thinking of tanning at lunch. I would have to put my work clothes back on and I wouldn’t want any orange splots on them.
Thanks so much for all of the tips!
This is actually something that’s an important quality for me to look at, because before I bought my own tanning bed, I was often leaving straight from tanning and going somewhere else. So things like smell, color, how greasy they were, and if they rubbed off on my clothes were defining factors for whether or not I liked a lotion, in addition to how well it helped me get dark. None of the lotions I recommended have ever stained any of my clothes. I wouldn’t necessarily put on white clothing immediately after, just as a precaution, but otherwise I’ve never had any issues.
Check out the link in this post to all my favorite tanning lotions for more of a selection and more detail on color/smell etc.
Thanks for reading! =)
Thanks for the great advise. I just joined planet Fitness and tan in a booth. I wondered about the lotions!
I’m so happy to hear that! Enjoy your fitness and tanning membership!!
Going to start tanning in a bed and REALLY needed all of this! What kind of salt scrub do you use?
This one is my favorite: https://amzn.to/2CbcUFf (This is an affiliate link.) Works great and has natural ingredient base (and smells nice and tropical too!)
This is very helpful! I didn’t know about salt scurb! I’m going to do it! Thank you for sharing your great tips!
Glad to help! Hope you get dark quickly! =)
Thanks for the informative article! What about eye goggles? How important is eye protection when tanning?
Great point! I need to write a new article highlighting everyone’s questions! Eye protection is HUGE. Most places provide little goggles, r you can purchase some if needed. Just be sure to wipe them off after each use to keep it from creating any oily buildup. Hope that helps!
Thx -I haven’t tanned in 5, years-needed your tips!
So glad I could help! Enjoy your tanning! 🙂
Is it really safe to tan naked? I feel like having my private parts exposed directly to the UV light from the tanning bed is dangerous.
Really no tanning is “safe” haha. Many, many, many people tan naked and have for decades, including myself. I’m not a health professional, so I can’t give you advice you should absolutely listen to. However, I will say that you should go with your gut, and do what feels safe to you. Happy tanning!