The Most Frequently Asked Questions

1. The choice is completely yours, but remember your skin has memory. The parts of your body that have been previously exposed to the sun can tolerate more exposure, even if they are not tanned. We recommend removing your underwear/bathing suit halfway through your session and progressively expose your entire body more and more with each additional session.

2. Yes. A tan is created by UV rays penetrating the upper layers of your skin and oxidizing the melanin. The skin of the eyelid is the thinnest in your body. The light passing through your eyelids when closed, will cause irreparable damage to your eyes in the long run.

3. No. Any products designed for outdoor tanning contain mineral oils which cause the acrylic on the beds to discolour and cloud over. Many outdoor lotions are designed to be waterproof, and this also makes for difficult clean up of the beds after your tanning session.

4. No. This is strictly forbidden. Your body can continue to tan for up to 24 hours after you end your session, so tanning twice in a day could result in a severe burn. It is highly recommended that you allow 48 hours between your tanning sessions.

5. Not necessarily. Tanning is a cumulative process, meaning you may need several sessions to see a difference. We suggest putting a tanning sticker on before your session, so you have something to compare your skin tone to after your session.

6. No. Unfortunately our computer system does not allow for the splitting of packages. It’s because of this that we created our ‘Pal Pak’ package. This is a package of two 200 minute bundles, which you can share with a friend. Purchasing the Pal Pak with a friend vs. purchasing 200 minutes separately saves you $15!

7. No. Each person is set up with a separate account after signing a tanning release form, so we are unable to share the packages on any one persons account.

8. We have specials every month. To ensure you do not miss them, check our website regularly, or even better, sign up for our Extreme Tanning newsletter. Our newsletter, besides keeping you up to date on all the goings on at Extreme Tanning, will inform you in advance of any specials we will be having. You can sign up for our newsletter on our homepage

9. Again, due to our computer system, transferring packages is not possible. Our tans however never expire, so they will always be here for you to use.

10. In order to see your tan develop, we do recommend increasing your time with each session. The recommended increase is 1-2 minutes per session. Speak with one of our tanning consultants to find the time that’s right for you.

11. When you first start tanning, we recommend starting in our regular beds. Depending on your skin tones, we suggest 8 minutes for your first session. We evaluate your skin tones, and decide on a final time when you arrive for your session.

12. No. Bronzers have advanced tremendously over the past few years. There is no ‘orange’ effect of the 1970’s anymore, just a beautiful golden colour. Tanning lotion should always be applied evenly, regardless of whether it contains bronzers or not.

13. Bronzers provide bronze gratification from immediate cosmetic bronzers such as caramel and walnut extract as well as from DHA sunless tanning agents, which oxidize over a few hours with the natural proteins in the skin to develop even deeper, darker results. It’s recommended waiting at least 4 hours to shower after tanning with any bronzer to ensure results.

14. How many times a week you go tanning depends on the results you are looking for. When building a base, we recommend tanning 3 times a week until your base is achieved. After that time, you can continue tanning 3 times a week, or less to hold the colour you will have achieved.

15. UVB bulbs are the bulbs that are responsible for causing sunburn if overexposure occurs. They are also responsible for browning your skin (oxidizing the melanin) to give you the brown colour you know as a tan. UVB rays have a shorter wavelength therefore don’t penetrate as far into the skin, only hitting the outer most layer. UVA rays however have a longer wavelength so they penetrate further into your skin. UVA bulbs will also brown your skin, but it takes longer for results to show (24-48 hours). UVB rays cannot pass through glass, however UVA can. This is why you’ve never received a sunburn being exposed to the sun for long periods of time when in your car with the windows closed.

16. We recommended waiting at least 3-4 hours after tanning before having a shower. The reason behind this is the stripping of the skin's moisture and necessary oils. When you put tanning lotion on you are supplying it with ingredients that prepare the skin to absorb as much UV as possible in the shortest period of time. The tanning process continues after you get out of the bed and if you decide to immediately shower you could cause your skin to dry out causing your tan to be spotty, uneven, or just less impressive overall. If you do shower right after you tan, you do not need to consider it a waste of a tan, you will still receive colour, just perhaps a small amount less. Think about it, if showering stopped a tan, then anyone who’s ever been at the beach all day could shower at night and prevent a sunburn!

17. Our Regular beds are 100w, and they are our basic starter beds. Our Premium beds are 160w, and are approximately double the intensity of our regular beds. The Premium beds allow for a faster tan, and are equipped with bulbs that have a higher concentration of UVA rays, to create a deeper, darker, longer lasting tan. The Stand Up bed is our strongest bed, and instead of laying down in it, you stand up surrounded 360 degrees by the tanning bulbs. With the Stand Up bed, you will achieve a flawless, perfectly even, darkest possible tan.

18. These ‘white spots’ are called pressure points. These pressure points are caused by the absence of one of the main ingredients required for the tanning process, oxygen. When you lay on your back, your shoulder blades and base of your back come in direct contact with the bed, and cause the blood to be pushed away from those areas. Without oxygen, your melanin cannot ‘oxidize’ therefore will not change colour and will appear white. To help this, shift positions in the tanning bed, flipping over, or laying on your side for a portion of the tan. The best solution however, is to use the stand up bed which eliminates pressure points completely.

19. A tingle, used properly, can be your best friend when tanning. Tingle products deliver a warming, reddening effect on the skin. The active ingredient in tingle lotions is Benzyl Nicotinate. Tingle products increase the skin cell’s microcirculation and oxygenation to produce deep, dark tanning results. Tingles range in strength from a mild version to a very ‘hot’ version, which would produce the best tanning results. Tingle products are also effective on hard-to-tan areas such as women’s legs. Tingles are for advanced tanners and are not recommended for beginning tanners or individuals with sensitive skin. If you are interested in a tingle and would like more information, or to try a sample, see one of our client consultants.

20. Try using a stronger tingle than you are currently using. As an alternative, you can try using an intensifier. An intensifier will help to thin out the top layer of the skin in order for the UV rays to penetrate and help you achieve a darker colour. In addition to this, we now carry a lotion by ‘Look Great Naked’ which is an amplifier of UV rays, and also of the Sunless bronzing solution.

21. The indoor tanning lotions that we carry are suitable to be used outside, however, you must keep in mind that indoor tanning lotions DO NOT contain sunscreen, so it is recommended to either mix 50/50 your tanning lotion and a strong SPF, or the alternative is to put on your SPF, then apply the indoor tanning lotion overtop. Using either of these methods will protect you while giving you the benefits of an indoor tanning lotion. It is not recommended to ever use a tingle outside.

22. Over-the-counter lotions sold at department store do not contain the necessary ingredients that will maximize your tanning results and extend the life of your tan. Moreover, mass market products do not replenish as effectively any lost moisture, that occurs during the tanning process. Professional quality indoor tanning lotions are “bio-engineered” specifically for indoor tanning. Think about it, would you buy your make up at the dollar store?

23. The VersaSpa spray tan can last anywhere from 5-7 days, depending on your aftercare. Prior to your session, it’s important to ensure you are showered, and your body is well hydrated and moisturized. This will ensure the maximum adhesion of the bronzing solution. Also, opting for the prep spray, before the bronzing spray, will also help to hold your colour longer. After your session, take care not to use harsh exfoliators on your skin, as this can take your colour off. We carry a line of after spray tan extenders and moisturizers to help you get the most out of your VersaSpa spray tan.

24. This erroneous belief can be easily rectified once clients understand the tanning process. For example, indoor tanning and UV exposure can be dehydrating to the skin. Indoor tanning lotions will help to replenish any moisture that has been depleted during the tanning session, thereby improving your results. Not only will you get a darker tan, you will tan more quickly and it will last longer. In addition, Designer Skin lotions contain specific ingredients that promote tanning and melanin synthesis to give you darker, longer lasting results than tanning without a lotion could ever give.

25. No. If you would like to tan to help optimize your VersaSpa results, you should tan before. After your VersaSpa session, it’s recommended not to shower for 4-6 hours, and to avoid any activity which could produce excess perspiration, so as to keep the application even while it sets in.