Choosing the proper tanning bed can prove to be a little difficult, especially if you know nothing on the subject of tanning. Beds have different names, different specifications and, of course, different prices for a minute. Fortunately, you don't need to be an expert to find the right tanning bed, you have to know about only a few simple facts. They are all discussed below.

UVA and UVB tanning bed bulbs

The first thing you have to check is the kind of tanning bed bulbs. Generally speaking, there are two kinds of tanning bed bulbs - "UVB and UVA" and "UVA" only. If a tanning bed has the first kind of bulbs, you will have to spend a lot of time to get a tan (20 minutes 3 to 5 times a week for over a month only to acquire base tan).

UVA-only bulbs

If the tanning bed uses the other kind of bulbs (UVA-only), you have to spend much less time on the tanning bed than under UVA and UVB bulbs. Of course, it usually means that you have to pay for UVA-only tanning bed a few times more per minute than for UVA and UVB, but remember that ALL you need is 3 to 5 sessions total, not per week, so in some cases UVA bulbs in your tanning bed can actually save you money and time.

Staying tanned

The tanning process is simple. You lay on the bed for several minutes, pay for it and that it until the next session. The problem begins when you've already finished the sessions and you don't use a tanning bed anymore. Many people tend to think that their tan will last forever, but of course that's not true. Whether you've got your tan sitting on a beach or laying on a tanning bed, it will eventually fade. Unless you decide to go to a tanning saloon and spend a few minutes on a tanning bed every month, you won't be able to keep your tan. So, do not forget about visiting a tanning saloon regularly!

Precautions

Knowing the difference between UVA and UVB bulbs, as well as staying in touch with a tanning saloon is everything you need to get tanned properly. But you also have to reduce the danger UV rays can pose to your skin. You mustn't:
(1) Stay too long in a tanning bed. 25 minutes is usually the upper limit. Trust the tanning saloon personnel, but trust your common sense in the first place.
(2) Use a tanning bed too often - your skin will age more quickly and it will increase chances of having cancer. 20 sessions a year might be all right, but keeping this pace for 10 years might prove to be dangerous.
(3) Treat a tanning bed as a solution to all your skin and healthy look problems. A tanning bed is just a device that produces artificial sunlight - nothing more and nothing less.

About the Author

Linda Smith owns Luxury Tanning.com, a site devoted to giving you the latest in
tanning information