Cheap Tanning Beds

Take Precautions When Tanning

Tanning beds use ultraviolet, or UVA, light, which is a stronger, concentrated light than the visible sunlight we see outside. Tanning is the body’s natural response to protect it from UV radiation; a shield, if you will, to avoid absorbing more of those rays. As UVA and the harsher UVB rays penetrate the skin, the action activates melanin production within the cells, a darker pigment that colors the skin.

Does this mean that tanning is good for you? Not exactly. Frequent exposure to UVA light is responsible for changing the skin’s cellular structure. This is why long-term tanning ages the skin more quickly, and some experts caution that excessive tanning leads to skin cancer.

As much as you might like to maintain a tropical tan year around, it’s best to not tan for long periods of time, or have a dark tan. Additionally, people who are highly sensitive to sunlight will do nothing but burn under the intense focus of UV rays common in solar beds. So choose your tanning products carefully.

The majority of sunbeds use UVA bulbs to promote a fast tan. However, you cannot spend the same amount of time in tanning in a bed as you do outside. Once someone gradually achieves a base tan, the recommended exposure time in a bed is no more than 10 minutes per session. This is because UV bulbs are 10 times stronger than sunlight.

Cheap Tanning Beds Considerations

Residential sunbeds come in three models:

• Vertical, so you can stand up
• Horizontal, so you can lie down
• Portable, a structure with the lights above you

Most units run on 120 volts or 200 volts. It’s important to understand the electrical wiring in your home before buying a cheap tanning bed. Keep in mind that buying a used commercial unit from a salon that may be upgrading is a good way to save money, but most commercial beds use a higher voltage than common residential beds.

Take the time to learn about the bulbs in your tanning bed and how to maintain them. This will help you achieve a safe tan and preserve the life of the unit.

• Most beds have 16 or 24 bulbs, although some have as many as 48.
• A tanning bed bulbs is usually a long F71 cylinder, about 100-watts, and last about 700 hours.
• Check the brightness regularly with a UV light meter, which costs approximately $130. Replace bulbs when the brightness is under 70 percent.

The price of a tanning bed, even a used one, runs between $1,000-$4,000. You should also factor in the cost of other accessories, additional electricity to run the bed, and periodic bulb replacement and repair, too.

Buying a Tanning Bed

For a safe, even tan, the bulbs in a cheap tanning bed overrule price. The unit itself does not have to be fancy – you can always replace the cushion in a used tanning bed, for example.

Some dealers will include amenities such as eyewear, bed cleaner, and cushions in the overall price. It’s also advisable to buy a bed with a warranty.

Sunco Tanning carries both used and residential tanning beds. The selection includes warranties on both the bed frame and parts. One drawback to the online ordering is the fact that the customer needs to call or e-mail for the price, but the company does have a free catalog.

Master Tanning has a variety of sunbed manufacturers and offers special monthly financing plans. This company also requires a call or e-mail to receive full price, but will match other dealers’ prices.

ETS specializes in demo models and used beds. The site offers assistance to help you find bed parts and making minor repairs. Call or e-mail for special pricing deals.

In many cases, you will pay additional for shipping, and most dealers do not set up the bed in your home. Shipping charges relate simply to the actual delivery from the dealer to the purchaser and may not even include delivery within the home, but only to the curb. The bed may be intact, or require some assembly.