tell us about your first time..... (tanning).......

[lilmountaingrrl]

I want to know about everyone's first time tanning..... How did you get into tanning, how old were you when you first tanned in a salon, What was your first tanning experience like? Spill the beans.... im really curious!

[Bonnie]

My best friend got me into it when I was about 14 (I grew up on a farm in central California so always was outside anyway); she took me to a hair salon that had a bed and I remember thinking how weird it was to get into this contraption! I liked the look though! We also started serious sunbathing about the same time.

[lilmountaingrrl]

That is so funny you brought up 'feeling wierd' getting into the tanning bed! I felt the exact same way too, like i was getting into a piece of NASA equipment or something! Did you get hooked on tanning right then and there, or was it years down the road that you decided to do it consistantly? Do you think you started the serious sunbathing because of your tanning bed experience, or did you go decide to try the tanning beds because of the enjoyment of sunbathing outdoors?

[Bonnie]

I got pretty hooked and tanned outside and at the beach as much as possible from then on. I only went to the tanning place once and a while though. It was when I started college in LA that I wanted to tan year round so started trying out different places. I've been pretty much a year-round tanner ever since!

[lilmountaingrrl]

I guess that living in california probably made it really easy on you to be able to get your rays and sunshine-fix outdoors..... Did you start visiting tanning salons in college more frequently because of friends that did it, or did you just decide that it was more convenient than spending all that time outdoors?

[Bonnie]

Partly a time issue, but I was also starting to train seriously then and working towards competition, so I really had to tan a lot more. It was more convenient to go tan after a workout every other day or so. Of course I still went to the beach on weekends!

[nikptbo]

i was jst about to turn 19(im 19 now) when i started tanning, and the reason i wanted to start was a friend and i said hey a new salon opened, wanna check out what tanning inside is all about? so we went... i was fine till i got into the place and then i was really nervous about the beds(cause im slightly closterphobic) and then she put me in the base bed for 7 mins after skintyping me, and they showed us around and how to tuse the beds and timers, and such and then left us to tan, i got in the bed and thought it was great... didnt see much of a change at all and was discouraged, until later that night i realized i was burnt on my chest like none other, so i took about 4 days off and then went back and have continued to go about 3-4 times a week for the last 3 mths...

[boobrandt]

It was about 10 years ago, went a few times and never saw any results. Just started again a couple of months ago, and am amazed at how much better the beds and the lotions are.

[Jenki]

I started about 20 years ago and have been using them every summer to get a tan. This will be the first year that I think I'll continue using it throughout the year (maybe). I don't want to be dark this winter, just have a hint of color. I've always enjoyed using the tanning beds instead of laying out in the hot sun for hours sweating. Back when I started, they never mentioned eye protection or using lotions. It was not until several years ago that I was introduced to eyewear and lotions, so I probably ruined my eyes!

[StarryEyes]

I was almost 15 when I started. I started because I was tired of being pale and I was sick of using sunless tanners. My mom gave me 8 vhr sessions for my B-day. I was SO scared when I first got in because I never knew that it was SO loud and that the lamps were neon colors. The acrylic kept popping and I was afraid that I was gonna crash through the acrylic into the lamps and get fried. The whole time I was in there I kept silently praying/chanting "Please don't let me get skin cancer." I've calmed down considerably since then, thank god.

[BrOnZeDbOmBsHeLl]

It was when I was seventeen and started working at a tanning salon that I actually started tanning indoors. I'd never been in a tanning bed before that. I found it very relaxing and enjoyed the experience.

[Tamar]

I had never tanned until my daughter and I started researching the business. Went to a chain and they sold me a packet of Taboo without telling me it was a reddener...YIKES! I was a little freaked with the splotchiness until I found out later how it worked. Taboo is still my favorite lotion.

[f0xy813]

my first time tanning was a couple years ago when i was 14....... you guys are gonna laugh at me, but way back then i didn't really understand how a tanning bed worked and all, so i got in my little room, and just layed on the acrylic... not realizing that the lamps had to be *on* to get tan lol and i also didn't know that you had to pull the top canopy down... i used to leave it up....... wow, i've come a long way since then don't make fun of me too bad!!!

[palefacegirl]

I started tanning about 10 years ago, was put in bed for to long first few times and burnt. I did not start back again till last year, I built my base slowly, no burning. I now know to start slowly, use good lotion and always eye protection . Everything has changed alot in the last ten years, all these different beds and types of lotions are fantastic!!!!!!!

[lilmountaingrrl]

All of these posts are great!! I am so glad to know how people got into the tanning! Everyone's tanning histories are so interesting and they all vary so much.... it is amazing to think how little we used to know about tanning, compared to now.

[lilmountaingrrl]

Foxy813, i dont think youre silly at all for not know how a tanning bed worked back then. I didnt really know anything about them either.... i didnt know if the top had to be up or down. lol.... boy we have all come a long way!

[lilmountaingrrl]

And StarryEyes, your comment "The acrylic kept popping and I was afraid that I was gonna crash through the acrylic into the lamps and get fried" really hit home with me. I felt the exact same way. I was sure that the acrylic would give way, hence the 'popping' noises, and that id resemble a burnt marshmellow when the salon manager would finally find me. I also used to think "oh my gosh... they didnt set the bed timer, so im going to cook in here, and they wont even remember im tanning in here....." Boy, i was so paranoid about so much back then when i just started tanning! Im so glad it wasnt just me who felt unsure and skeptical as a beginner!

[Kristygal]

I started when I was 15 (my dad signed the consent form), so I have been at it for 10 years now. Remember those old beds that were completely flat and had the button you pushed to make the canopy go up & down? They also had the timers that went up to 30 minutes and you could control them. Ahhh...those were the days. LOL Beds have come a long way since then!

[lilmountaingrrl]

Kristygal, The farthest back i can remember going tanning is about 8 years. I remember using a bed that sounds like the one you described. I've also used those ancient, old looking beds that have wire grating instead of the acrylic to lie on. Boy oh boy, when i see beds like that now a days i feel like ive gone back in time. You just dont see beds like that anymore (thank goodness!).

[nikptbo]

oh god wouldnt u get nasty tan lines?

[sunbunny]

The fist time I ever tanned in a bed was 17 years ago. I wanted to be dark for the prom. The salon was excellent, even by today's standards. Each room had it's own A/C unit, they stressed using the goggles, very clean, and the customers could not control the timer. They were already on a timer similar to the one's now. They gave a tour of the salon, and showed me how to use the equipment. They also skin typed. I remember tanning for just a few minutes. After that, I was hooked. It was, until the new salon I found, the best salon I've ever been in. If I ever move back to my hometown, I'll tan there again.

[Kristygal]

Quote:
On 2003-06-23 22:25, lilmountaingrrl wrote:
Kristygal, The farthest back i can remember going tanning is about 8 years. I remember using a bed that sounds like the one you described. I've also used those ancient, old looking beds that have wire grating instead of the acrylic to lie on. Boy oh boy, when i see beds like that now a days i feel like ive gone back in time. You just dont see beds like that anymore (thank goodness!).

I don't remember the wire grating. That must have been uncomfortable! Yes, the beds were noisy when you lowered them!

[StarryEyes]

Wire grating? Wouldn't that heat up during tanning and burn you?

[lilmountaingrrl]

Nikptbo, i never noticed any weird (or nasty) tan lines with that wire grating instead of the acrylic.... then again i didnt go in those kind of beds very often... maybe just a few times. And StarryEyes, i never noticed it heating up, so it must have been special wire that they thought was safe in tanning beds. The first few times i had gone tanning was in those types of beds because my parents had a membership at a gym, and i kept sneaking in and tanning on their membership. I was a Bad Teenager!!! Naughty Me!!

[tr0nado]

My first time tanning was in a gym named Nautilus, back in late spring 1991. They had 2 24 bulb sundash beds. What sucked about tanning there was it was so bloody hot due to the fact there wasn't any andequate A/C being pumped into the tanning rooms. Like, if the tannng beds were put in the place as an afterthought or something . Anyway, I was immediately hooked because tanning outside, I had to contend with extreme heat, bugs, stinging insects, or other intteruptions. Session prices at that place were 10 visits for $25, IIRC.

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[ This Message was edited by: tr0nado on 2003-06-24 08:51 ]

[lilmountaingrrl]

Tronado, it sounds like the place you were tanning at must have been sweltering HOT!!! Im getting heat stroke just thinking about tanning in a salon without proper a/c and ventilation.....

[Mia2White]

Okay, I'm dating myself here...but we're talking 1983 or 1984, I went to the first place to offer tanning beds in this area, and this is when all the beds were 30 minutes. The woman there knew nothing...I was ghost white, and she had me stay in too long (I didn't know any better!). I ended up with a horrible burn and rash, and quit going. Tried again a couple years later when another place opened; they had a wonderful, knowlegable staff...and then I was hooked!! Back in 1991, I went to a place that didn't have A/C, just because it was cheap. Because they didn't have A/C, they'd leave the window open. One day, a wasp flew into the bed with me!!

[prolineceo]

My first time was when I was 14. My aunt owned a salon. I went once. My second time was last month. I am 28. Now I enjoy it. It helps that it is the only ALONE time that I get...I have 4 kids.

[Bonnie]

Anybody else want to talk about "their first time"?

[never2tan]

I have been tanning seriously indoors for three years now. I go tanning religiously, I might add, I am not religious about going to church, tells you what means more to me...I am a believer though. Religious aspects aside, my first time was made very easy for me. The owner of the salon was a lifelong tanner, no matter what question you had, he had a plausible answer. He asked me a lot of questions about my tanning and burning experineces prior and developed a plan for me to get color fast. I was put in a beginner bed for ten minutes (I had been in the Florida sun for two weeks before going in). He said I have just enough base color to go past the recommended start times. I did that for two weeks, and the color was starting to be noticeable. He put me in an intermediate bed with a new lotion, and the progress continued. Then he sold the salon two twinkie pies bought it and ran it into the ground, I did make it into an advanced status prior to switching salons this past January. I'll give up a lot of things, but not my tanning time...this I VOW!

[crazy44]

I never started tanning indoors until 97. I never really thought about it. My daughter was working at a salon and kept trying to get me to go there, she said I was to stressed and this would really help. I needed something. So I went . Laying there and yea pop, crack and my nerves were shot. I thought I was going through,just froze,like I could keep my self up. I finally was so worried I jumped out of the bed and yelled for my daughter. I told her and she started laughing.Then said get back in that bed your fine,and told me what was happening. Now I own a salon and I make sure new tanners are aware of sounds that can take place.

[BrownJen]

Yea, the noises from the acrylic is scary at first. I remember thinking that my bed wasn't gonna turn off and that I was gonna tan forever and fry in the bed.

[ladyboss]

The first time I used a tanning bed was about 6 years ago and I knew Nothing! - I was friends with the owner of my hair salon and she had a couple of tanning beds put in (she also didn't know too much) She told me to try it and put me in for 20 minutes....no lotion....luckily I didn't burn cause I had already had a tan from outdoors but I continued tanning there for a couple of months before I even knew about indoor tanning lotions. Now that I've learned so much about lotions and moisturizing etc.... I am so Hooked!

[SexyKitty]

I started tanning in May of this year. Before that I had never tanned before. I had always heard people rave about tanning salons and Id always see girls with such pretty color that I wanted to try it out myself. I was tired of being pale. I look at my pics from last summer and see how pale I was then compared to now. I was scared at first beacuse I didnt know what lotions to use or how long to go in the beds and even how to work the beds etc. The people at the salon I go to were very helpful. I was a little discouraged at first wondering how long it would be until I looked darker and overwhelmed by the amount of lotions and types of tanning beds there were. But eventually I got used to it and I love tanning now. Its fast and easy and I dont have to sit in the sun for hours. Im taking a break in the winter but will start back up again in the spring. I came across this site in August and its helped me decide which lotions and moisterizers to buy and gave me tons of other helpful facts. I will be prepaired now when I go back next year.

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*Sexy Kitty*

[ This Message was edited by: Sexy Kitty on 2003-09-04 13:50 ]

[DeReKzTaNBaBiE]

I went tanning for the first time about 2 years ago because my now husband said I'd look hott with a tan so I tried it...I went in a booth and the noise that thing made when it turned on scared the heck outta me!!! I thought the whole thing was gonna take off LOL I kept it up for a few months then stopped and I just recently started up again a lil over a month ago and I'm glad I did cuz now I'm hooked!! I LOVE TANNING

[RydeTheLTRAIN]

I was 16, so about 5 years ago. I layed out a lot, but I wanted to go tanning cuz all the popular girls in my high school were going and i wanted to be dark like them. hehe...i went to the place my mom and i got our hair cut. i tanned for 8 minutes i think while my mom was getting a haircut. then i bought a package at that place...10 tans for 20 bucks..and i was hooked since(=

[its d n a]

LOL *phew*! when i first tanned in a bed last month, i was so scared when i heard that popping noise, i wanted to jump out. i didnt know if it was normal. it just seemed that everytime i moved, id hear a pop, so i try to be stiff. but i guess thats not it!

[KonaBikeBabe]

I was scared my first time too, but now I'm in love. I stopped for the winter...I need the money for other things, and I'll start back up in the spring.

[SassyKat]

The first time was 15 years ago. I was 15 and my best friend and I wanted to be tanned for the junior prom. It was a Sundash bed in the downstairs of a flower shop. It was a 32 bulb no facial. We got 10 visits for $25. I did not use any lotion. I did not know about it. But I did get soooo dark. We only went for 2 months. I got way darker than my friend and at the prom everybody was bragging on my tan. I know she was sooo mad! Her date was even complimenting on my tan.