When it comes to UV light, both summer sunlight and most sunbeds produce pretty much the same kind and mix of sunlight: about 95% UVA, and 5% UVB. The difference is that most sunbeds are 2-4 times more intense than summer sunlight. That’s the reason you only stay in a sunbed a few minutes.

Condensing hours of sunlight into just a couple minutes can be scary to think about. That’s why it’s important to tan at a studio that is Smart Tan Certified. As a rule of thumb use this equation for choose an exposure time.

Use the max exposure level in the tanning bed, pick the halfway point, and from there, go down if you are less tolerant to the sun, up if you are more tolerant, or you can start at the half way point.

For example, if the max exposure time of a tanning booth is 9 mins, the half way point is approx 4 or 5 mins. If you are sun sensitive choose 2 or 3 mins (or a weaker tanning booth), choose 4 minutes if you haven’t had a major sunburn before (peeled from a burn) or 6 minutes if you are tolerant of sun (never burned even in other countries). We never suggest starting at the max of a tanning bed.  If in doubt, choose the lower tan time and always exit a tanning bed/booth if you feel any tingling or tightening of the skin.

At Cocoa Tanning, we appreciate the benefits of tanning, but it MUST be done properly.  Because of that, our salons and our staff are Smart Tan Certified. Tanning improperly misses all the best things about tanning. Even though tanning low and slow doesn’t always show a drastic change in skin color, it is starting the tanning process while maintaining the integrity of your skin.

Visit Smart Tan to find out more on how UV Tanning works and how you can Tan Smartly and get the best results. 

We work with condensed sunlight and know that it creates a harsh environment. We use tanning lotion to decrease exposure time and increase results while maintaining the integrity of the skin. As we have learned more about sun safety we know that if we can get the same results with less exposure time that is our goal. When using a tanning lotion we are able to take between three and five minutes off of a tan time and get the same results. We want you in the tanning bed/booth for the least time possible to get you your desired results. Using a tanning lotion not only helps us reach this goal but it helps keep your skin hydrated following your tan. We want your skin to plump, juicy and tanned rather than tanned and dry.

UV tanning is on a walk in basis. There is no need for an appointment.

This means we lock our doors 15 mins before our posted closing time. When popping into the studio for a late night tan make sure to give yourself enough time to sign up (if new), get settled into the tanning bed, tan and redress and exit by closing time.

We are not able to take walk in tanners past Last Tan and must adjust tan times to allow for coming and going before close. If you love a 20 minute tan make sure to come by long before last tan to enjoy your full session.

UV rays emitted from a sunbed can cause damage to your eyes. The example we love is “have you ever put a flash light up to your hand and had the light come out the other side? Well the tanning lamps are WAY stronger than a flash light and your eye lids thinner than your hand.”

The damage caused to your eyes from UV light is gradual and cummulative. You won’t always notice it right away but over time it causes significant damage. Here at Cocoa Tanning, we care about the health of your eyes and therefore do not permit tanning without approved indoor tanning eye protection.

The minimum age to UV tan is 18 years old unless you have a note from your doctor. Unfortunately parental consent is not sufficient for UV tanning.

We require 24 hours between each tan. This is because your skin goes through a healing process after it is exposed to UV light. This healing process takes 24 – 48 hours. If you tan within this time frame then the tanning process is interrupted and the results from your previous session halted. Because your skin is still in a healing process there can be no further color production. Think of your skin as a full glass of water, no more water can go in within 24 hours.

When you tan twice within 24 hours it causes over exposure with no added benefit. Give your skin time to heal and maintain moisture. Are you a grape or a raisen?

Only permitted indoor tanning lotion can make contact with the equipment. Products not made specifically for condensed sunlight, break down under the UV light. This process ruins our acrylics, and damages the skin. This is why we ask to see the lotion people are using if we are not storing it or we have not previously checked it. 

The damage caused to the acrylics appear as scratches on the area where you lay down. Eventually we must replace the acrylic which is an extremely high cost. Aside from the cost to our business you can visually see the lotion breaking down plastic, imagine what it is doing to your skin.

Please refrain from using any products that you have purchased at the drug store or a makeup store. Your choices are indoor tanning lotion or no lotion (not recommended). 

Absolutely! This is a service we love to offer! We will label your lotion and eyewear and store them behind the desk. This makes it easier to use your desired products during your tan!

We are only able to store lotions that have been purchased at a Cocoa Tanning Studio and for one year past the date of your last tan with us. We do not store expired product (2+ years). We will always phone when reviewing dates on stored products however if the number is not in service or incorrectly input we are not held liable for the disposed product.

You have unlimited time to prepare for your tan. The bed or booth will not start until you press the START button. Sometimes clients utilize many products for their tan and we need to ensure they have adequate time to prepare and use the bathroom if necessary.