Quick answer
Your first time in a tanning bed is short and simple. At Bella Tan, a Smart Tan Certified specialist checks your skin type and asks about your goals, then matches you to a bed and sets your session. You wear protective eyewear the whole time. Your colour builds over several sessions, with 36 to 48 hours between them, and you wait at least 3 hours before you shower.
Nervous about your first session? That is normal
Most people walk in with the same questions. Will I burn? Which bed do I pick? How long do I stay in? What do I do with my eyes?
You do not have to know any of it before you arrive. Every specialist at our Georgetown salon is Smart Tan Certified, which means they are trained in tanning and skin care, and matching a bed to your skin is their job. Our owner, Janice, is a certified tanning specialist herself and has been a fan of the tanning industry for over two decades.
Here is what your first visit looks like, step by step, and what happens over your first few sessions.
Before your first time tanning bed session
A few things to sort out before you come in:
- You need to be 18 or older. That is Ontario law for tanning beds, so bring photo ID if you look young.
- Check with your doctor first if you take medication that makes your skin sensitive to light, or if you are pregnant.
- Come as you are. Skip heavy creams and makeup on the areas you want to tan.
- Walk in or call ahead. Walk-ins are welcome. If you want a set time, call us at (905) 873-4343.
We are open Monday to Friday from 10:00 am to 7:30 pm and Saturday from 10:30 am to 4:00 pm, at 5 Mountainview Road North in Georgetown. We are closed on Sundays.
Step 1: A quick skin check with your specialist
Your visit starts with a short conversation. Your specialist asks how your skin reacts to the sun, whether you burn easily, and what you are hoping for: a light everyday glow, or deeper colour before a trip or an event.
This is the most important part of your first visit. Your skin type decides which bed suits you and how long your session should be. If your skin burns easily, say so. You can ask about a spray tan instead, which gives you colour with no UV at all.
If this is your very first time at any salon, our new clients page walks through the consultation too.
Step 2: Choosing a bed (or a stand-up booth)
We have four Ergoline and KBL tanning beds and two stand-up booths. They come in levels, from Premium up to Platinum, so there is a bed for a first-timer and a bed for someone who has tanned for years. Your specialist recommends the one that fits your skin type and goals. You never have to guess.
Prefer to stand? The stand-up booths are there for exactly that. And if you are curious about red light, the Ergoline Sunrise 7200 Hybrid combines UV tanning and red light in one stand-up session. You can read more about it on our red light therapy page.
You can see all of our beds on the tanning beds page.
Step 3: Eyewear, lotion and your session
Two things happen before you lie down or step in.
Protective eyewear goes on, every time. Closing your eyes is not enough. Your eyes need proper tanning eyewear for the whole session.
Lotion is your choice, and a good idea. A tanning lotion helps your colour go deeper and last longer. Our boutique carries lotions and skin care, and your specialist will point you to one that suits your skin and your bed.
Then your session starts. Your specialist sets the time for your skin type and the bed you are using, so you do not need to work it out yourself. Lie back, or stand, and relax.
Step 4: After your session
Your session is done in minutes, but what you do next matters too.
- Wait at least 3 hours to shower. That way your skin keeps its moisture.
- Keep your skin moisturized in the days between sessions.
- Give it 36 to 48 hours before your next session.
That last one is the rule first-timers most often want to break. It is tempting to come back the next day. Don't. Colour from a tanning bed builds gradually, and the time between sessions is part of how it builds.
Session by session: how your colour builds
Your first session will not give you deep colour, and it is not supposed to. Here is roughly how your first week or two looks:
Session 1. You may see little or no change. That is fine. Your specialist starts you on a bed and a time that suit your skin, and you learn how your skin responds.
Sessions 2 and 3. Colour starts to show, gently. You tan every 36 to 48 hours, keep your skin moisturized, and tell your specialist how your skin felt after each session.
Sessions 4 and 5. The colour is building gradually, session after session. This is why our 5-session package exists: it gives your skin the time to tan properly instead of rushing it, and it saves you over 20% compared with single sessions.
Everyone's skin is different, so your timeline may be faster or slower. Your specialist adjusts as you go.
Tanning bed or spray tan?
Both give you colour. They work differently, so the right one depends on your timing.
- A tanning bed uses UV light, and your colour builds over your sessions. It suits you if you want a gradual tan you keep up over time.
- A spray tan is sunless and ready in minutes. A certified artist can apply a Norvell custom airbrush tan by hand, prepping your skin first with a complimentary Norvell xLaTan pH balancing spray. Or you can use our That'so Autobronzer booth on your own.
Got a wedding, a party or a photo shoot in a few days? A spray tan is usually the better fit, because a bed tan needs time to build. Not sure? Ask us. That is what the consultation is for.
What it costs at Bella Tan
- Tanning bed: $28 per session, or a 5-session package that saves you over 20%.
- Sunrise 7200 Hybrid (UV and red light): $32 per session, with a 5-session package.
- Custom airbrush spray tan: $55 per session, with a 3-session package.
You can compare everything on our packages page.
Coming from Milton, Acton or Halton Hills?
Plenty of our clients drive in from nearby towns. If that is you, our areas we serve page has directions and what to expect when you visit.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a first time tanning bed session?
It depends on your skin type and the bed. Your specialist sets your session time after the skin check, so you never have to guess.
How often should I tan when I am starting out?
Leave 36 to 48 hours between sessions. That gives your skin time to build colour gradually.
Do I have to wear goggles in a tanning bed?
Yes. Always wear protective tanning eyewear, every session, for the whole session.
Do I need a special tanning lotion?
You don't have to, but a tanning lotion helps your colour go deeper and last longer. We will point you to one that suits your skin and your bed.
Can I shower right after tanning?
Wait at least 3 hours, so your skin keeps its moisture.
Do I need an appointment?
No. Walk-ins are welcome. If you want a set time, call (905) 873-4343.
What is the difference between a stand-up booth and a bed?
You stand instead of lie down. Both are matched to your skin type, and the Sunrise 7200 Hybrid stand-up adds red light to the session.
How old do you have to be to use a tanning bed in Ontario?
You have to be 18 or older. Bring photo ID if you look young.
Ready for your first session?
[Call us now at (905) 873-4343](tel:+19058734343), or walk in during opening hours. Tell us it is your first time, and your specialist will take it from there. Have a question first? Send us a message on our contact page. We are at 5 Mountainview Road North in Georgetown.