Why Tan Smart?
Are you looking into starting a tanning regimen to build up a base tan for an upcoming vacation? To relieve stress? Or even to build yourself a nice tan to make you look and feel great? These are all great reasons to visit a tanning salon. Vice Versa Tanning is happily integrated in the Smart Tan Community as well as a member of the Joint Canadian Tanning Association. We also live by the number one Golden Rule of Smart Tanning- “Don’t Ever sunburn”. We want you to tan with confidence and to be aware that you are stepping foot into a controlled and professional environment with highly trained skin care consultants to work by your side to ensure your tanning experience is a safe and enjoyable one. For information on a Smart Tan visit www.tanresponsibly.ca
How does my skin produce a tan?
A tan is your body’s natural way of responding to UVA & UVB exposure to the skin. Tanning takes place in your skin’s outer layer, which is known as the Epidermis. Your Melanocytes are skin cells that “produce and emit” the pigment melanin. Prior to that your outer cells in your skin then accept that pigment and get tanned. A tan is known to be your skins natural protection against sunburn as well. Once your skin is exposed to UVB it will trigger melanin production , which will then be browned with the help of UVA. Keep in mind this process is the same both from indoor and outdoor tanning, but with indoor tanning we can control the amount and type of UV exposure to give your skin the greatest tan possible whilst minimizing your sunburn risk.
Why do I need to wear protective eye goggles?
Wearing protective eyewear is crucial, failure not to use protective eyewear may result in long- term injury to the eyes. Even short periods of eye exposure to UV light can lead to both temporary and long term damage. At Vice Versa Tanning we happily provide all clients with a pair of goggles, which MUST be worn during your session and are sanitized after each use.
How long do I need to wait before my next tanning session?
At Vice Versa Tanning we do not recommend tanning in consecutive days, key term “moderation”. Enjoy our sun beds once a day, and leave about 48 hours until your next session.
How is the length of my tanning session determined?
We provide you with a skin consultation at your first visit and we use a variety of questions to decide your skin type. Once your skin type has been determined we then proceed to choose a time your skin can be exposed to ultraviolet light, to give you a safe and enjoyable experience.
How do I determine my skin type?
|
Skin Type |
Characteristics | Skin Response to UV |
|---|---|---|
|
I |
– Unexposed skin is bright white – Blue or green eyes – Red or Blonde Hair – Freckles – Heritage is English, Irish, Scottish, or Northern European |
– Always burns easily and severely – Peels – Does not tan – CANNOT — USE SUNBED, we recommend our spray tan booth |
|
II |
– Unexposed skin is white – Blue, hazel, or brown eyes – Red, blonde, or brown hair – Heritage is same as Skin Type I or Scandinavian |
– Burns easily and severely – Peels – Tans minimally or lightly |
|
III |
– Unexposed skin is fair – Brown eyes – Dark hair – Heritage is Central or southern European (Spanish, Greek, or Italian) |
– Burns moderately – Tans average |
|
IV |
– Unexposed skin is light brown – Dark eyes – Dark hair – Heritage is Mediterranean, Oriental, or Hispanic |
– Burns minimally – Tans easily and above average with each exposure – Exhibits IPD (Immediate Pigment Darkening) |
|
V |
– Unexposed skin is brown – Dark eyes – Dark hair – Heritage is East Indian, American Indian, Asian, Hispanic, – Latin American, or African American |
– Rarely burns – Tans easily and substantially – Always exhibits IPD |
|
VI |
– Unexposed skin is black – Dark eyes – Dark hair – Heritage is African American or Aborigine |
– Rarely burns – Tans easily and profusely – Always exhibits IPD |
What is the difference between high pressure and low pressure bulbs?
Here at Vice Versa tanning we offer you a couple of level beds to choose from. The main two are low and high pressure. Our Ergoline OpenSun 1050 for example is a high pressure tanning unit. A high pressure tanning unit also known as a complimenting unit to low pressure tanning generally outputs 99 percent of UVA. Each lamp generates 125 to 2,000 watts of tanning power; therefore it is one of our HOTTEST units. A low pressure tanning unit you will find most commonly used in tanning facilities worldwide. This unit will produce 3-8 percent UVB, and 92-97 percent of UVA. 15-250 is the amount of wattage produced by each lamp therefore comparing it to summertime sunlight in North America. A good fact to remember as a tanner is that UVB is more competent for initiating the melanin production process in the skin, therefore a fair skinned tanner would react much better in a low pressure tanning unit. UVA actually oxidizes the melanin already produced in your skin and turns the melanin brown, therefore a dark tanner would respond better to using a high pressure tanning unit.
Will tanning lotion give me better results?
Let me put it this way, if you were to get your hair styled at a salon would you want your stylist to use product on your hair? It is most certain that the job can get done without product, your hair can still be washed with water and styled with a blow dryer, but with no product it won’t look as shiny and sleek as it would with product. Same thing with tanning, you can easily not use lotion and your colour will build slowly. But lotion will make your skin look more flawless and healthy looking with all the moisture your skin will endure. At Vice Versa we HIGHLY recommend using lotion during your session. We carry a vast variety of lotion lines including the leading Australian Gold, Designer Skin, Kardashian Glow and so on. DHA (dihydroxyacetone) a carbohydrate compound that is FDA approved is an active ingredient added to most lotions and self-tanners, this additive is what gives you that dark bronze colour which typically lasts about 4 to 7 days. Products also do include immediate and delayed bronzers as well as melanin boosters, so if you want that immediate tan, a lotion would greatly be beneficial with your session. Sensitive skin? Prone to break outs? Enjoy our paraben free and hypoallergenic skin lotion products, here we offer every product to accommodate to your needs. Ask the skin care consultant on your next visit to guide you with what product will work best for you!
What is Vitamin D and how do I get it?
Vitamin D, also known as the “Sunshine Vitamin”, is important to maintain strong and healthy bones, as well as good overall health. You can get Vitamin D from taking supplements certain foods also carry a small amount of the Vitamin. The best way to produce the most Vitamin D is through UVB light emitted from the sun and as well sun tan beds (low pressure units), your body can actually make its own Vitamin D as soon as your skin is exposed to UVB light. To learn more about how Vitamin D is formed in your body and the eye opening health benefits that come a long with it, please take the time to browse through the websites provided below!
For resourceful information on Vitamin D and its benefits visit the following sites: www.grassrootshealth.org www.vitamindsociety.com www.vitamindcouncil.org
Video of Carole Baggerly, founder of Grassroots Health, speaking out on Vitamin D:
What are common white spots that appear on my skin during my tan process?
When you are tanning you may develop white patches or spots on certain parts of your body. This can be a result of a few factors listed below:
Pressure Points: This is most common with indoor tanners. These white spots develop on the shoulder blades, tail bone area, and the back of your calves. This occurrence all has to do with the way your body is positioned in the sunbed, because these parts of the body are under pressure and deprived of oxygen. During your tan session try to move around as opposed to laying flat on your back the whole time. Without applying so much pressure on the acrylic with certain body parts will allow the skin to breathe and tan evenly. If moving around still does not work, try our Royal Sun Stand Up Booth!
Vitiligo: This is a hormonally produced condition. If you are being treated by a physician for Vitiligo and have been prescribed psoralen, you should avoid using a sunbed for the time being. When you have Vitiligo your tanning cells are not active, it may look like little-large white spots on the skin. Think of your tanning cells literally going into a “comatose”. They are beginning to degenerate and die off, therefore not tanning when exposed to UV like the rest of your body where your tanning cells and fully dormant and active.
Tinea Versicolor: This is also considered to be a common skin condition. This is a fungus that starts out in your hair and flakes down onto your upper body, just like dandruff. Due to it being so small you will never see it, until of course you start tanning. They will look like white little dots around your tanned skin, some people may call them sun spots, but they are actually created by fungus. This fungus however is not hygiene related! Extra Strength Selsun Blue is a great home remedy for these little white spots. The active ingredient in Selsun Blue is called Selenium Sulfide, and that will kill off the fungus (this can take two to four weeks) by applying it on your hair and white spots. If that does not work, your physician can prescribe you a medication that takes about one week to resolve the condition.
How old do I need to be to use a Sunbed?
In accordance to Ontario Law Guidelines, you must be 18 or over to use a Sunbed.
Do I need to make an appointment to come in for a session?
No appointments are needed to use our Sunbeds. If you would like a Spray Tan, then an appointment is necessary to avoid wait time.
What is your exchange/Refund Policy?
All sales are final. There are no exchanges or refunds for both lotions or tanning packages.
I would like to CANCEL or FREEZE my membership, how do I go about it?
If you need to cancel or freeze your membership for any reason, you may do so by giving Vice Versa Tanning 30 days written notice, either in person or in writing, or VIA certified mail, no later than the 7th day of the current month to stop the billing for the next month. Any notices received after the 7th day of the month will not be effective until the end of the next billing cycle. If mailing your notice, please send to Vice Versa Tanning 985 College Street.
If I Freeze my account, will I need to pay another start up fee when I unfreeze?
No. When you notify us that would like to unfreeze your account, you will be charged your regular monthly fee starting the next effective cycle date.
Who can I contact for more information on Tanning Memberships?
If you would like to find out more information or are having an issue with your Membership, you may call us at the salon (416) 531-3645 during business hours. For anything after business hours you may contact us via e-mail viceversastudio@hotmail.com.