Thursday, December 30, 2004
KRISTINE KISKY for The Columbian
Short days and wintry weather combine to compel people to spend more time indoors. As a result, it's a time of year when many are turning a whiter shade of pale.
On the other hand, some light up their lives on a regular basis via indoor tanning. No matter the weather outside, special bulbs and a regimented exposure schedule can be used to produce the appearance of sun-kissed skin.
There's certainly no shortage of salons where Clark County dwellers can go to tan, but some people take their indoor tanning one step further - or, rather, closer. Increasingly, indoor tanning devotees are installing equipment in their homes.
Tanning at home presents plenty of plusses. There are no appointments to schedule and no wait to check in or out. There's not the hassle of getting dressed, battling traffic, getting undressed and then dressed again. Tanning at home is as simple as padding across a room to a bulb-laden surround.
"The biggest thing about having a home unit is the convenience. You use it when you want and you have complete privacy," says Rob Plucar
"It goes along with those who have gym equipment at home, or who have bought spas for their home. It's in that same vein,"
"It's just as if you're putting a pool in your backyard," says of the rationale behind purchasing at-home tanning equipment. "You really put it in for convenience. If you have a tanning bed at home, you can tan whenever you want."
And just like installing a backyard swimming pool, "When you get a tanning bed, all of the sudden you have more friends than you needed,"
"I've heard everything from (the tanning bed is going in the garage to a woodshed to the basement to its own room or in with the spa," he lists.
"The fact that it's yours, you know who has been laying on it," is another selling point
Though could test drive any number of beds in the course of his work, he has a tanning bed at home for convenience. "I never wanted to be George Hamilton, but I'm a little on the overweight side and I figure fat looks a lot better tan than it does pure white,"
"When you're talking a home tanning unit, you really have three main choices,"
A primary point of consideration is, "Do they want a brand new unit they can plug into a standard household outlet that we all have in our homes?" asks Plucar. "That is the most convenient method of getting a tanning bed in your home ... and one of most popular choices," he says of the plug-and-go models.
"Generally speaking, one of these 110-volt home tanning beds generally have no more than 16 lamps. Anything bigger and you need a bigger (power supply)," says Plucar. "When somebody calls and wants a home unit, we give them the straight scoop. If they don't want to pull a permit or have a buddy in the family that's an electrician," a 110-volt unit is usually the way to go, says Plucar.
However, Cunningham says homeowners should be aware that 110-volt beds might need to be on a dedicated circuit due to their draw.
Consumers' third primary choice for home tanning equipment is a brand new commercial bed. "It makes a great addition to someone's home if they've got that kind of money," reasons Plucar.
"We have tanning beds for less than $2,000, or you can spend 40 to 50 thousand (dollars)," says Hansen.
"The top end (commercial) equipment," says Plucar, "is pretty fancy stuff," with options such as aromatherapy, aqua mist, voice guided menus and more. "For the average home user, there's no need to spend high dollar," he assures.
It's likely some wiring will have to be done if opting to install a commercial model. "For the most part, most commercial beds are 220 volts and need at least 20 amps," says Cunningham.
Some commercial bed buyers opt to put the units in their garage since it's usually closer to the power service panel and easier to run the necessary wire. However, Cunningham suggests an experiment before committing to a garage placement. "Tomorrow morning, walk out to your garage, take your robe off and stand there and then tell me where you want the tanning bed. It's usually an eye-opener," he says of the exercise.
If space or budget are constraints, canopy units provide yet another alternative. "They're a viable option for some people," says Plucar. Rather than a bed or upright enclosure that gives 360-degrees of tanning, canopy units have an adjustable flat or slightly contoured panel of lights for upright or reclined tanning.
The price of having a bronzed body is another factor driving decisions to purchase home tanning equipment.
"At $5 a day," the going price for a single session at some salons, "that adds up," Cunningham says.
"For the average person, if they tan frequently, they can pay for (a home bed) pretty quickly," Hansen figures.
Says Cunningham, "People often ask, 'How much will it increase my electricity bill?' by installing a home tanning unit. I tell them, 'You will not even notice it - unless you have 1,000 friends and they all decide to come tanning with you.' "
"The actual operating expense for an average used commercial bed is well under a dollar (per at-home tanning session)," estimates Plucar. "On a smaller unit, it's about 50 cents for the electrical draw and lamp depreciation," he adds.
Whatever the price tag and operating expense, "You're basically paying for the convenience," Plucar says of purchasing a home tanning bed or canopy.
"We have people buy tanning beds for home that need to fit it in an apartment or it's for their luxury home," says Hansen. No matter the budget or the place It's going to eventually be parked, '"they want it to be attractive and they want it to be virtually trouble free," he says.
Since there are so many variables, it helps to consult someone with a broad knowledge of the equipment before making a purchase.
While some contend that the best tan is no tan, others beg to differ. "There are a lot of new studies touting new benefits of tanning," says Plucar, citing increased vitamin D production and gains in bone density. Plucar says about 5 percent of the beds he sells for home use are to customers whose doctors suggested them as a treatment for a skin condition or to help alleviate the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
"Light therapy is a big item," Hansen likewise reports.
Advocates also note the controlled nature of indoor tanning as compared to outdoors, where the altitude, cloud cover, time of day and proximity to the equator are just some of the many variables influencing the strength of the sun's rays.
Whatever the reason for purchasing a tanning unit, "Everything needs to be done in moderation," stresses Plucar. "A tanning bed should be used in moderation, per the federally mandated exposure schedule that's on every bed."
Unfortunately, "There are people who run from one salon to the other, who tan two times a day," Plucar observes. Men and women who tan to excess "are going to have leathered skin when they are older, no doubt about it," he cautions.
"One of the most important things for customers is, after purchasing (tanning equipment), practice safe tanning," says Plucar. "Always wear eye protection and always follow the recommended exposure schedule. Just tan safe," he implores.