Your First Time on a Sunbed: A Calm, Honest Guide
Everything a first-timer actually wants to know — what a session feels like, how long to start with, the eyewear rule and how we pace it to your skin.
6 min readReviewed 19 June 2026
Walking into a tanning studio for the first time can feel like stepping into the unknown — how long do you go for, what do you wear, is it going to be too much? The honest answer is that a good first session is short, gentle and completely guided. There's nothing to figure out on your own.
This is the guide we wish every newcomer had before their first visit. No hype, no pressure — just what genuinely happens, how to get a smooth, even result, and how we keep you safe while you build a tan you'll actually love.
Before you come in: register
Every new client registers before their first session — a couple of minutes online, or simply sign up in store at the desk when you arrive. Either way, your details, skin notes and minutes are ready before you tan, so your first visit is relaxed rather than a form-filling exercise.
You'll buy your tanning course in studio (courses are a bank of minutes you spend across visits), and that's the moment we'll talk through your skin and set a sensible first session with you. Want to ask anything before you come in? Just call your nearest studio in Corby or Kettering — we're happy to talk it through.
What a first session actually feels like
You'll have a private, sanitised room to yourself. Inside, you change, pop on the protective eyewear we provide, and get comfortable on (or standing in) the bed. The lamps warm gently — most people describe it as lying in strong, pleasant sunshine. A fan keeps the air moving so you stay comfortable.
It's quiet, it's yours, and it's over quickly. A first session is deliberately brief — often just a few minutes — because the goal is to wake the skin up, not to chase instant colour. Your tan develops over the hours that follow and builds across visits.
How long should a first session be?
There's no single number, because the right time depends on your skin type (how easily you burn) and the specific bed. That's exactly why we set it with you rather than leaving you to guess — we start conservative and build from there.
The golden rule on day one: under-do it. You can always add a little next time. Pushing too hard on a first session is the single most common mistake, and it's the one we're here to help you avoid.
What to bring and how to prep
Come with clean skin — no make-up, perfume or deodorant, and ideally no thick moisturiser or oils right before, as they can affect how evenly you tan. A shower beforehand is perfect. Gently exfoliating the day before helps colour go on smoothly and last longer.
We provide the protective goggles, and wearing them is non-negotiable — closed eyes alone don't protect you, because UV passes through the eyelid. If you wear contact lenses you may prefer to take them out. Bring a hair tie if you'd like your hairline clear.
- Clean, product-free skin (shower beforehand)
- Exfoliate gently the day before for an even result
- Protective eyewear — always worn, every session (we provide it)
- Remove make-up, perfume and deodorant first
- Skip the same-day sunbathing — tanning is cumulative
Straight after, and the days that follow
Your colour keeps developing after you leave, so resist the urge to judge it immediately. Drink some water, moisturise well that evening and over the next few days — hydrated skin holds a tan far longer — and leave at least 24 hours before your next session so your skin can settle.
If your skin feels at all tight, pink or warm afterwards, that's a sign to give it longer to recover and to ease back on time next visit. A great tan is built slowly. We'd always rather you came back glowing than overdid it once.