Your tanning results depend on consistency. Building a sunbed routine helps you maintain your colour, avoid overdoing it, and make the most of your budget.
Whether you’re new to indoor tanning or a regular looking to keep your glow, planning your sessions each month can make all the difference. A well-structured approach means better results, healthier skin, and sessions that work with your lifestyle rather than against it.
Why Having a Routine Matters
Creating a structured tanning bed routine for beginners and regular tanners isn’t just about convenience. It’s about working with your skin to achieve your desired results.
Your skin produces melanin gradually, and that production peaks when you’re consistent with your sessions. Rushing the process or cramming in multiple sessions close together won’t speed things up; it’ll just increase your risk of overexposure and discomfort.
A routine supports gradual, even colour development that looks natural and lasts longer. It gives your skin time to recover and stay hydrated between visits, which is essential for maintaining healthy, glowing results. When you track your progress and follow a plan, you can adjust timings based on how your skin responds.
Think of it like building muscle at the gym. You wouldn’t expect results after one intense session, and you’d know that overdoing it leads to burnout. The same principle applies to tanning. Less, but consistent, is always better than a lot at once.
How Often Should You Tan Each Month?
The best tanning bed routine depends on where you are in your tanning journey. If you’re just starting out, your skin needs time to build tolerance and develop its melanin response.
Beginners should aim for one to two sessions per week, keeping the sessions short to allow their skin to adapt without overwhelming it. This cautious approach helps you understand how your skin reacts and prevents any redness or sensitivity.
For regular tanners who’ve already built a base colour, two to three sessions per week is ideal for deepening and maintaining your tone. Once you’ve reached your desired shade, you can drop down to a maintenance phase of just once or twice weekly to keep that colour consistent without overexposing your skin.
Here’s how this translates into a typical four week plan. During weeks one and two, you’re in the building phase, establishing your base and gradually introducing your skin to UV exposure.
By weeks three and four, you shift into maintaining your tone, adjusting frequency and duration based on the colour you’ve achieved.
Everyone’s skin is different, and factors like your natural skin type, base colour, and lifestyle all play a role in how quickly you develop a tan. That’s why it’s worth chatting with the trained staff at The SunShine Co. at your local salon, who can help tailor a plan specifically for you.
Planning Your Minutes Per Session
Session length is just as important as frequency when it comes to building the best tanning bed routine. Starting with shorter sessions and gradually increasing your time is the recommended approach. For beginners, four to six minutes is a sensible starting point. This gives your skin a gentle introduction to UV exposure without pushing it too far too fast.
As you move into the intermediate stage, six to nine minutes per session becomes appropriate. By this point, your skin has developed some tolerance and melanin production is more active.
Regular tanners who’ve been using sunbeds consistently can typically handle nine to twelve minutes, though even experienced users should avoid going beyond this without guidance.
The SunShine Co. uses advanced Megasun beds, which deliver powerful but balanced UV output. This means you don’t need excessively long sessions to see results. The technology is designed to optimise your tanning time, so even shorter sessions can be highly effective.
How to Budget for Your Monthly Tan
Understanding the costs involved in your sunbed routine makes it easier to plan and commit to your tanning goals. Most salons offer pay-as-you-go sessions where you’re charged either per minute or per session. While this gives you flexibility, it can add up quickly if you’re tanning regularly throughout the month.
Pre-purchasing bulk minutes or sessions is a smart way to save money long-term. Many tanners find that buying a package upfront reduces their cost per session compared to paying each time they visit. It also removes the hassle of topping up credits constantly, making your routine smoother.
Whether you visit once a week or three times, having a fixed monthly cost makes budgeting easier and keeps you consistent. At The SunShine Co., you can pre-buy your tanning minutes in bundles of 30, 60, or 90 minutes, saving up to 30% when you purchase online.
It’s a simple, budget-friendly way to stay consistent with your tanning routine without worrying about topping up credits every time. If you want to know more about how much a tanning bed session costs, learn more in our recent blog.
When you know exactly what you’re spending each month, you’re more likely to stick with your routine and see the results you want. It helps you treat tanning as a regular part of your self-care schedule rather than an unpredictable expense.
Boosting Results with Accelerators
Using quality tanning accelerators and lotions can make your sessions more effective, helping you achieve results with fewer tanning minutes per week. When your skin is well-moisturised and nourished, it responds better to UV exposure and develops colour more evenly.
Accelerators work by stimulating melanin production, which means you can often reduce your session time while still achieving the depth of colour you’re aiming for. Over time, this can actually save you money because you’re getting better results from shorter sessions.
Hydrated skin also tans more evenly and retains colour longer, which means fewer top-up sessions are needed. Discover more of the benefits of tanning accelerators in our post.
If you’re serious about building the best sunbed routine, investing in a good lotion is worth it. The SunShine Co. offers a range of specially formulated tanning accelerators designed to work with your skin’s natural processes. If you haven’t tried a cream before, we also offer single-use sachets at the salons, so you can test one during your session and see what works best for your skin.
Tanning Tips
- Never double up on sessions and have a break for at least 48 hours. Your skin needs time to rest and develop melanin properly.
- Drink plenty of water and apply a good moisturiser daily to keep your skin smooth, supple, and ready for tanning.
- Removing dead skin cells before your sessions helps your tan develop evenly and last longer.
- Always wear proper tanning goggles, skipping them, even once, isn’t worth the risk. We always have disposable eye protection to grab at reception.
- If you’re unsure, ask the experts. The SunShine Co. team is trained to guide you through your tanning journey. Don’t hesitate to ask for advice on timing, products, or equipment.
An Example Sunbed Monthly Routine
Here’s a simple, easy-to-follow schedule for someone building their tan over four weeks. This plan is based on the Fitzpatrick Skin Type Scale, a helpful way to understand how different skin types respond to UV exposure. If you want to know more about what skin type you are, check out our blog post on how many sunbed sessions you need.
*Swipe left on mobile to view the full table.
| Skin Type | First Session | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type I | 3 minutes | 4 minutes | 5 minutes | 6 minutes | 7 minutes |
| Type II | 3 minutes | 4 minutes | 5 minutes | 7 minutes | 8 to 10 minutes |
| Type III | 3 minutes | 4 minutes | 6 minutes | 8 minutes | 9 to 11 minutes |
| Type IV | 3 minutes | 5 minutes | 8 minutes | 10 minutes | 11 to 13 minutes |
| Type V | 3 minutes | 6 minutes | 9 minutes | 11 minutes | 12 to 14 minutes |
| Type VI | 4 minutes | 7 minutes | 10 minutes | 11 to 14 minutes | 14 to 15 minutes |
You’re not trying to rush the process; you’re building something sustainable that fits into your life and delivers the glow you want without compromising your skin’s health. Also, keep in mind that time in a sunbed can compare to hours in natural sunlight. Find out more on the comparison times for sunbeds vs sunbathing in our guide.
Please note: If you notice any changes in your skin, such as new / evolving moles, unusual spots, or irritation, pause your sessions and speak with a healthcare professional. Most changes are harmless, but it’s always best to get them checked to stay confident in your tanning journey.
Relax & Enjoy Indoor Tanning
When you know what to expect and have a plan in place, tanning becomes a fun and relaxing part of your routine. You’ll see better colour and feel confident that you’re taking care of your skin properly.
Ready to plan your own sunbed routine? Visit your local SunShine Co. salon to chat with our expert team and start your glow plan today.
