Individual Tanning
Prescription
Every client at Glow Tanning and Beauty receives an individual tanning prescription before their first sunbed session, a simple, tailored process designed to make sure your tanning programme is built around your own skin, not a one size fits all approach. Preparation really is the key to achieving the best possible tan, and understanding your own skin type before you start is what allows us to help you achieve a natural looking glow safely.
What Is the Fitzpatrick Scale
Your individual tanning prescription is based on the Fitzpatrick Scale, a measurement that defines a skin type’s biological susceptibility to UV light. This scale is recognised by both the World Health Organisation and the International Agency for Research on Cancer as an accurate and standardised way of assessing how different skin types respond to UV exposure. It takes into account things like your natural skin tone, hair and eye colour, and how your skin typically reacts to sun exposure, whether it tends to burn easily, tan gradually, or something in between.
How Your Consultation Works
Before your first sunbed session with us, you will complete a short questionnaire in salon covering your skin type, tanning history and relevant medical history. This takes just a few minutes and gives our team everything needed to build your individual tanning prescription. From there, we recommend a starting session length and frequency that is appropriate for your specific skin type, rather than applying the same programme to every client regardless of how their skin actually responds to UV.
Why Your Tanning Prescription Matters
Skipping this step and simply booking the longest session available might feel like the fastest route to colour, but it significantly increases the risk of burning, particularly for fairer skin types that produce less melanin. A proper tanning prescription means your sessions are calibrated to what your skin can safely handle, so you build a natural looking tan steadily and safely, rather than risking sunburn or skin damage from overexposure. It also means two people with very different skin types booking the same treatment will very reasonably be given different session lengths, since what is safe and effective genuinely varies from person to person.
What Happens After Your Consultation
Once your individual tanning prescription is set, your first few sessions focus on building your base tan safely, typically spaced a few days apart. After your base tan is established, we will recommend a maintenance schedule to help keep your colour looking fresh, alongside guidance on caring for your skin between visits to help your tan last as long as possible. Your prescription is not fixed forever either, if your skin changes over time, or your tanning goals change, your programme can be reviewed and adjusted at any point.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a new tanning prescription every time I visit?
No, your prescription is set up during your first consultation and used to guide your ongoing sessions. If anything changes with your skin, medical history, or how your skin has been responding, just let our team know and we can review it with you.
Is the consultation free?
Yes, your individual tanning consultation is included as standard before your first sunbed session, there is no extra charge for this, it is simply part of how we ensure every client tans safely.
How long does the consultation take?
Just a few minutes, it is a short questionnaire rather than a lengthy appointment, so it will not add much time to your first visit.
Ready to book your first sunbed session? Explore our full range of sunbeds, including the Luxura X7 and Sunless V58 Unique, or get in touch to book your consultation today.