Hi, its my first time on Salon Geek so please bare with me (I think I posted the first message in the wrong area). Thanks

I need some advise on sunbeds, i'm looking to start my own beauty salon and wanted to know whether I should buy, lease or rent a sunbed? Also, I am based in London, does anyone know where I can either buy or rent a sunbed from?

Thanks Jen x

Hi Jen and well done on your first posting.

Sunbeds have,trough bad press,probably gone past their prime in terms of revenue income into a salon.
That is not to say there still isn't a demand of course.
My advise is to watch what you spend initially and find a way of trialling this in the salon before committing to expensive equipment .

A good way of doing this is to enter a profit share arrangement with a supplier...this way there is very little upfront investment needed from you .
If it proves that this service isn't commercially viable for you..well you haven't lost anything.
If however things take off profit share can become expensive..this isn't rely a problem as you can simply terminate the profit share arrangement and go out and buy a machine.
At least tis way you get the opportunity to prove weather or not this would be a viable option for your salon without financial risk on your part.
HTH

I personally think sunbeds will be banned eventually, i'll scan an article from last Sundays paper, I think it's just a a matter of time.

Guess peeps will have to be satisfied looking look Oompah Loompahs with a spray tan.

I actually prefer to call them Orange-U-Tans.......


edit: found the article, no need to scan/tan....
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegrap...001021,00.html

Unlike some countries within the European Union sun beds here in the UK are most certainly not banned as yet...the consensus is that it will be many a year yet before this is likely to happen.

There are now many much needed "compliance" codes of practise concerning maximum UV output from sun beds as well as legislation which is currently being compiled and implementation is imminent to make those that provide this treatment accountable for their safe and appropriate use.

I understand that this new legislation is to be rolled out within Scotland first and that from lessons leaned within this territory that the rest of the UK will follow.

Other European Union countries are watching the outcome of this legislation with eager anticipation.

In so far as the look derived from a spray tan is concernd..if applied correctly and with the correct percentage relevant to the individuals skin type is concerned and with proper pre and post tan application regimes followed....there is absolutely no reason why a natural tanned look cannot be derived through proper application by a competent spray tan specialist.

You probably don't even know who you've seen who has a good spray tan as you can't tell it's not real.

Sunbeds are so last season!

Hadnt thought of it that way before..but so true

Exactly.In the same way good,skillfully applied nails can look entirely natural so can a well chosen and applied tan.

Not until they have their nails done and you see the overcolored webbing between their fingers looking like they have been holding and smoking 5 cigarettes between the base of all their fingers ......... cummon, we've all seen it!!!!! I was expecting some Jip from my comments.

My fingers get like that sometimes when i do a lot of ear candling.

but that's just soot although closer in color than some tans

Jen you could try UVl ..although based in Preston Lancs they supply to all the sun bed dealers around the country and could perhaps help you by putting you in touch with someone near you.

The best person to speak to is Lynn 01772 790093....ask her if she can put you in touch with a sunbed provider who also maybe does profit share schemes local to your area.

HTH and good luck

Thanks everyone that has really helped. The tiny little problem I do have is that there is a hair dressers across the street from me who is already doing spray tanning (St Tropez) so I decided to do Fake bake and sunbeds just to be different as there are no sunbeds on our high street, but sunbeds do cost a lot if I am not going to make any money I could do with not wasting my money!

Also, which spray tan would you say is worth it? I got both St Tropez and Fake bake and really liked fake bake, but I don't know if its just because the hair dressers does St Tropez!

Thanks Collin