Trials and Tribulations of Tanning

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Trials and Tribulations of Tanning

By Jillian Deam
Dawgnet Contributing Writer

Is there anything healthy about a "tan healthy glow?" Doctors say tanning can lead to wrinkles and fatal skin cancer, however, the tanning salon business is as successful as ever; and it’s only continuing to grow.

Bronze bodies are still coveted by all kinds of people, even in a generation that supposedly understands the risks of tanning. So what is it about this business that keeps people coming back for more?

Katy Flack, a Butler junior majoring in business, said she tans regularly at the local facilities around campus.

"I like to tan because I don't like being so pale," Flack said. "It makes my skin look more even and it clears up my complexion.

"Tanning also produces endorphins and puts me in a better mood."

Flack said she and her friends car pool to go tanning at places like The Tan Company on Crawfordsville, or at Tan and Laundry in Broad Ripple.

"I think a tanning place on Butler's campus would be very successful because so many college students tan, and it would be much more convenient than driving to a tanning salon," she said.

Flack said she originally heard about both facilities from friends. However, when she comes across promotional coupons for tanning places in the newspaper or around campus, she is encouraged to snag a deal and tan at a cheaper rate.

The tanning business, of course, knows that attracting college students is key.

Trisha Pearson, the assistant manager at Tan and Laundry, said they always have promotions going on.

"We definitely work to attract Butler students," she said. "We send out postcards once a month to Butler about the deals we have to offer.

"We have specials going on all the time that college students appreciate."

Pearson said she feels the business has been very successful in attracting students, especially those that like the short distance from Butler’s campus. While Pearson said she has enjoyed the constant flow of customers and meeting new people everyday, she also acknowledged that tanning is still a demanding industry.

"There’s a lot of stress involved, as with any business," she said. "Some days we get extremely busy and it’s tough to handle."

Myranda Shanley, the manager at The Tanning Company, also said she knows the tanning business isn’t exactly a piece of cake.

"If you don’t like your electric bill at home, you don’t even want to know what ours is!" Shanley said. "Running all of the beds is costly, and we go through a lot of towels as well.

"We wash the towels constantly and use bleach, so of course then they get torn up quickly and we have to replace them."

Shanley said that there are many things to consider as far as maintenance goes, and of course, there’s always the pressure of making a profit.

The Tanning Company, which is the second largest tanning chain in the nation, is a business that certainly strives to make a profit.

"It’s all a matter of being a team,” Shanley said.

Staff members who make it through the training at the Tan Company get certified though a national tanning training institute called Smart Tan. The staff’s certificates proudly hang on the wall behind the counter.

"Most tanning salons that you go into aren’t going to be able to take you on a tour and explain exactly what’s going on with the beds," Shanley said. "We’re all about customer service.

"People tell us, 'wow, you guys are like a tanning encyclopedia,' because we are able to explain everything."

Shanley said that if something weren’t explained right, then she’d be sure to hear about it from her customers.

"The clients are very important to me, and I know a lot of them on a personal level," she said. "It’s kind of like walking into a hair salon -- the customers will come in and tell me their stories, and that’s what I love."

Shanley said they get plenty of Butler students that come in who love the "student week deals" and the low prices in general.

"We have the referral program, so if you were to bring your roommate in, then they can tan for a week for only four dollars, while you can get a free bed upgrade," Shanley said. "It ends up being a big chain where people bring friends, and they save money."

The referral system, as Shanley described, seems to work in the business’s favor. She said because they are clean like a hospital, it’s extremely rare that anyone ever has a problem. As far as the other health risks, Shanley said she puts more faith into the benefits.

"Tanning indoors has been proven to be the best way to get a vitamin D supplement, and studies have shown it’s good for mood swings and depression," she said. "It’s also a self-esteem booster; people want to look their best.

"Of course, the doctors are always the ones who get to speak louder than the tanning companies."

Vikki Rosa, Butler’s director of health services, is definitely not a proponent of the tanning business.

"The thing about tanning booths is that the light source is much more intense than if you were just standing out in the sun," she said. "You run the risk of getting skin cancers, like melanoma."

Rosa said that last year, the heath center’s portion in the health fair was specifically on tanning. They handed out information with sunscreen samples at the fair, which appropriately took place right before spring break -- a prime time for tanning at salons.

"We wanted to make people aware that even in tanning booths, skin cancer and all the other negative things can occur," she said.

Rosa said she has taken notice of the advertising around Butler’s campus for local tanning facilities. However, all she can do is hope that people think about what they’re doing.

"At the health center, none of us are going to be proponents of people going tanning," she said. "But, if you’re going to make that decision, do your research, know how long you’re going to be in the bed and make sure that you’re still protecting your eyes."

Looking at tanning simply from a business standpoint, Rosa said she still wouldn’t want to be part of the industry.

"I think as more and more research comes out, the worse it is for the tanning business," she said. "People are becoming more aware of the risks, so they’re thinking twice about tanning."

Indoor tanning was a really strong business back in the 1980s when facilities first started opening up all over the place. But since then, people have become better educated about the risks involved, and Rosa said she has seen more and more tanning places go out of business.

However, there’s a new branch emerging within the tanning business. Kate Vincent, a Butler senior majoring in communication studies, is a tanning technician at Air Tan in Broad Ripple.

"I think the main difference is that Air Tan is not only a business, it’s also a community health initiative," Vincent said. "Many of our clients come to us because they want to have a tan but don’t want to risk all of the harmful effects of lying out in the sun or spending time in tanning beds."

Because airbrush tanning is still a fairly new phenomenon, a large part of the business is educating customers about the product and services.

"The majority of my clients are people that I see week-after-week," Vincent said. "So one of our goals at Air Tan is to truly build a relationship with our client, so that when they come to the salon they not only get a safe tan but also have a comfortable and fun experience."

Vincent said that she too had used tanning beds, but after her Grandma was diagnosed with skin cancer, she swore to never use a tanning bed again. The problem was that she wanted a tan for formal, she said, and that’s how she found Air Tan. Now she works there as a technician.

"Air Tan is different because your tan is applied by a certified technician and customized to your skin tone and body," she said. "Our product is made with aloe and other natural ingredients, so it moisturizes and nourishes your skin instead of damaging it.

"At Air Tan, airbrush tanning is all we do so we are very knowledgeable and well trained."

But is it all too good to be true? Vincent said she realizes that airbrush tanning is more expensive than using a tanning bed, which makes it hard for a lot of college students to afford. Still, Vincent said they get a lot of Butler students that come in before big events, like sorority or fraternity formals, and they always seem really pleased with their tans.

"The best source of advertising for us is word of mouth," she said. "And a lot of the Butler students that we spray pass our name around to their friends, which we really appreciate."

Vincent said she is very passionate about Air Tan’s philosophy of providing customers with a safe and natural looking tan.

"I love knowing that through my job, I’m advocating for people to make healthy life style choices, while still helping them to look and feel great!" she said.

Still, some people just want to relax in the mock UV glow of a tanning bed. Some just don’t want to deal with the possibility of having blotchy spots on their body from spray tans, or worry about it coming off on their clothes. Others can’t stand the smell of a spray tan on their body.

Whatever the case, the tanning industry, though very controversial, still remains a very profitable business -- a business that isn’t always given enough credit.

"The tanning business isn’t Rocket science, but there’s a lot more to it than people realize," said Shanley. "I know people sometimes put down tanning salons, but you have to be a hard worker in this business too -- you’re constantly running around, cleaning 50 to 60 beds a day."

And places like the Tan Company will continue to clean their beds as customers keep flocking to their salons.

"These days, everything is a health hazard -- like eating red M&Ms can cause cancer!" Flack said laughing. "I know the tanning business is controversial, but I really enjoy tanning.

"Everyone knows of the risks involved, and [it] is obviously a risk that people, including myself, are willing to take, when they decide to tan.

"It's just something that everyone has to deal with and decide on their own."

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