History of Tanning
The world’s first tanning salon opened in 1977 in Berlin, followed by tanning salons in Europe and North America in the late 1970s. In the 80s & 90s, salons successfully combined other services with tanning such as selling clothing and accessories related to tanning, nail or hair services. Today, the tanning industry is now accepted as a scientific mix of cosmetology.
Development of Tanning Beds
Tanning beds were invented in 1978 by a German scientist named Friedrich Wolff, who developed the first prototype based on his research on NASA astronauts. Sunbeds became popular in the 1980s and 1990s, as more people began to use them for cosmetic purposes, such as getting a tan without spending time outdoors. Tanning was very popular in the 1990s, especially among young people and celebrities.
Indoor Tanning
Indoor tanning involves using a device that emits ultraviolet radiation to produce a cosmetic tan. Typically found in tanning salons, gyms, spas, hotels, and sporting facilities, and less often in private residences, the most common device is a horizontal tanning bed, also known as a sunbed or solarium.
Dangers and Benefits of Tanning
Both indoor and outdoor tanning can be dangerous, and anyone who plans on doing any type of tanning should understand these risks and be prepared to take precautions to avoid them. The perception that tan people look more defined is mainly due to the contrast between their skin tone and the contours of their muscles.
Tanning Industry
Tanning salons are facilities that offer people the opportunity of achieving an indoor tan. Tanning salons typically have several tanning beds, likened in appearance to a clam shell, in which people lie for a set period of time to gradually tan the skin.