Is it Fall yet?

We're getting ready for Fall here at Hollywood Tans, and we'd like you to also!


Whether you or your kids are getting ready to head back to school - or you're simply getting ready for Fall, we're here to help! We want you to stay tan and relaxed! Visit your local HT for September promotions and deals. Participating salons only.

Enter to Win: Hollywood Tans Copacabana Tee + Tanning Lotion!

Three (3) Grand Prize winners will receive the Hollywood Tans Copacabana T-shirt and a Hollywood Tans Copacabana tanning lotion packet. Limited size run.

Contest begins August 12, 2011 and ends August 19, 2011 at 11:59 PM PDT. All entries must be submitted by August 19, 2011 at 11:59 PM PDT.

The Grand Prize winner will be notified by email on August 20, 2011.

1. Must be 13 years old and live in the United States of America to be eligible.
2. Must provide a valid mailing address to which grand prize may be shipped. No P.O. Boxes will be honored.
3. No shipping and handling fee.
4. No purchase necessary.

You can either enter on our Facebook page - simply click the "SWEEPSTAKES" tab on the left side of the page, under our fabulous profile picture and voila!

Or, you can enter...here!

Win a Hollywood Tans "Special Event" Tee!

All of us here at Hollywood Tans are in the back to school mode! So, we've turned into Hollywood Tans Academy to get everyone on board and ready for Fall! We'll even be giving out some Tanning 101 tactics!

Every school has spirit right? We want you to have to Hollywood Tans pride and show your spirit, so we're giving you the opportunity to win this:

Cool, Right?

Here are some guidelines and rules:

Three (3) Grand Prize winners will receive the Hollywood Tans Special Event T-shirt and a Hollywood Tans Special Event tanning lotion packet. Limited size run.

Contest begins August 3, 2011 and ends August 10, 2011 at 11:59 PM PDT. All entries must be submitted by August 10, 2011 at 11:59 PM PDT.

The Grand Prize winner will be notified by email on August 11, 2011.

1. Must be 13 years old and live in the United States of America to be eligible.
2. Must provide a valid mailing address to which grand prize may be shipped. No P.O. Boxes will be honored.
3. No shipping and handling fee.
4. No purchase necessary.

You can either enter on our Facebook page - simply click the "SWEEPSTAKES" tab on the left side of the page, under our fabulous profile picture and voila!

Or, you can enter...here!

Hollywood Tans Academy : Tanning 101

Tanning 101: Visit your local Hollywood Tans and educate yourself on the savings you could earn to get ready for fall! Headed back to school? No prob! Getting the kids ready to head back to school? We got your back! Through the month of August we have an awesome variety of student packages and cool incentives for new members!

Welcome to Hollywood Tans Academy - savings now in session!

*participating salons vary in savings

Primetime Emmy Nominations are announced!

Are you as excited as we are? We think it's safe to assume that most of you tanners are prime time TV watchers. Especially, since the red carpet mainly means scoping out who looks the best and worst!

Click the title of this post to see the nominees!


;)

Study: Sun Lowers Heart Attack Risk

https://smarttan.com/blog/index.php/sun-lowers-heart-attack-risk-study/

A Danish research team this week presented data suggesting that overexposure to the sun lowers a person’s risk of heart attacks, hip fractures and overall mortality — a trade-off that would outweigh the risks of skin-related diseases, most of which are non-lethal in most cases.

2011-07-12 Sun Lowers Heart Attack Risk copy “Cumulative incidences of myocardial infarction, hip fracture and mortality were lower among individuals with non-melanoma skin cancer or cutaneous malignant melanoma,” Dr. Peter Brondum Jacobson, of University Hospital in Herlev, Denmark, wrote in the study. “This suggests that sun exposure might have beneficial effects on health.”

The team speculates that non-melanoma and melanoma incidence are signs of overexposure to UV light — an assumption that lacks a solid straightforward relationship, particularly for melanoma and basal cell carcinoma, which have complex relationships with sun exposure in research. Melanoma is more common in indoor workers — who get four- to six-times less sun exposure — than in outdoor workers.

But, studying the entire Danish population from 1980-2006, Jacobson and his colleagues found that those with non-melanoma skin cancer were:

* 34 percent less likely to suffer a heart attack.
* 32 percent less likely to suffer a hip fracture.
* 46 percent less likely to die of any cause in the time period.

The results were less dramatic among melanoma victims — most likely due to the fact that melanoma’s relationship with sun exposure is not straightforward. Other papers have suggested that vitamin D from sun exposure is the mechanism lowering the risk of these and other diseases.

“What is interesting about this new paper is that it is looking at signs of overexposure to UV and presenting benefits of overexposure,” Smart Tan Vice President Joseph Levy says. “No one is advocating overexposure to sunlight. But researchers might want to identify if regular, moderate exposure might present the same benefit to this population without the risk of skin cancer. That would be an even better study.”

The study was presented at a meeting of the European Atherosclerosis Society July 1.

CEO Lewis Shender talks tan tax, myths and the tanning industry!

Hollywood Tans CEO Lewis Shender was on the Fox Business Channel discussing the tan tax and it's impact on the tanning industry, as well as the validity of claims that tanning is detrimental to health.

Take a look at the video (06:26)

Exercising your right to tan!

This July, Hollywood Tans wants you to fight for your right to tan more than ever, in the spirit of Independence Day. Rid yourself of all the myths that might be keeping you from going to the tanning salon as often.

If you're on Facebook, click "Like" on our page and you get the chance to get a free tan, or other rewards at participating salons - just for sharing the graphic below and including the following:
 
" Hollywood Tans wants to REWARD YOU when you exercise YOUR RIGHT TO BARE ARMS & TAN LEGS. Get a FREE TAN (at participating salons) by SHARING this post + photo on your wall, and tell your friends you're exercising your right. JUST CLICK SHARE! Visit your local Hollywood Tans and make sure a Hollywood Tans associate sees that you've shared this to get rewarded! Take a sTANd! "

So, what are you waiting for? Take a sTANd!

Tanning Truths with Janessa Lopez of Hollywood Tans

We sat down with Hollywood Tans' Janessa Lopez and had her fill us in on tanning tips, routines and more!

 

(Credit/Off Guard Photography) 

HOLLYWOOD TANS: Do you have any tips for first time tanners?

JANESSA LOPEZ: Start slow, deepen your tan very gradually. Get a fun lotion and let your body soak it all in. Stay consistent with it, use a good after lotion and exfoliate.

 

HT: How often do you tan?

JL: 3-4 times a week 

 

HT: When did you first start tanning?

JL: I love being bronze so I feel like I’ve been tanning forever. I started in the tanning bed, when I did my first beauty pageant at 18. But, nothing is as quick and great as Hollywood Tans. I especially like their Stand Up booths If you wonder what I mean by that, go have a try for yourself! 

 

HT: Do you have a favorite Hollywood Tans Tanning Lotion?

JL: I am in love with the 1AM tanning lotion, it is super dark. Sometimes if I’m feeling feisty, I’ll mix it with the Caliente for a tingle! They’re all great though! 

 

HT: What do you think sets Hollywood Tans apart from the rest?

JL: You get a golden glow in 8 min, the salons are super cute and glamorous and you don’t lie down. They’re everywhere and they’re trusted. Quick and clean!

 

HT: What’s one rumor about tanning that you’ve found to be completely false?

JL: So many people are afraid of it. I stopped tanning a while back because I’m on a mission to age gracefully. When I partnered with HT, my only question was: "is this going to harm me at all?" They looked at me like I was crazy!

Before, I’d go in and lay down in the bed for 20 min and I’d usually overexpose when I first started. They let me know, build your tan gradually, as to not overexpose the skin. I started at one day a week and didn’t do the max time. As I built a base tan, I increased my time. The key is to care for your skin. Having a base tan actually protects your skin while out in the sun. Take your time! Use a good lotion, especially an after tan lotion like HTO tan extender and your golden!  

 

HT: What do you think is better- self tanning or going into the salon?

JL: Without a doubt the salon because you get a tan that doesn’t streak, a tan that’s even and a tan that you don’t sweat off in the gym. I work out hard, I need to not sweat brown and or get funky lines!

 

HT: Is it hard to fit tanning into your busy schedule with your son and work? How do you make time?

JL: Tanning, like any other upkeep I practice is a way of life. When I started tanning again, I went to Hollywood Tans and in 8 minutes I was in and out. But like anything that you add to your schedule, it has to become a part of your daily routine. I find a way to make time for many things: hair, nails, the grocery store, etc. Tanning is something that greatly benefited my lifestyle [as a bikini model] from helping me look in the mirror, to seeing definition, to feeling better with a healthy glow. I definitely made time for my 8 min habit. I started tanning once a week; I probably go four times a week now. With a great lotion and a great salon, it’s easy to maintain. Besides, life is better bronze!

 

HT: Speaking of busy schedules, how can other busy moms like you keep it together!

JL: Simplicity and preparedness are things that work for me! I always leave the house with everything I might need for the day. There’s nothing worse than meaning to follow your plan and not having what you need.

(Credit/Off Guard Photography)

By: Janessa Lopez/Melanie Hunter

Meet Janessa Lopez, one of the new faces of Hollywood Tans

Janessa Lopez isn’t someone who lets her circumstance get the best of her. At one point in her life, the model found herself in the middle of a daunting break up and an accompanying custody battle over her son. Like most women Lopez found her light dwindling with the new found stress that had taken over and reincarnating that light in unhealthy foods, less physical activity and withdraw from most social interaction. As a result, Lopez gained 30 pounds. In spite of her situation, Lopez continued modeling, but admits she was numb inside and her apathy began to manifest outwardly.

One day a co-worker said to her, “You were so glamorous before, what happened? I guess that’s what happens when you have kids, right?”

Prior to having her son Brody, Lopez had plenty of experience as a bikini model and a promotional model for organizations such as USC Football, Playboy, Relay for Life and National Girls and Women for Sports.

“The minute she [co-worker] said that to me, I had to pull myself together. I originally got into bikini modeling because I loved feeling glamorous, and there’s this feeling of female empowerment that comes along with it. The fact that I was no longer conveying that was a wake-up call for me.”

Since then, Lopez has started rejuvenating her bikini model body. She officially began her weight loss journey on January 24, 2011, with a goal of shedding 40 pounds.

Lopez, currently a life coach at Jenny Craig, advises her clients to identify what initially is causing the weight gain and find ways to address where the emotional or mental problems lie. “Begin with the end in mind,” Lopez says. “Stop and think about where you want to go, what goals you’d like to set. Weight loss is so much more than a number on a scale. At the end of the day, you have to want to be healthy.”

And so she’s begun. Lopez has returned to working out five times a week and following a healthy diet. She also journals every workout and everything she eats so that she stays motivated and continues to see results.

In order to continue to feel glamorous every day, Lopez tans at Hollywood Tans, where she receives her favorite service, the high pressure tanning. One day, the CEO of Hollywood Tans, Lewis Shender, suggested she model. A simple compliment turned into Lopez becoming the face of Hollywood Tans.

“We at Hollywood Tans really like what Janessa has done, in terms of her weight loss and more importantly, positive outlook on life. It’s also a plus that she enjoys tanning with us,” Shender said. “We’re thrilled to have her represent us and spread her positivity and cheer her on to becoming the best bikini model she can be!”

Lopez’s son Brody is her biggest supporter; as he often helps her take document her weight loss by taking pictures of her. “For a while I didn’t know what my sons "home" life would be like since his dad and I split. I knew I wanted him to have a firm foundation and the best way I could show him that was by how I lived my life. I want him to know that his mommy didn’t give up.” 

Here's her progress so far: 

MARCH
 

MAY 

JUNE 

We'll keep you posted with fun updates from Janessa and her weight loss tips! And as always, updates on Hollywood Tans!

By: Melanie Hunter

CONTEST- Bleach Bright Teeth Whitening Kit

We're giving away three (3) of the Bleach Bright Teeth Whitening home kits, starting Tuesday, June 7, 2011.

Why, you ask?

1. Because we can.
2. Because we appreciate our fabulous customers.
3. Because no one likes looking at yellow teeth.
4. Because everyone loves free stuff.

Here's what you could win: 

The UVBleachBright Kit!

The UVBleachBright Advanced System uses the power of L.E.D light to help whiten your teeth in just a few sessions. Use this unique system anytime or anyplace. Great for tanning salons and beach goers.
(1) Vial of 12% HP
(1) Mini blue L.E.D. light
(1) White leather carrying case
(1) Shade guide

Your new pearly whites will look great with your tan! You can even use this while tanning!
 

New Information Linking Low Vitamin D with Allergies

Children with low vitamin D levels are nearly two-and-a-half times as likely to suffer from peanut allergies and a host of other allergies, according to a new study published this month.

 

A study of more than 3,000 children shows that low vitamin D levels are associated with increased likelihood that children will develop allergies, according to a paper published in the February 17 online edition of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Researchers from Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University headed the study.


Researchers looked at the serum vitamin D levels in blood collected in 2005-2006 from a nationally representative sample of more than 3,100 children and adolescents and 3,400 adults. The samples are derived from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a program of studies designed to assess the health and nutritional status of adults and children in the United States. The survey is unique in that it combines interviews, physical examinations and laboratory studies. One of the blood tests assessed was sensitivity to 17 different allergens by measuring levels of Immunoglobulin E (IgE), a protein made when the immune system responds to allergens.

When the resulting data was analyzed by Einstein researchers, no association between vitamin D levels and allergies was observed in adults. But for children and adolescents, low vitamin D levels correlated with sensitivity to 11 of the 17 allergens tested, including both environmental allergens (e.g., ragweed, oak, dog, cockroach) and food allergens (e.g., peanuts). For example, children who had vitamin D deficiency (defined as less than 15 nanograms of vitamin D per milliliter of blood), were 2.4 times as likely to have a peanut allergy than were children with sufficient levels of vitamin D (more than 30 nanograms of vitamin D per milliliter of blood).

The research shows only an association and does not prove that vitamin D deficiency causes allergies in children, cautioned Michal Melamed, M.D., M.H.S., assistant professor of medicine and of epidemiology & population health at Einstein and senior author of the study. Nevertheless, she said, children should certainly consume adequate amounts of the vitamin. “The latest dietary recommendations calling for children to take in 600 IU of vitamin D daily should keep them from becoming vitamin-D deficient,” she said.

However, vitamin D scientists do not all agree that 600 IU daily will get most children over 30 ng/ml, as that daily target is only designed to get vitamin D levels above 20 ng/ml. A study published by GrassrootsHealth in conjunction with Creighton University and the University of California-San Diego this week recommended daily intake of 9,600 IU of vitamin D to get almost all the population over 40 ng/ml vitamin D blood levels.

source

Red Light Therapy to the Rescue!

You may have been seeing a lot of posts about Red Light Therapy coming to some of our Hollywood Tans salons, so we're here to give you all the info you need on this awesome new treatment!

Red light therapy is a form of heliotherapy that uses red tinted light to stimulate the body's natural defense systems and bring relief to various ailments.  When applied directly on the area of the body that is currently experiencing distress, the red light helps to activate ATP, or adenosine triphosphate, in muscle tissues releasing more energy for the body to use.

Ailments that can be soothed with the use of red light therapy include head aches, poor circulation, acne, sinus issues, and even mild depression.  It also has been known to stave off the effects of aging, including wrinkles and dry skin, by helping to produce more collagen.

The duration of red light therapy ranges from two to five minutes, depending on the nature of the ailment or issue, with repeated sessions after a short period of rest.

Hollywood Tans using Red Light therapy, or a similar variation, include Hollywood Tans Atlanta area salons, Hollywood Tans Riverside, CA, and soon Hollywood Tans of Riverdale, NJ.  Be sure to check it out!

Happy Tanning!

source

Season Premiere Day!

Mark your calendars because Hollywood Tans Season Premiere Day is coming up!  To celebrate yet another fantastic year, stop into any participating Hollywood Tans salon on March 12th and tan for free all day!  Not only is it the perfect time to try out some of our new tanning lotions, its also a great way to introduce your friends and family to Hollywood Tans!

New Year, New Lotions!

Hollywood Tans is rolling out the red carpet to unveil our latest (and possibly greatest) lotions!  Introducing....

Cobacabana

Days at the beach, nights in the club...with Copacabana you'll get a tan that jet-setters and club hoppers worldwide will envy.  Copacabana combines some of Hollywood Tans richest tan maximizers, bronzers, skin nourishing oils, including Argan oil, and vitamins to keep your skin looking rich and fabulously tan.  Best of all, the light tropical beach scent will leave you feeling South Beach sensational long after you tan.

Black Bamboo

Take your tan to the next level with Hollywood Tan's Black Bamboo bronzer, the perfect lotion to help you balance darkness and enlightenment.  Packed with real bamboo extract, hemp seed oil, and green tea extract, Black Bamboo delivers the most intense moisturizes and conditioners to your skin.  It has all the best tanning ingredients, rolled into one!


Chateau

Hollywood Tan's latest premium dark tanning lotion will give you the most exclusive Hollywood tan, with a surprisingly cool feel.  Chateau is loaded with five advanced bronzing technologies and our added Alpine Chill, a super invigorating coolant.  With Chateau, you get all the results you want without sacrificing any comfort.  Get a great tan with a lotion that is as cool and fresh as the Alps in springtime, while being as sexy and glamorous has Hollywood's favorite hotspot!


Rodeo Drive

Hollywood Tans wants to let you in on the glamorous secret of Hollywood's top stars and designers alike: there's no better accessory than a gorgeous, rich tan.  Packed with a blend of 5 premium bronzers, 2 body blushes, luxurious moisturizers, special FragranceFresh technology, plus anti-aging and firming properties, you'll love the experience and the results of tanning via Rodeo.  With Hollywood Tan's Rodeo Drive lotion, you're sure to look Beverly Hills ready any time, any place!


Try these four awesome new Hollywood Tans lotions in salons today!

Gisele Says Down With Chemical Sunscreen!

Internationally known super model Gisele Bundchen has made quite a stir with her latest comments concerning chemical sunscreen.

"I cannot put this poison on my skin," the 30-year-old said.  "I do not use anything synthetic."

Although some people may criticize the leggy Brazilian model's anti-chemical obsession, there is actually a lot of truth in Bundchen comments.

While the sunscreen industries are quick to tell you to layer on copious amounts of sunscreen every day, especially any time you come in contact with the sun, that may not be such a great idea.  When you liberally apply sunscreen to your skin, the chemicals in sunscreen actually absorb into your blood stream.  Some of the chemicals found in sunscreen are not ones you want to be putting on your body on a daily basis, including estrogenic toxins and chemicals that generate harmful free radicals.

"Organic chemists have been long aware of the dangers of compounds in chemical sunscreens. Such chemicals are widely used to start free radical reactions during chemical synthesis. These chemicals are the dangerous types that one carefully keeps away from your skin while working in a laboratory. To use them, you mix them into a combination of other chemicals, then flash the mixture with an ultraviolet light. The ultraviolet absorbing chemicals then generate copious amounts of free radicals that initiate the desired chemical reactions."

"Benzophenone (and similar compounds) is one of the most powerful free radical generators known. It is used in industrial processes as a free radical generator to initiate chemical reactions. Benzophenone is activated by ultraviolet light energy that breaks benzophenone's double bond to produce two free radical sites. The free radicals then react with other molecules and produce damage to the fats, proteins, and DNA of the cells - the types of damage that produce skin aging and the development of cancer."

"This may be a factor in the large increases in cancer (breast, uterine, colon, prostate) observed in regions, such as Northern Australia, where the use of sunscreen chemicals has been heavily promoted by medical groups and the local governments.  Many sunscreens also contain triethanolamine, a compound that can cause the formation of cancer causing nitrosamines in products by combining with nitrite used as preservative and often not disclosed on sunscreen labels."

While it may seem strange that something marketed to prevent any skin damage by doctors and skin care professionals could actually be quite harmful, it's important to consider events of the past, in which serious errors were made by doctors through public promotions by the health care pros.

In 1927, physicians endorsed smoking Lucky Strike cigarettes, saying it was a healthy activity.  And in the 40s and 50s, thousands of prominent surgeons were used in national cigarette ads, assuring the public about the safety of smoking cigarettes.  And in the 60s and 70s, physicians promoted diets high in partially hydrogenated fatty acids, like those found in margarine and safflower oil, saying that they would help reduce heart disease.  While long term studies may have supported their claims of a decrease in heart disease, the effects of this sponsorship produced accelerated aging and increased the total death rate and the cancer rate.

Unfortunately, history stands to prove that not everything doctors endorse or support is true; in fact it seems that when there is a product with money backing it, there are doctors who are willing to support it.

So while some of Miss Bundchen's fears about toxic elements may be a little over the top, it is important to consider what it is you're actually putting on your body.

source
source

Tanning for Weight Loss?

When I first heard about tanning promoting weight loss, I did not believe it!  But after doing some research, I'm starting to like what I've learned.  Check it out!

As we all know, tanning supplies your body with your daily dose of vitamin D.  Not only does raising your vitamin D level help ward of illnesses like rickets and diabetes, achieving the optimal range of 50ng/ml to 80ng/ml of D will greatly assist you in maintaining a healthy body weight.  Fat cells actually have vitamin D receptors, and when your body has enough vitamin D these receptors are activated and assist your fat cells in burning more calories.  As if thats not cool enough, it also helps in releasing something called leptin.  Leptin is an appetite suppressing hormone that is released once you've had enough food to eat.  When your vitamin D levels are too low, the release of leptin is greatly inhibited and can leave you eating more than you need to.    

Not only that, according to a study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, for every 1ng/ml increase of Vitamin D in the blood of those who previously had insufficient levels, an additional half pound of body fat was lost (when combined with portion control and exercise of course!).  So basically the study shows that for people trying to lose weight who are also low in vitamin D, raising your levels in D will assist you in losing more weight than if you were just practicing portion control and exercising alone.  Pretty cool huh?!

Food sources of vitamin D include salmon, milk, eggs, and some fortified cereals, however to get your daily dose of vitamin D would require eating up to 19 oz of salmon or 42 oz of milk a day, which may be more calories then are conducive for weight loss.  

But don't worry, solarium tanning can easily satisfy your daily dose of vitamin D, in as little as 5 minutes a day!  So stop into Hollywood Tans today to get your vitamin D and a gorgeous glow!    

Tanning Rules To Live By!

For all tanners, new and experienced alike, here are the three main rules to always follow when tanning!

1.  Say no to dry tanning!
When tanning, it is essential to always, always use a great designer tanning lotion.  Liberally applying tanning lotion before using a solarium booth ensures that your skin will stay hydrated and soft, plus it will tan more effectively.  Tanning lotions are specially designed with ingredients that maximize how much color you get with every tanning session.  Plus, Hollywood Tans tanning lotions are often fortified with fun extras, like anti-agers or firming agents.  Dry tanning on the other hand, dries out your skin, making it rough and flaky, which actually lessens the life of your tan.
Not sure what kind of tanning lotion to use?  Don't hesitate to ask your local salon professionals, who can help you break down what each lotion is formulated to do, and which ones are best for your unique skin.

2.  Love your eyes!
Never, ever tan without some sort of tanning eyewear.  Believe it or not, shutting your eyes while tanning will not protect them from the light.  Hollywood Tans offers two great options for eye protection, "Podz" and "Winkease".

Podz are awesome re-usable goggles that come in a portable key chain pod and cost about $4 each.  They're really comfortable and I definitely recommend them for frequent tanners.  Just be sure to wash them at least once a week.  

Wink Ease are one time, easy to use stickers that fit right over your eyes and protect them from the sun.  They range in price from around $.50 to $1 and are super convenient for those annoying times when you forget your Podz!

3.  The Dreaded 24hr Rule

While it sometimes seems silly or inconvenient, it's crucial that you wait a full 24 hours before tanning again.  And it's not just a Hollywood Tans rule; the 24hr rule is actually something tanning salons are legally bound to follow.  

Maintaining Your Hollywood Tan!

One of the best feelings is getting your tan looking absolutely perfect, and to help keep that gorgeous glow going strong, follow these Hollywood Tans tips!

Tan!

Sure this is an obvious one, but the main key to maintaining your tan is simply to keep tanning.  While it varies depending on your unique skin type, maintaining your tan requires a quick visit to the salon two to three times a week.  Keep up a consistent tanning regime and your golden glow will live on strong!         

Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize!

I know I say it all the time, but moisturizing is so essential for beautiful skin and a beautiful tan.  Using a high quality lotion will help keep your skin hydrated, which in turn helps extend the life of your tan.  And to help get the most out of every visit to the tanning salon, use a moisturizer that is also a bronzer.  Bronzers are lotions that come equipped with ingredients that will tint your color several shades darker than UV alone.   

Shave and Exfoliate Before! 

As if getting your legs to tan as quickly as the rest of your body isn't hard enough, shaving and exfoliating on a daily basis may be working against keeping your gorgeous gams tan!  Shaving and exfoliating removes the top layer of dead skin, which can diminish your tan-life in the process.  To help combat the diminishing effect minimize how often you shave and exfoliate, and definitely do so before you visit the tanning salon, not after.  Also, try out a lotion specifically designed for legs, like Hollywood Tans specially formulated "Darker Legs" tanning lotion, which will help to keep your legs darker, longer!       

Follow these simple steps to help maintain your gorgeous Hollywood Tan!  Happy Tanning!  

Faux Glow Fabulous Tips

Even in the midst of winter, you can achieve a gorgeous summer glow with any of the Hollywood Tans solarium tanning booths or with our fantastic spray tan options.  Here are some awesome Hollywood Tans Spray Tanning tips to keep your faux glow Hollywood Tans perfect!

1.  If you can, spray tan in salon.
While there are many awesome at home tanning products out there, the best way to ensure a flawless and natural looking spray tan is by tanning in salon.  When using a system like Mystic Tan or Infinity Sun, salon professionals can help find the perfect shade for your unique coloring.  Not only that, the tanning process itself is easier and ensures the most even tan.  And you don't have to shell out the big bucks on a salon spray tan; spray tans at HT start at only $20!
If you can't make it into salons for your spray tan, there are many at home self-tanners that work just as well, like Hollywood Tans Millionaire Mist.  While there are also many lotions on the market, I prefer to use a spray, as they yield a more even coverage and are cleaner and easier to apply.


2.  Exfoliate, Exfoliate, Exfoliate
Dry skin absorbs higher concentrations of color, which will leave you with an uneven and splotchy tan.  To avoid this, before you spray tan, exfoliate with a body scrub which will help remove dead skin.

3.  About Face!
One of the hardest areas to evenly self-tan is the face.  To prepare your skin for a spray tan gently cleanse and exfoliate.  Before spray tanning or self-tanning at home, make sure to pull back all of your hair off of your face.  It sounds a bit obvious, but because just one rouge lock of hair can lead to a botched faux glow!
***Here's a tip straight from Hollywood makeup artist Scott Barnes:  Apply under-eye cream.  According to Barnes in Instyle magazine's May 2007 issue, you want the color of your skin to be lighter under the eyes because it makes you look younger!

4.  Post Tan Pause
When spray tanning in a booth, like with Mystic Tans, after the process is over, stand still for about 30 seconds, giving the product ample time to dry evenly.  After 30 seconds the product won't be completely dry, however the first minute after tanning is when you are most at risk of rubbing off the self-tanner before it has had a chance to effectively work.  Pausing for 30 seconds ensures that the product has evenly set; afterwards, feel free to blot off as directed.

5.  Streaks and Spots Be Gone!
If you end up with an uneven tan, fear not as little mistakes are easily fixable with common household items!  Grab a lemon, cut it in half, and squeeze the juice onto a cotton ball.  Wipe the streaky orange areas to dilute the streaks and help lift some of the extra color.
Don't have any lemons?  Try mixing baking soda with a few drops of water until it becomes a paste.  Massage the paste into the streaky areas, just like with the lemons.  You can do this same process with an astringent toner or even toothpaste.
Orange palms?  Try wetting a washcloth with warm water and rubbing your palms over it, making sure to get in between your fingers.  Doing it this way allows you to get the color off of your palms, without removing the product from the top of your hands.  You can also use a hydrogen peroxide soaked cotton ball to wipe off any unwanted color.
To help prevent staining on your fingertips and nails, try putting some vaseline on your cuticles and palms before hand.

6.  Post Tan Care

In order to get the most out of your spray tan, give the product at least 4-6 hours to fully set before you shower.  Also try and refrain from showering or bathing in extremely hot water or for long periods of time, as it will speed up the fading process of your tan.  And try to avoid exfoliating as it will dramatically lessen the life of your faux glow as well.

Happy Tanning!

SAG Award Stunning!

This past Sunday, Hollywood elite hit the red carpet for the 2011 Screen Actors Guild Awards, and they definitely brought the glam!  Check out Hollywood Tans fav looks of the evening:

From her stunning Alexander McQueen gown to her fresh and glowing skin, Mila totally stole the show.

Eva Longoria proved that sexy can be tasteful with this gorgeous Georges Hobeika Couture draped gown, not to mention the nude color is insanely flattering on her flawless skin.  

Glee's Dianna Agron is quickly becoming one of my new fashion favs; she manages to always look chic and classy, while keeping it young and playful.  Check out Agron looking amazing in a vintage navy Chanel gown, I cannot wait to see more of her in the future!

What were your favorite knockout looks from the evening?  Let us know!  And to get a golden glow like the gorgeous ladies of the SAG awards, check out Hollywood Tans.  From spray tanning, to the most efficient solarium tanning, Hollywood Tans will have you Hollywood glamorous and red carpet ready in no time!  Happy Tanning!

Tan Away Muscle Pains and Fibromyalgia!

Fibromyalgia is a widespread medical disorder, characterized by chronic widespread muscle and connective tissue pain, or a heightened or painful response to pressure.  Fibromyalgia symptoms include fatigue, sleep disturbance, joint stiffness, numbness, and cognitive dysfunction.  Fibromyalgia is estimated to affect 2-4% of the population, with a female to male incidence ratio estimated at 9:1.  

While there is as of now no definitive cure for fibromyalgia, some treatments have been demonstrated through controlled clinical trials, including medications, exercise, and behavioral interventions, like adding tanning to your routine.

In one study, a Dr. Steven Feldman (M.D., Ph.D. and dermatologist practicing at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina) found that fibromyalgia patients who were exposed to UV rays in tanning beds over a period of six weeks felt a significant decrease in pain compared to those who were in non-UV beds.  According to Dr. Feldman, the UV rays cause the skin to release endorphins, essentially feel-good molecules, that ease pain and increase muscle relaxation.

One of Dr. Feldman's patients, Laura Hemrick, said that before the UV treatments she felt "...like [she] had been hit by a truck".  Hemrick underwent six months of testing before she was diagnosed with fibromyalgia.  She tried to treat her condition with exercise, which only provided minmal relief, and then medications, which made her so sick that she gave up.  "I would deal with the pain before I go back to those again," Hemrick said.

Tanning however was her saving grace.  After undergoing tanning sessions of approximately 12 minutes three times a week, Hemrick says her pain has been put at ease.  In fact, tanning is the only thing that has successfully worked for her.

And tanning doesn't just help with severe muscle pains like those of fibromyalgia; many people have come forward claiming tanning helps soothe their arthritis and back pains.

Seems that a lot more than a gorgeous glow can be achieved through solarium heliotherapy!

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Infinity Sun!

As some of you Hollywood Tanners may have noticed, Hollywood Tans Salons are starting to partner with the fantastic Infinity Sun.  Infinity Sun a revolutionary spray tan company based out of Beverly Hills, and they're responsible for gorgeous celebrity tans like that of the beautiful Jessica Alba and Kendra Wilkinson from “The Girls Next Door”.   I came across this fun article about I.S. the other day and thought I'd post it so you guys can see what they're all about!


Celebrity Fashion Secrets: Age-Defying Sunless Tanning
Kimberly West, Yahoo! Contributor Network

The sultry, glowing, and golden brown tans of the Victoria's Secret models are a goal of many women. They do look simply gorgeous. Like one would imagine a goddess on Olympus to appear. But did you know that each celebrity appearance takes a crew of experts to produce that perfect tan? And that dewy, radiant tan involves three hours or more of prep time? Not to mention the maintenance schedule. The sunless tan is a big celebrity fashion secret Hollywood would prefer to keep to itself.

An army of stylists is deployed in Hollywood every year during the six-weeks between the Golden Globes to the Oscars. Preparing one starlet for her stroll down the red carpet is definitely a team effort.

The first step in the sunless tanning process is usually a body-enhancing airbrush tan. While these tans lend the healthy glow many crave, they can also make the celebrity client look like they've spent more time at the gym than they actually have. Stylist Coco, who has worked with such celebrities as Eva Longoria, Jennifer Garner, Jenny McCarthy and Lara Flynn Boyle, recently revealed that, "If they haven't quite been to the gym, I can make it look as though they have. I give them an even glow and lightly etch in where the muscle is."

Where can a celebrity (or a non-celebrity with some bucks and a lot of free time on her hands) go for the sunless tanning treatment?

Infinity Sun in Beverly Hills is the sunless tanning place at the moment. They've teamed up with world-renowned celebrity stylist Jose Eber, and are taking Beverly Hills by storm. Celebrity clients includeJessica Alba and Paris Hilton, among others. But non-celebrity clients can also enjoy the luxurious Infinity Sun tanning experience. Applied with a proprietary spray system, the whole sunless tanning process takes approximately three minutes. The result is a natural-looking, golden brown glow. A tan that most would love to have!

Infinity Sun also offers a full line of sunless tanning products to enhance the results of the tanning procedure and to make the tan last. This includes a non-abrasive exfoliator to remove the dead skin cells and a prep lotion to even out the porosity of the skin and enable the tanning solution to more evenly penetrate the skin. For a dewy and even more radiant tan, an extender with shimmer is available. The extender also helps lengthen the life of the celebrity tan for two to three days. Celebrities at Infinity Sun may also choose to luxuriate their skin and their senses with a vanilla aromatherapy, alcohol-free sunless tanning aerosol, created with seven essential oils, Vitamin A, Vitamin E. A vanilla aromatherapy is also available for color maintenance for areas of the skin that are prone to fading, such as the face, hands and feet.

Now that you're clued in on this celebrity fashion secret, the radiant and dewy tans of those glowing Victoria's Secret models and celebrities on the red carpet are no longer completely out of reach!

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That Poof Looks Familiar!

While you may have thought "Jersey Shore" was Miss Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi's first reality television appearance, we're about to show you the Princess of Poughkeepsie before she hit the Shore.  Check out the clip below of Snooki, or as she was known then the "Jerzette", on MTV's "Is She Really Going Out With Him?!" in 2009 right before JShore hit the air!

Is She Really Going Out With Him? - MTV Shows

Who knew?!  

Vitamin D Takes On Diabetes!

Its no secret that vitamin D has widespread benefits for our health, like prevention of chronic diseases.  Now, more and more evidence is coming to light that suggests vitamin D may play a vital role in the prevention and management of glucose intolerance and diabetes.

Of the estimated 23 million Americans with diabetes, the majority have low vitamin D levels, suggesting that vitamin D plays an integral role in insulin sensitivity and secretion.  

In a study involving 3,000 people with type 1 diabetes, there was a decreased risk in disease for those who took vitamin D supplements.  Continuing observational studies of people with type 2 diabetes also revealed the importance of supplementation in the prevention of the disease.

While vitamin D is certainly not the sole cure for this harmful disease, management of the nutrient may be a simple and cost effected method to improve blood sugar control and prevent many serious complications associated with diabetes.  But diet alone will not be sufficient in managing proper vitamin D levels; a combination of adequate dietary intake and exposure to sunlight or ultraviolet light can decrease the risk of diabetes and related health concerns.

Not only is it linked to diabetes prevention, vitamin D is also crucial in maintaing bone strength, maintaining a strong the immune system, cancer prevention, proper circulation, and cardiovascular health.  Along with ultraviolet rays, other sources of vitamin D include fish, eggs, fortified milk, cod liver oil, and supplements.


For more information on the links between diabetes and vitamin D, check out our sources below.  And to get your daily dose of this essential nutrient, stop by your local Hollywood Tans salon today!

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Best and Worst Celeb Tans of the Week!

It's been a week full of glam tans and orange disasters, here are our favs:

Despite dealing with the stress of her boy to Cy Waits possibly going to jail, Paris Hilton looked surprisingly classy this week, as she headed to Hollywood hotspot Beso....

Not to mention she looked like a golden goddess at the Golden Globe Awards party, rocking a Jean Fares Couture gown and the perfect tan!

Brooklyn Decker looks insane on the cover of February's Esquire magazine; (while she may have some extra help from photoshop) this Victoria's Secret model rocks her gorgeous glow like no other!

In other news......

Hayden Panettiere's Golden Globes ensemble failed to impress; from her unflattering and sheer floor-length black gown, to her over baked faux glow, this look was definitely a miss.  

Make Your Valentines Day Red Hot!

Looking for new ways to heat up your Valentines Day?  Our new "Red Hot" Valentines gift bags are all you need!  

Since everyone loved our holiday "Naughty or Nice" gift bags, we couldn't resist the opportunity to give you guys another awesome bundle of Hollywood Tans goodies to help you kick of your Valentines just right.  The gift bags are geared towards couples so you can share it with someone you love, be it that special someone or your best pal!

Each gift set will include:

• 2 Bubbly lotion packets: Get a chance to try out our latest lotion that has all the luxury of Champagne, including a stimulating, effervescent bubbly sensation and a fresh and alluring scent.

• 2 Chocolat packets:  One of our best selling lotions, because you can't have Valentines day without Chocolat! 

• Heart-shaped Candle: A sultry surprise, when melted the candle turns to edible massage oils

• 2 Black Eye Candy eyewear glasses

• 2 Boxes of Red Hots Candy

• Hollywood Tans Gift Certificate*

What better way to tell that special someone "You're Mine" then with a gift bag full of Hollywood Tans fun fit for two?!  Grab your "Red Hot" Valentines Day gift bag today and turn your Valentines Day Valen-Tan!

*prices from salon to salon

Even Celebs Have To Make Time To Tan!

Everyone's fav reality star Kim Kardashian sneaks out of Golden Globes party for a spray tan!

Kim Kardashian definitely pulled out all of the stops for her glamorous Golden Globe Awards after-party ensemble on Sunday night, including the perfect accessory: a spray tan!

The entrepreneurial fashionista and reality TV star snuck out of the swanky InStyle/Warner Bros. soiree just after midnight to get her spray tan fix.

Proud of her flawless faux glow, Kardashian tweeted, “I left the Golden Globes party and came home to a midnight spray tan! LOL…Thanks Jimmy CoCo for the late nite tan!”

Now there's a celeb who knows how to prioritize!



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Q & A time with the Senior Tanologist!

Question:  Can I tan while pregnant?

Great question, I get this one a lot!  Consulting your doctor on this topic is always a wise choice, as each pregnancy is unique and has it's own considerations.  At this time there are no studies on the effects of tanning beds on the unborn child, so anything you hear at this point is just a myth.

Because the UV light used in solarium tanning does not ever reach the child, your baby is not at risk from UV.  The real thing that you need to monitor is your body temperature, specifically keeping cool.  During the first trimester your doctor will most likely advise you not to do anything that will raise your body's temperature, such as hot tubs, saunas, and tanning.  However, after the first trimester, it may be okay to have moderate sessions while using a tanning bed or booth. The most important thing to remember is to stay cool and drink plenty of fluids.  

One thing you should take into account, however, is that your skin during pregnancy is more sensitive than usual so you should start with shorter sessions until your body has built up your base tan.  Happy Tanning!

Party With Hollywood Tans Willmington and DJ Pauly D!

Not sure what you're plans are for this weekend?  How about dancing the night away with Jersey Shore's DJ Pauly D and scoring some sweet Hollywood Tans prizes!

Hollywood Tans fans in the Philadelphia area are invited to come party with HT, Q102, and DJ Pauly D this Sunday at 9pm at the Roxxy, be sure to check it out!

Inject-a-tan: Innovation or Injurious?!

If you're super up to date on the latest tanning gossip, you may have heard about the latest craze in the tanning world: tanning injections.  While they may sound the like the best thing since sliced bread, new research is proving they may have significant long term side effects.  Hollywood Tans has done our fair share of research and we're got the 411!

In an effort to steer clear of solarium beds, many lifetime tanners are choosing to inject themselves with Melanotan I and II, also known as the "Barbie Drug".  Like solarium tanning, Melanotan injections claim to help increase the bodies natural production of melanin, but the catch is they work without the sunlight.  The unregulated (and in some countries, illegal) injections claim to have all the benefits of tanning without any of the side effects.  Well think again TanNation!

As tanners are more frequently trying out this new bronzing craze, more and more negative side effects are surfacing.  Not only has the drug presented side effects such as nausea, vomiting, depression, high blood pressure, and panic attacks, recently it has been suggested that severe long term side effects exist.

"Quite apart from the risk of HIV or other viruses from using dirty needles, the [Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency] says the side effects could be 'extremely serious' and is concerned it could soon see people in hospital as a result."

One of these potential long term effects is the activation of melanocytes in the skin.  Melanocytes are cells that aide in the widening and darkening of moles and can become cancerous.  In other words, this drug that is marketed specifically to bring you all the benefits of tanning without any of the negative risks of UV, may actually put you more at risk than good ol' fashion tanning (and you miss out on all that vitamin D).

Until there are more facts to help us evaluate this new tanning fad, I stand by the notion that the best way to get a gorgeous glow is from a solarium tan or a spray tan.  What do you guys think, anyone out there ever tried tanning injections?    

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Fear Not! A Spray Tan Doesn't Always Mean an Orange Tan!

One of my personal favorite new moments of 2011 was being reintroduced to my pals down at the Jersey Shore, I seriously can't get enough of those GTL-ers.  As my girlfriends and I gathered around the TV, eager to see what the season 3 opener had to offer, they kept pointing out to me that they were scared to try spray tanning for fear of looking "Snooki Orange".  Thats when I realized that most people don't know theres a right way to spray tan, and a wrong way!

Anne Hathaway's character in the movie "Bride Wars" clearly didn't do her tanning research!

Firstly, let me say that it is very easy to avoid looking cheez-puff orange and it all starts with picking the proper product/method.  To ensure a gorgeous faux glow, do your research and choose a brand and a salon that has a good reputation, like Mystic Tan.  Brands like Mystic are outfitted with the best technology and specialists who can ensure that you are using the correct color solution for your unique skin tone.  They also will help keep you from using too much solution or letting it overdevelop on your skin.

After spray tanning, you need to allow 6-8 for your tan to set on your skin before showering, however you're free to (and encouraged!) to shower anytime after that.  If you are applying your spray tan too often or letting it sit on your skin for too long, then you may cross over to the orange side, Jersey Shore style.  

Just remember that when it comes to spray tanning, as long as you're working with a licensed, trained professional, you won't have to worry about being day-glow-orange, all you'll have to worry about is how to best show off your awesome faux glow!

And the 2011 Hollywood Tans People's Choice Award goes to...

The People's Choice Awards kicked of the 2011 Award Season this evening and Hollywood Tans has the scoop on all the glam tans...and the not so glam!

Minka Kelly, a.k.a. The Hottest Woman Alive (via Esquire magazine), rocked a cream Vivenne Westwood dress, suede pumps, and the most important accessory of all: a beautiful tan!  While the verdict is out on her dress, (Hot or Not?!) her gorgeous glow definitely earned her the Hollywood Tans' People's Choice Award for "Ultimate Glam Tan".

Runners up for the "Ultimate Glam Tan" award include:

The stunning AnnaLynne McCord, who rocked a hot electric blue dress and a lovely subdued tan.

Soap Opera star Virginia Williams, who showed off her Hollywood Tan with this sexy open back number.

And now the not so glam....

Emma Roberts looked beautiful as usual, but she definitely looked like she forgot her most important accessory...a tan!  While I love her black ruffled mini, a golden glow would've accented it perfectly.

High School Musical star Ashley Tisdale totally missed the mark.  The Disney actress looked a little burnt out...while it may not be obvious in this picture, she's definitely crossed over to the orange side.  While I'm all for dark tans, its important to keep it looking natural!