Tanning
How Long Should You Spend on a Sunbed? Minutes by Skin Type
By the Beautano team · Sunbed & red light specialists, Nitshill
The most common question we get in the studio: “How long should I go on for?” The honest answer is — it depends on your skin, and it’s always better to build slowly.
Start low, build gradually
Your skin type decides your starting minutes. As a rough guide:
- Fair skin (Type 1–2) — start low, around 6 minutes, and build slowly. Fair skin burns easily, so patience pays off.
- Medium skin (Type 3) — around 8–10 minutes to start.
- Olive/darker skin (Type 4+) — up to 12–15 minutes.
These are just starting points. The team will always set your time for you, and the megaSun K11’s built-in sensor helps tailor each session so your tan builds evenly, not all at once.
Leave time between sessions
Give your skin 24–48 hours between tanning sessions. Your colour keeps developing after you leave, and resting your skin keeps your tan looking even and natural.
A few golden rules
- Always wear the protective goggles provided
- Use a tanning lotion to help your colour develop evenly
- Never rush it — a slow base looks better and lasts longer
Ready to start? See our sunbeds and prices — we’re in Nitshill, open 7 days.
Tanning is a cosmetic choice for over-18s only, and every session is supervised.