Tanning Salons in Menlo Park

Eliana and Viviane Jardim grew up on the beaches of Brazil, and when they moved to the United States, they brought a little bit of the Brazilian sun with them. The business they opened, Samba Glow, specializes in personalized airbrush spray tans. Armed with a spray applicator, technicians apply either a clear solution that develops over the course of 8–10 hours or a bronzer that’s visible right away. The DHA-based formula for each is free of harsh chemicals, preservatives, white tempera paint, and artificial fragrances, leaving room for certified-organic aloe-vera extracts, vitamin A, vitamin E, and various antioxidants that help leave skin firm and smooth. At their new Menlo Park location, the Jardim sisters decided to branch out into other beautification services—such as waxing and a full lash and brow bar—as well as retail, selling bathing suits and resort-wear designed to show off the tanning techs’ handiwork.

Getting a tan typically requires a sunny day, a beach, and most importantly, an open schedule. When time becomes an obstacle to achieving a summery glow, Tanner’s Paradise expedites the tanning process with its four levels of high-powered beds, from the level 1 Genesis beds to the level 4 Saturn beds. Those wishing to eschew UV rays altogether can step into Tanner's automated Mystic Tan spray booths, which engulf bodies in a mist of DHA, bronzers, aloe, and moisturizers resulting in a streak-free tan that lasts up to 10 days. The salon’s Smart Tan–certified staff helps clients further darken their complexions with a range of Designer Skin and Luminary accelerator lotions, which boost the effectiveness of bronzing sessions and render bodies slippery enough to escape awkwardly long hugs.

Inside Ginger Sun Spa, guests recline on the Ergoline Open Sun 1050 bed, revelling in the high-pressure bed’s adjustable facial tanners and built-in sound system. The Sun Capsule Cosmo 250 stand-up booth caramelizes skin in seven minutes with 54 performance UV bulbs, and its adjustable ceiling hand grips ensure clients stay comfortable while holding up their arms in order to get more even tans. With its certified airbrush technicians, the tanning spa is able to forgo UV rays or apricot Crayola crayons to bronze skin, instead using a hand-held Norvell sunless-spray-tan applicator. Other beautification services include manicures and infrared-sauna sessions, which help burn calories, reduce the appearance of cellulite, and improve skin issues such as eczema.

Glo Sun Spa keeps a slew of modern bronzing, polishing, and hydrating technologies in peak condition. With a variety of tanning beds, Glo Sun Spa provides a wide range of sun-kissed glows. Alternatively, sunless VersaSpa and Pura Sunless systems provide a tan away from the sun's rays. The hydration station combines Hydrofusion with steam and LED technology to moisturize and tan epidermises, and the Lumiere Excel system features a series of repairing, clearing, and firming regimens. Glo Sun Spa also stocks a full line of lavish skincare products from brands such as Devoted Creations.

The treatment menu at Sun Spa enables clients to select their preferred method of tanning from a roster that includes six levels of UV tanning beds and the UV-free VersaSpa system. Inside each of the five locations, Sun Spa's bronzing booths remain available 24 hours a day, presenting patrons with the opportunity to work around unorthodox schedules or warm up after bone-chilling nightmares. A selection of lotions by Australian Gold augments the effects of light-powered tanning excursions, and a storefront display of swimwear and handmade jewelry complement newly golden glows.

At both Tahiti Breeze Sun Spa and Tantrum Sun Spa, a fleet of tanning beds and stand-up booths infuses skin with a golden glow. Alternatively, the Versa Spa spray-tan booth mists physiques with a UV-free tan, giving skin a natural beach-goer look without putting six tropical birds on it. Elsewhere in the spa, a solid basswood infrared sauna purges patrons' bodies of up to 600 calories, and teeth whitening stations turn pearly whites even pearlier.