If you are looking for the best tanning bed bulbs, this article is for you. For countries with a dominant number of white residents, tanning products in the form of cream, lotion, soaps, and bed bulbs are becoming highly in demand.
For the past decade, tanning beds are mostly offered only at salons and spas. Today, you can already acquire your tanning bed at home.
Comparison Table of Tanning Bulbs
The quality of the tanning bed depends on the quality of the tanning bed bulbs—these are the long bulbs of light attached to the roof and sides of the bed that are in charge of omitting substances to make the skin achieve a tan look.
There are a lot of choices in the market, and we are here to give you an extensive guide on purchasing the best tanning bed bulbs there are.
10 Best Tanning Bed Bulbs Reviews
1. Wolff Dark Tan II Plus Tanning Lamp
- Affordable Price
- Designed with bi-pin (Ease of installation)
Included in its recent F71 series, Wolff systems have come up to this new tanning lamp that they offer on an affordable price.
Wolff Dark Tan II Plus Tanning Lamp, when compared to other tanning bulbs, has a very affordable price.
This bulb has a 100-watt and also designed with bi-pin, which enables a more straightforward installation.
This is a tanning bulb with great home quality. Though, this may not be as good for salons and tanning spas.
Overall, this tanning bulb is efficient for those who have been maintaining their tans since they won’t need to spend a lot of bulb replacements.
This can work as a tone maintaining bulb which is a good substitute for ordinary replacement bulbs which may cause the skin tone to get darker.
- Quality bulbs
- Extremely versatile.
- High UVB concentration that helps tan faster.
- Only fit in bi-pin sockets.
2. X Power Twister Tanning Lamp Kit and Bronzing Bulbs – Best lamp for whole-body coverage
- Comes in a kit (ordinary and dual twist lamps)
- Increased surface area
This tanning lamp is in the form of a kit where it contains 3 X power twists and 3 X power dual twists tanning lamps. This is perfect for giving off a more powerful tanning emission.
The lamps are also designed with magnetic bottom sockets which enable high compatibility to various tanning beds and for ease of adjustment.
Its adjustment feature is useful for achieving an even-toned skin from face to the whole body.
It has a 1000-hour rated life, and it only takes approximately 10-15 minutes of tanning time per session.
This type of lamp can also be used as replacement bulbs since it gives off a mild amount of UVBs.
The X Power Twister Tanning Lamp Kit and Bronzing Bulbs are designed as twisted bulbs for a more natural ray emission effect.
Twisted bulbs also help for a wider tanning coverage, thus giving the whole body an even bronzer tone.
- More tanning power.
- Long lifespan.
- Great customer service.
- Longer tanning sessions.
3. Midday Sun Tanning Lamps – Easy Installation
- Rated life of 1,200 hours
- High level of compatibility
The Midday Sun Tanning Lamps can be used as an easy replacement to tanning bulbs such as Velocity, Dark Tan, Diamond Sun, Golden Tan, Speed 175 and Brilliance.
Its sockets are also designed to be compatible with some of the most popular tanning beds, such as Wolff, SunVision, AlphaSun, and SunQuest.
Unlike all the other tanning bed bulbs, this particular lamp has a rated life of 1,200 hours.
That enables cutting off costs for replacements. It is also powered by only 100 watts. Tanning session can take up to 15-20 minutes only.
- Durable.
- Highly effective.
- Universal application.
- More suitable as replacement lamps.
4. Wolff System Tanning Bed Bulbs – Best Replacement Bulbs for Tanning Beds
Read Customer Reviews Here >>>- Well-packaged
- Economic for home tanning
- Fast shipping
This product is named as the best replacement bulbs, for it emits only mild tanning substances and it won’t hurt or change the skin tone of the user.
Even if the user started sessions with a bed bulb of a different brand, using Wolff System Tanning Bed Bulbs will compliment how the tanning session started.
This Bed bulbs are made with F71 Bi-pin end fitting and have an electric capacity of 100 watts. This would mean that it uses a lesser amount of electricity to work and heat up.
Nevertheless, Wolff System Tanning Bed Bulbs are economical and convenient to use since this product works for various types of beds such as;
SunQuest Wolff, ESB, SunVision, Solar Storm, Sunsource, SunMaster, Alpha Sun, Sunstar and Anytime Beds. It is also compatible with other beds that use FR71 Reflector lamps.
- Easy to install.
- Fairly affordable.
- Some units are broken.
5. Brilliance Bronzer Lamp – Best Bulbs for First-Time Users
Read Customer Reviews Here >>>- Has a rated life of over 1,000 hours
- Great replacement bulb
This bronzer lamp was first introduced by the manufacturing company Brilliant Advanced in May 2015. These type of bulbs were designed as compatible replacements for any type of beds.
The Brilliance Bronzer Lamp is known to be best for first-time users since it offers ease of use and installation.
This tanning lamp was created with F73 T12 HO 100W-120W RDC technology, which is part of Brilliance Advanced’s 2015 bulb series. This series was well-known for efficient home and salon use.
This may be because of the long shipping time which may cause spontaneous combustion to form slowly.”
For overall quality, Brilliance Bronzer Lampis advisable for first-time users, for it can give an easier and longer-lasting effect than any other tanning bulbs.
- Works on a variety of bed types.
- Effective and economical.
- Ideal for indoor tanning.
- Takes longer tanning time.
6. Wolff System Golden Bronze Maximum Tanning Bulbs – Best Bulbs for a Quick Tan
Read Customer Reviews Here >>>- No sunburn
- Quick tan
- Mild and applicable for all skin types
- Ease of Installation
This is another product offered by the Wolf System Indoor Tanning equipment manufacturer. This one is known for giving quick tanning sessions (12 minutes, tops!).
Wolff System Golden Bronze Maximum Tanning Bulbs can be used as bulb replacements to different tanning beds and tanning bulbs such as Dark Tan II Plus, Hi Tan, Equator Sun, Velocity Extreme and Bronzing Sun Plus.
It can’t always give a golden bronze tan—the effect will still depend on the current skin tone of the user.”
This type of tanning bulbs also emits a considerable amount of UVB and UVA. Users are reminded to use eye protection during tanning.
Nonetheless, this product is known to give a quick tan to users. With its rated life of 1000 hours, its rated time per session can be as quick as 10-12 minutes!
- Versatile design.
- Short tanning sessions.
- Powerful replacement option.
- Not ideal for log sessions.
7. Nature Bright Light Therapy Lamp – Best Soothing Bed Bulb
Read Customer Reviews Here >>>- Customized mood light
- Compact
- Safe to use
First introduced by SunTouch Plus in 2003, this product has been well-known for its features of building up mood and relaxation. This is designed to give a therapeutic home setting to its customers.
Some customer feedbacks claim that this lamp saved them from anti-depressants.
The Nature Bright Light Therapy Lamp provides soothing energies and calming vibes instead of UVBs and UVAs. It has its air purifier, which helps filter airborne bacteria and diseases.
It is designed with 10,000 bright lux lights that help boost the mood and energy of the person without compromising the safety of the eyes.
This product isn’t just for cosmetic purposes but for calming the body’s entirety as well.
For light therapy, it is advisable to have 30 minutes to 2 hours per session daily. For starters, you may start at 15 minutes per day while gradually increasing to 5 minutes more per session.
Including light therapies in your daily routine may help you feel better and lighter.
- In-built air-purifier and timer allows customized use.
- Smart design to fit anywhere.
- Bright light.
- Users complain of their short lifespan.
8. Sperti Fiji Sun Home Tanning Lamp – Best Salon-Quality Bed Bulbs
Read Customer Reviews Here >>>- Salon quality
- Long-lasting Tan
- Whole-body coverage
- Safe (FDA cleared)
This product is one of the best tanning bulbs in the market today. This is trusted and used by tanning salons and spas.
Its design is durable and provides ease of installation; it is also adjustable at any angle for full-body coverage.
Its adjustable feature is also useful for sectioning tanning and facial bronzing. The Sperti Fiji Sun Home Tanning Lamp guarantees safety to its customers since it is FDA cleared.
It also has an auto-off timer feature once its running time has exceeded 15 minutes.
This feature is useful in the prevention of skin burns and machine overheating.
This is a smart appliance that works not just for cosmetics but also safety purposes.
Customer’s review shows good feedback for this one. It is effective from the first session and its tan can last all year! (still depending on the person’s skin tone and frequency of tanning sessions).
- Easy to use.
- Angle adjustable light.
- FDA approved.
- Takes longer to achieve tan.
9. Wolff Bronzing Plus – Best Bronzing Tanning Lamp
Read Customer Reviews Here >>>- Ease of installation
- Tanning bed compatibility
- Effects can be seen after a 15-minute session (result varies)
Another tanning bed bulb manufacture by Wolff systems. This lamp has a life expectancy of 1000 hours and is powered by 100 watts. It also has a bi-pin design on both ends for ease of installation and tanning bed compatibility.
Pale skinned customers are delighted with this one since it gives a bronze effect rather than leaving pale skin pinkish or red.
This is good both for replacement bulbs and first-time usage. This product is also containing just the right amount of UVAs and UVBs enough to create a bronze skin tone.
This product differs from the other Wolff system manufactured tanning bulbs since this one works well on pale skin, and it also emits less harsh rays.
This tanning lamp works on various skin types and can work and take effect even with just a few minutes per session.
- Effective in giving a long-lasting tan.
- Tested for safety.
- Immediate tan.
10. Wolff Velocity Extreme Tanning Bed Bulbs – Best Bulbs for Dark and Rich Color
Read Customer Reviews Here >>>- Auto-off timers
- Emitting more UVBs and maintaining robust UVAs
This product was introduced by Wolff systems in 2009 as 10% stronger than their earlier product, the Velocity Plus. These tanning bulbs are designed to give darker and richer skin color.
Preferably, these products are for the yellow-skinned person and those that are with pale and lighter tones.
End results for this product will show off as the skin from tropical countries. One more thing that’s loved by customers in this product is that the life of the bulbs lasts longer and its price is worth it.
Since it emits a larger amount of UVBs, this product tends to heat up as fast. To address that, Wolff systems gave this product an auto-shutoff feature in which it takes a rest on its own when it has to in order to prevent circuit shortage, damages, and burnout.
- Long lasting.
- Fit for every skin tone.
- Produces strong UVB.
- Fits only a few tanning beds.
Buying Considerations of Best Tanning Bed Bulbs
Choosing a tanning bed bulb is just like picking out any other home appliance.
Since it is electrically powered, you should check its voltage, compatibility features as well as its tendencies to overheat and grow dimmer.
In buying the right tanning bed bulbs, here are the things you would need to consider:
Tanning Effect
If you are planning to get tan, you should first know your skin tone and skin type. What level of tanning do you want to achieve?
Do you have any skin irritations and allergies? Above anything else, these things should be the first thing to consider because the tanning level of your bed bulb will depend here.
You can search for bed bulbs with a certain level of FR emission. Some bulbs can darken the skin tone for a few minutes, while some would take a while.
Keep in mind that the tan you want to achieve won’t always turn out as expected.
It would still depend on your skin’s ability to cope and its current tone.
Life
Just like when acquiring any other appliance—or bulb for this matter, make sure that it has an economic quality.
Make sure that its quality gives justice to its cost, most especially if it is bought online.
For a start, you may choose bulbs with a rated life of 1,000 to 1,200 hours. Most of the time, these are bulbs that would not need a replacement quickly and have a higher degree of tanning effect.
Session length
You can choose a tanning bed bulb based on its session length. The session length is the time it would take to give you a nice, fair tan.
This feature will depend both on the rated life of the bulb and also on its level of FR emission.
The degree of ray emission causes the skin color to change; different types of bulbs cater to varying levels of tanning—there’s the mild, the tan, the bronze, and the dark and rich skin tone effect.
Frequent sessions can last for about 20-30 minutes on a single laying. Though for pale skin tones, courses may take longer and could last for about 35 minutes maximum.
When looking for the right bed bulb, ask for its ray emission level and make sure that it can make your skin tone as tan as you would want it to be.
Bed Compatibility
The bed bulb would defeat its purpose if, in the first place, it isn’t compatible with your tanning bed.
There are bed bulbs available in the market that are specifically intended for a specific type of tanning bed.
These are called exact replacements or exact bulbs. Correct replacements are suitable for maintaining the skin’s level of tan.
Tanning bed manufacturers such as AlphaSun, Anytime beds, SunMaster, SunVision, and SunQuest Wolff offer exact replacements to all models of their bed bulbs.
Sometimes, these exact replacements go out of stock or are hard to find. In this case, you can purchase a bed bulb from another brand, but make sure that it is universally compatible.
You may ask the cosmetics or hardware staff for assistance on this. Universally compatible bulbs are those with circular bottom sockets.
When buying your tanning bed bulb, you can choose to purchase online or offline.
Choose the one that would satisfy the aforementioned attributes and also, do not forget that its features should also include ease of installation.
Find out the best suits your needs and budget, and nothing could go wrong.
FAQs of Tanning Bed Bulbs
Here are some of the Frequently Asked Questions about tanning bed bulbs:
Is there any way to bring back my old skin tone if ever I didn’t like the tanning results?
Yes! It will take quite the process, though. There is no such thing as whitening beds.
You will have to go through the long process of consuming whitening and glutathione-infused products. To avoid having such regret, do not complete a whole tanning session.
Get up from the bed every 5 minutes to check the results, and you may stop whenever you’re satisfied.
Tanning requires excellent physical and emotional risk. Be aware of the probable consequences and know your next step whenever things don’t go according to plan.
Do tanning bed bulbs work, and are they safe?
Among all the other ways to get tan, tanning bed sessions give the instant effect. Right after a few minutes of being on course, results can be immediately seen.
As per the safety, there’s nothing to worry about. Bed bulbs emit no direct UVR. Having a session under bed bulbs is safer than sunbathing.
This is because in sunbathing, the skin directly absorbs UVR even with sunscreen and sunblock applied.
With bed bulbs, harmful substances are filtered, and it is designed to emit only the necessary heat needed by your skin for tanning.
How would I know if the bulbs are overheating and if ever, what should I do?
This is one of the most common problems in home tanning sessions. Upon acquiring your bulbs and your tanning equipment, make sure to remember its rated life and after-care maintenance.
If your bulbs have already reached the limit of its rated life, it is better to replace it immediately rather than waiting for it to stop working. This will lessen the risk of circuit shortage and fuse explosions.
Bed bulbs are advisably used no longer than three hours per day on consecutive sessions.
Give the tanning bed itself a rest and make sure it is placed in a well-ventilated area. Mind caution all the way to avoid unwanted troubles.
How many bulbs do I need to complete a session? Should all the sockets in my tanning bed be filled?
A tanning bed usually contains 20-40 bulbs depending on the size. The number of bulbs will depend on which part of your body you want to get a darker tone.
Using a few bulbs at a time is useful for people with uneven skin tone.
For fair-skinned persons, they should use a complete bulb set during their every session so that their bodies can be wholly covered with the tan.
Can I replace one bulb at a time, or should I replace them all at once?
When it comes to replacement, it will depend, of course, on your budget and the rated life of the bulbs.
As mentioned earlier, it is best to replace a bulb when it reaches the limit of its rated life.
Replacing them one at a time may cause the tanning effect to varying and may lead to an uneven skin tone.
Safety Reminders
For tanners, fist timers, and practically anyone who wants to engage with indoor tanning, there are a lot of safety things to consider before starting the session.
Safety should be a priority as you don’t want a supposedly good experience to go south.
This section is to help and educate you about certain things you need to prioritize before or while on the process of tanning:
- Know your skin type and allergens; this will help choose the right amount of ray emission and session time.
- Examine your body thoroughly for any wounds, lacerations, or scratches before starting a session. This will lessen the risk of infection and further skin irritation.
- If you are regularly exposed to UV rays, be mindful enough, and have a regular skin cancer check-up just for assurance and prevention.
- Do not overexpose your skin. Follow the recommended process and frequency.
- Persons aged 17 and below shouldn’t engage themselves in indoor tanning activities.
- When having a tanning session, wear proper eye gear or eye protectors that will keep your eyes safe from the UV rays and other substances being emitted.
- A day or two before your tanning sessions, exfoliate or skin or take time to peel off unnecessary dead skin cells by using a loofah or scrubber in your bath.
- If you start to notice or feel skin irritations, go to your dermatologist immediately and ask for a consultation. It’s also ideal to talk to your dermatologist first before tanning to get expert advice.
Indoor tanning can be useful for those who are usually exposed to activities of this type.
The Final Thoughts
For first-timers, there is no harm in trying, but you should know the proper considerations and the limits. UV emission is a dangerous thing, after all.
You can always ask for a doctor consultation if you want to ensure your dermatological safety.
This is particularly the case if you have existing skin issues. Tanning is a trendy and relaxing thing, but be sure to do your homework before you take the plunge.
With the right knowledge and the right products, your tanning experience will be a blast.